ADEMOLA WILL HAVE EVERYONE LOOKING
Teenager stars for Addicks
THIS LATEST match-winning display from Charlton’s Ademola Lookman will once again have heads turning from clubs further up the English pyramid.
The 19-year-old starlet came off the bench in the first half to replace the injured Ricky Holmes and changed the course of this FA Cup first round tie, playing a starring role in victory over Scunthorpe.
Lookman hit a stunning 25-yard opener, played a hand in the second and sealed the contest late when put through one-on-one for the third.
The Iron had actually enjoyed the better of the game prior to Lookman’s intervention and as such Addicks boss Russell Slade was full of praise for his prize asset.
“We know he’s a major threat and we know he can do special things,” said Slade.
“He did that for us here. The first goal was very special. It was a great finish, left foot, he’s taken it early. The goalkeeper has no chance. He’s one of the few players at this level who is capable of doing that.
“I was pleased with Lookman’s contribution, particularly in front of goal and not only that but in terms of getting back and filling in for us.
“He’s a talent, there is no doubt about. He’s young and he’s going to attract interest.”
Iron boss Graham Alexander also saw Lookman’s first strike as a turning point in the contest.
“The goal that broke the deadlock was a wonder goal to be fair to the lad,’ said the Scunthorpe manager.
“We could have probably dealt with it a little bit better in the build-up up but take nothing away from him, it’s a great strike.
“That goal gave our team a cloud of disappointment for the next five or ten minutes and we conceded another shortly after.
“I’d say Lookman changed the game as in he got the opening goal, but I still feel from half-time onwards that we were the better team.
“But Charlton scored the goals so they deserve to go through at the end of the day.”
The withdrawal of Holmes seemed to lower the mood of the dwindling Charlton faithful ,but his replacement Lookman proved to a catalyst for victory.
After an opening half an hour dominated by the visitors, the England Under-20 international’s wonderful goal changed the mood inside the Valley.
It came when a long ball was only half cleared by the Iron backline and Lookman latched on to it with relish.
The 19-year-old fired a left-footed curling effort out of the reaches of Luke Daniels and into the top corner. It was stunning piece of skill that stood in the face of game’s previous lack of quality.
It was a strike of confidence and that belief suddenly seemed to spread to Lookman’s teammates.
Whereas before Charlton had been passive and short of ideas suddenly they were all over the visitors.
Josh Magennis could have doubled the lead from a Nicky Ajose cross, with Lookman of course involved in the build-up.
When Johnnie Jackson doubled the lead five minutes before the break with a well-placed finish it came after more positive play from Lookman to work the ball into the box.
After half-time League One leaders Scunthorpe came roaring back. They pulled a goal back when substitute Tom Hopper headed in Josh Morris’ corner and continued to push.
Kevin van Veen and Morris both went close but could not beat a defiant Declan Rudd in the Charlton goal.
Of course it was Lookman who sealed the game. Put in by Charlton’s other star performer Fredrik Ulvestad, the winger’s finish beat Daniels despite the keeper getting a hand on the ball.