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Charlton Athletic 2 Norwich City 3 - Championship match report

Norwich's Jonny Howson puts the Addicks on the back foot after 14 minutes and the Canaries added a second two minutes before the break Picture: Keith Gillard
Norwich's Jonny Howson puts the Addicks on the back foot after 14 minutes and the Canaries added a second two minutes before the break Picture: Keith Gillard

Charlton slipped further towards relegation after a dismal display at home to Norwich on Tuesday night saw the home fans boo their side off the pitch, writes Josh Fordham.

No wins in 13 Championship games for the Addicks sees them just three points off the drop zone and teetering precariously in 20th place.

January signing Tony Watt looked to have inspired a spirited fightback after coming off the bench in the second half to score one and create another to cancel out Johnny Howson’s and Lewis Grabban’s goals.

But when Charlton looked to be heading for a point, and pushing for a winner, Norwich showed why they are promotion contenders with Cameron Jerome’s 84th-minute winner.

Charlton fans appear to have lost patience with their owner, Roland Duchatelet, and new manager, Guy Luzon, just four matches after he took charge.

When Grabben put Norwich two goals ahead chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” and “we want Roland out” boomed around the stadium.

Charlton started the first 10 minutes the brighter of the two sides, putting the Norwich backline under some pressure and forcing a few mistakes. This was until the visitors got the ball down and started playing.

No shots on goal in the entirety of the first half summed up the Addicks' lacklustre display and the home side could not cope with Norwich’s quick passing to feet in and around the box which led to the opener in the 14th minute.

Tony Watt finishes well to start the fightback on 61 minutes Picture: Keith Gillard
Tony Watt finishes well to start the fightback on 61 minutes Picture: Keith Gillard

Chris Solly was caught in possession in his own half and gave the ball away to Bradley Johnson. His break down the left enabled him to cut the ball back to Howson on the edge of the box and he calmly controlled the ball and stroked it into the bottom corner.

The rest of the first half followed a similar pattern. The away side got in behind the Charlton back line several times and squandered more golden opportunities to grab a second.

But Grabban doubled the Canaries' advantage two minutes before half-time when he lobbed Marko Dmitrovic from 20 yards. A ball over the top was latched on to by Grabben and the Addicks goalkeeper got stranded in no man’s land leading to a chorus of descent from the home fans.

The hosts showed some fight and desire in the second half once Watt had settled into the game and he put the Addicks back into contention with their first shot of the match in the 61st minute. Space opened up for the Scottish striker and he slotted calmly past John Ruddy to give the home side a glimmer of hope.

Watt’s impact made all the difference after he had a hand in Igor Vetokele’s equaliser seven minutes later. Callum Harriott made a blistering run in the middle the pitch and worked the ball to Watt on the left-hand side. His cross into the box was eventually put into the net to cap off an impressive move.

All Charlton moves were coming through Watt and he nearly found Vetokele in the area in the 81st minute. Watt sprung the offside trap down the right before darting into the box only for his cross to be cut out by Steven Whittaker.

But the Addicks were punished on the break by Jerome with six minutes remaining. A deep cross from the left found Jerome with time and space in the box to pick his spot and head home.

With Charlton’s last win coming in November they look strong candidates for the drop - a world away from their push for the play-off places earlier on this season.

Charlton: Dmitrovic, Jackson (Harriott 59mins), Bikey-Amougou, Gudmundsson, Bulot (Watt 45mins), Vetokele, Wiggins, Buyens, Solly, Cousins, Ben Haim. Subs not used: Ethridge, Wilson, Gomez, Harriott, Onyewu, Lepoint.

Igor Vetokele levels seven minutes later but Cameron Jerome struck a late winner for Alex Neil's visitors Picture: Keith Gillard
Igor Vetokele levels seven minutes later but Cameron Jerome struck a late winner for Alex Neil's visitors Picture: Keith Gillard
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