NEW GUY TO HORROR SHOW
Patrick Bamford then showed an excellent touch to latch on to Grant Leadbitter’s inch-perfect pass and rounded Alex Smithies, but the angle was too tight and the Chelsea loan player fired wide.
Bamford had another shot deflected wide as he demanded a penalty and then, from Leadbitter’s corner, the striker headed wide from three yards.
It was a case of deja vu in the second half.
Bamford did well to reach Adam Clayton’s ball over the top and teed up Kike, who side-footed wide with the goal at his mercy.
This was f ollowed by a clever back-heel from Kike to Tomlin, who surged to the edge of the next game.” In contrast, it was Charlton’s 10th match without a win, a dismal run which saw the end of Bob Peeters’ reign.
Coach Damian Matthew and goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts took charge yesterday while Luzon’s work permit is processed.
Matthew said: “It has been a tough week and you don’t know how players are going to react, but we can’t use that as an excuse. You have to ignore what’s gone on.
“They are a good side but area and blazed over as the unmarked Bamford showed disgust. Middlesbrough old boy Jacob Butterfield almost stunned the Riverside when cutting in from the right, but he drove narrowly wide.
And within seconds the home fans were off their seats.
Tomlin turned superbly from 25 yards and smashed the ball beyond Smithies we were disappointing and conceded some poor goals.”
The Hornets were quickly into their stride with a header by Ighalo and a thunderbolt shot by Deeney that Etheridge did well to survive, let alone save.
Surprise
And it was no surprise when they took the lead after 15 minutes, Craig Cathcart smashing the ball into the net following Miguel Layun’s cross.
Ten minutes later Deeney to get Boro up and running after 61 minutes.
The Terriers responded. Butterfield forced a superb finger-tipped save from Konstantopoulos, Nahki Wells hit a post and Konstantopoulos went full stretch to stop Wells – twice – before Daniel Ayala headed off the line.
But in time added on Tomlin raced half the length of the field to shoot into an unguarded net with Smithies having joined the search for the equaliser.
Karanka was delighted with the win and said: “At half time I was concerned as we had enough clear chances.
“But after scoring twice I feel sure on Tuesday against Cardiff we will be more relaxed. When Lee Tomlin has made it 2-0 when he latched on to a long ball from Gabriele Angella, outmuscling Andre Bikey before stabbing the ball past Etheridge, the goal taking him ahead of John Barnes in the club’s all-time hit list.
A minute before half-time the game was over as a contest after Juan Carlos Paredes ran on to Layun’s pass and centered for Ighalo to score from close range.
On 58 minutes Ighalo scored his second, the Charlton defence static as the ball you expect something to happen.”
Terriers boss Chris Powell said: “I thought this was one of our best away performances.
“Strangely, their first goal seemed to kick-start us and in the end we didn’t get the point I thought we deserved.
“It’s tough to take as we more than matched them.” the Nigerian headed home Daniel Tozser’s corner.
Tal Ben Haim almost scored an own-goal, but in the third minute of stoppage time Tozser made it five with a stunning 20-yard free-kick.