Charlton’s 100% unbeaten record continued in SE7 this afternoon but Adam Lallana’s first half goal meant that the Addicks were unable to make it seven wins out of seven.
A fierce reception greeted former Charlton manager Alan Pardew as he led out his Southampton team to a Valley crowd eagerly anticipating a seventh successive win.
It was Southampton however who started as the much stronger side and indeed should have gone ahead in the fourth minute. Joseph Mills found himself unmarked and one on one six yards from goal, only to be stopped brilliantly by Rob Elliot in the Charlton goal.
The Saints kept the pressure on the Addicks and should have taken the lead on no less than four occasions in the opening 30 minutes. The Addicks defence showing the nervy resilience that has so far kept them undefeated.
The game stayed very one sided throughout the half, Charlton managing the odd attack but never being able to dominate the proceedings or really look like troubling Kelvin Davis in the Southampton goal.
After 41 minutes the deadlock was broken and the Saints were rewarded for their continual pressure on the Charlton goal. Adam Lallana finding himself clear on the right side of the penalty area placed the ball into the opposite corner and made the game 1 – 0 which is how it stayed until half time.
Half time: Charlton 0 – Southampton 1
Phil Parkinson celebrated earlier this week with the knowledge that he had won the August Manager of the Month award for League One, and much like the Leyton Orient game earlier in the season, Parkinson’s words at half time meant Charlton returned to the pitch a much stronger side.
Indeed the Addicks had to wait only four minutes before Jonjo Shelvey broke down the left wing, turned inside and released a cross into the box, Lloyd Sam flung himself at the ball but missed it and found himself crashing into Kelvin Davis who had also missed the ball, behind them however was Deon Burton, he didn’t miss the ball and the game was tied at 1 -1.
Charlton reacted to the Southampton restart strongly and many Addicks felt Lloyd Sam should have been awarded a penalty after being seemingly pulled down in the area by Dan Harding.
Shortly afterwards on 63 minutes Charlton scored a second, only for the assistant referee to raise his flag and chalk the goal out for offside. A few minutes later, Charlton again had the ball in the back of the net but again the offside flag was raised.
Charlton’s game was really summed up after 73 minutes when Kelly Youga, jinxing past three players found himself inside the box, he shot, only for his right footed strike to be denied by the post.
Tempers were tested in the final 20 minutes as incident after incident went unpunished in a game where, with another official, we would have very possibly seen more than one red card produced on both sides.
As the full time whistle blew the Addicks left knowing that they had been tested very well and, although they may have not won, they remain top of League One on goal difference with a very tough test in the shape of Norwich away next weekend.
Come on you Addicks!