EMOTIONAL LUZON SENT TO STAND
Last-gasp clincher stirs boss
GUY Luzon has played down thoughts that Charlton are Championship underdogs after they impressed again in this narrow victory over title-contenders Hull City.
The Israeli boss, who was without first-choice right-back Chris Solly and top-scorer Tony Watt, made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Nottingham Forest in midweek and was rewarded with an excellent performance.
A last-ditch winner from Johann Berg Gudmundsson saw Luzon race down the touchline to celebrate, only to be sent to the stands by referee Tim Robinson, but the 40-year-old will not let that stop him from doing it again.
“I was emotional but that was it. If we win in the next game in the last minute, I might do it again,” he said.
“I don’t care what the media or people say about the favourites, we arrive in every game not worrying who the opponent is and our ambition is continue taking all the points from every game.
“We played well, we were dominant and the players showed a lot of quality and character throughout.
“I’m happy with the young players and that showed we have youngsters who we can trust – it was a good day for the club and fans.”
For Hull, it was a disappointing showing after their unbeaten start to the season and the first half summed up their performance, with the Tigers not managing to get an effort on target.
Following the break, Charlton stepped up a gear and their efforts were rewarded when Simon Makienok headed home from close range after some excellent work by Gudmundsson on the right-hand flank.
The Addicks should have made it two moments later, when Ahmed Kashi found Gudmundsson but the Icelandic winger could only shoot straight at Hull goalkeeper Allan McGregor.
With Charlton flirting with a second, Steve Bruce made a change to take off Tom Huddlestone and replace him with Arsenal loanee Isaac Hayden as well as bringing on Uruguayan Abel Hernandez.
The substitutions made a difference, with Hayden orchestrating the play from midfield, creating chances for firstly Sone Aluko, who shot wide from distance, before floating a ball in for Nikica Jelavic, but the striker could only head wide.
Hull’s pressure finally counted when Hayden’s initial effort deflected off the post before his second attempt moments later was spilled by Charlton keeper Nick Pope, falling to Hernandez who capitalised to draw the two teams level.
With eight minutes of added time given the former Palermo striker thought he had put the away side in the lead, only to see his close-range header ruled out for offside. Then with seconds to go, a long ball from Kashi found the head of striker Makienok who delightfully knocked the ball down to Gudmundsson, who headed home to send the Valley crowd into pandemonium.
“I can’t argue with the result as we waited until the first hour to get going,” Hull City manager Steve Bruce said.
“It was disappointing, I’m not going to make excuses but the first 45 minutes was some of the worst we’ve had.
“We have to be better than that if we are going to be successful.
“We played well against Fulham the other night, however, if we play like we did for an hour today, plenty of teams will defeat us and today that seemed to be the case.
“I was not surprised with the stoppage, we were shouting for it and I was delighted at the time, but it came back to haunt us.”