TIP TOP TOM RUINS SOLLY’S DOUBLE TON
CHRIS Solly’s 200th Charlton Athletic game was one to forget as they sank to the bottom of the Championship after three setpiece goals consigned them to defeat at Fulham.
Despite the number of non-Londoners in the starting lineups, both sides were aware of this game’s deeper significance, with several robust challenges in the opening exchanges. One of those locals missing was the highly-rated Jordan Cousins as the visitors made wholesale midfield changes.
This led to a midfield-dominated game with a gusting wind and fine rain throughout suiting Charlton better. Johann Gudmundsson came closest, rebounding wide after the defence blocked his initial effort.
A goal from a set-piece looked the most likely way to score for either side. Fulham reached into their bag of tricks and Scott Parker cracked the bar and the rebound fell to Tom Cairney whose cool effort beat the man on the line and hit the net.
Slavisa Jokanovic indicated that he may change how he uses Cairney: “He’s a quality player. We’ll use him more in the middle rather than cutting in from the side now.”
The goal didn’t silence Charlton, as Simon Makienok came close to a reply with a side footed effort but both teams went in at half-time lacking in attacking fluency. Fulham almost ended the half brilliantly with a Cairney break and some unselfish play from Moussa Dembele, but Ross McCormack cleared the bar with an effort not befitting one the league’s best.
Jose Riga felt Charlton deserved more from the first half: “If you look just at the result, maybe it looked like we didn’t exist in the game, but I’m not sure we deserved to be behind at half-time. We know set pieces are very important and we conceded three times the same way, that’s the main problem and a big one, especially in England.
“We had opportunities but it’s about the last action, last pass, last choice, but we continued to create, even towards the end.”
After the restart, Callum Harriott gave a glimpse of what Charlton could be as he continued to find space, and made Andy Lonergan punch away an awkward effort.
Fulham were dominating at setpieces, however, and substitute Michael Madl, doubled the lead with a short-range header that took advantage of miscommunication between the Addicks’ defence and McCormack’s superb delivery.
Dembele almost killed Charlton off shortly after leaving Stephen Henderson watching as the ball crashed down from the bar and out.
Fulham had found another gear as Cairney advanced on goal but was denied. The game fizzled out after that. Gudmundsson attempted to restore some pride but Lonergan held his drive. Another poorly cleared corner allowed Cairney to break out a party-piece volley from 20 yards on his left foot.
Despite the result, both managers believe they can steer their respective club to safety.
Riga said: “We are very disappointed with the results, I am the first certainly, when you see the team on the pitch and see the possibilities but we must give what we have game after game.
“We continue to find the solution. We need a win. I still believe in my players, I still hope and believe that altogether we can find a solution.”
Jokanovic had already turned his attention to Tuesday’s trip to Leeds and said: “Mathematically, it’s very simple where we are right now but generally I am not panicked or pessimistic. We have enough to win games and I’m only thinking about the next game on Tuesday night.”