Addicks move out of drop zone (From This Is Local London)

Addicks move out of drop zone

10:10am Saturday 7th April 2007 in Charlton Match Reports

Manchester City 0 v 0 Charlton Athletic

Barclays Premiership

Report by Gary Haines

CHARLTON hauled themselves out of the relegation zone with a hard-earned point at the City of Manchester Stadium.

It was a good Friday for the Addicks as they moved out of the bottom three for the first time since September.

In an instantly forgettable encounter in the north west significant goalmouth action could be counted on one hand.

Scott Carson saved well from Joey Barton in the first half and Nedum Onuoha headed horribly off-target after the restart while Zheng Zhi prodded Charlton's best chance wide of the post 16 minutes from time.

A point, however, did strike a psychological blow across the Pennines with Sheffield United now occupying the third and final relegation slot thanks to Charlton's greater goal tally.

And it extended the Addicks' unbeaten run to five matches, with Pardew's side showing renewed grit on the road.

Amdy Faye, back in the starting line-up, headed an effort from Emile Mpenza away from close to the line in the early stages as the hosts started brightly.

The Belgium striker was a lively presence all evening in a match that had little flair and sophistication.

But it may have ended with all three points in the closing stages as the Bents combined to send Zheng down the middle.

But Onuoha got just enough pressure on the Chinese and the ball eventually rolled wide of the upright.

In terms of team news Charlton made two changes with Marcus Bent coming in for Dennis Rommedahl and the striker was mainly utilised wide on the right.

And Amdy Faye was also back in the starting XI in midfield alongside Alexandre Song with Matt Holland the man to make way.

At the back there was still no Ben Thatcher with a nagging injury denying the former City left-back from appearing against his former club.

The Addicks were going for their first double of the season as well as looking to end a barren run in the north west stretching back to January 2005.

Charlton were Bent double at this very location last season but although both strikers were on target it was City who won a pulsating clash 3-2.

Chinese ace Zheng, sporting a natty new haircut, lined up opposite countryman Jihai Sun, and in Thatcher's absence, Hermann Hreidarsson continued at left-back.

City, with Mpenza operating on his own up front with Darius Vassell wide on the left, started brightly and forced a couple of early corners.

And from one half cleared flag-kick fell Michael Ball hoisted the ball back in and it fell for Mpenza only for Scott Carson to make a smothering stop at the expense of another corner.

While the first three were ordinary to say the least the fourth, on four minutes, from England ace Barton, almost provided the opening goal.

Belgian striker Mpenza won his header ahead of Carson and the ball was looping in only for Faye to head clear from close to the line.

It was a goal-saving contribution from the midfielder while for a moment at the other end Talal El Karkouri thought he had given his side the lead when he turned home a free-kick via the head of Andreas Isaksson.

Unfortunately for the Addicks the Moroccan was offside when the ball was delivered by Jerome Thomas and the goal was rightly ruled out.

Souleymane Diawara, wearing gloves despite the mild weather, got across well in front of Mpenza and the striker could not get enough purchase on a shot from close range after a quick throw had allowed Stephen Ireland to centre from the right.

The hosts were well on top in the opening stanza but following another poor Barton corner Thomas raced away down the right but could not generate enough velocity on his pull-back to find skipper Darren Bent in the middle.

El Karkouri adjusted himself well to make an important overhead clearance with Mpenza lurking with intent behind him.

At the other end a dangerous-looking cross from Zheng in the 24th minute was destined for Darren Bent until home skipper Richard Dunne's intervention almost put the ball past his own keeper.

The best chance to date arrived the way of the hosts in the 28th minute with Mpenza provider this time.

The striker made ground on the right and sensibly teed up Barton on the edge of the box only for the midfielder to steer the ball wide of the far post.

A stinging drive from Barton five minutes later warmed the hands of Carson after a clever back-heel by Michael Johnson.

The large visiting contingent launched into cries of "we are staying up", and with Carson in such stellar form this season it is easy to see why.

The keeper provided a moment of magic right in front of his own fans five minutes before the interval, plunging to his left to turn another Barton drive behind for a corner.

It was a top stop from the keeper who thrust out an arm after Barton fastened on to a touch from Ireland.

That was the last action of the opening period and 12 minutes had passed since the restart before Faye's wayward header at a deep free-kick fell well wide.

It was all rather scrappy, despite the best efforts of referee Alan Wiley to let the game flow, with at times the ball appearing to be like a hot potato for both sides.

City spurned the first effort of note on the hour - and it was a good chance too.

The hosts worked a short corner on the right and Johnson's cross was perfect for an unchallenged Nedum Onuoha only for the right-back to make contact with the top of his head rather than the forehead with the net result a header that flew off target.

Then, moments later, Barton got away from Faye on the left but saw his low cross cut out by El Karkouri and Pardew looked to the heavens as his side went to sleep at another corner.

Thankfully it came to nothing.

At the other end Thomas has an effort blocked amid a packed goalmouth midway through the half after Song's intelligent pass allowed Luke Young to cross from the right.

Sun's late lunge on Marcus Bent earned the midfielder a ticking off from Wiley and in the 74th minute the visitors had their best chance of the match.

Marcus Bent engineered the opening on the right, picking out namesake Darren inside and he in turn sent Zheng clear down the middle.

However, the Chinese midfielder couldn't quite get the ball under control in the face of some heavy pressure and the ball eventually rolled agonisingly wide of the right upright.

Trevor Sinclair and Georgios Samaras replaced Ireland and Vassell before the restart and Carson showed neat footwork and good composure to snatch the ball with Mpenza threatening again.

Ball fired high over the bar as the match drifted into its final five minutes and fans started to filter out as Sylvain Distin received late attention after colliding with Hermann Hreidarsson at a free-kick.

Samaras sent a diving header wide for City with the game already into injury time and the Addicks ate up some more time as Rommedahl replaced Thomas in the third and final minute.

And that was that as the final whistle sounded seconds later.

Not a classic, but this could well be a valuable point come May. Time will tell.

Charlton: Carson; Young, Hreidarsson; El Karkouri, Diawara; Zheng, Faye, Song, Thomas (Rommedahl 90); M Bent, D Bent.

Subs (not used): Randolph, Bougherra, Ambrose, Lisbie.

Attendance: 41,424

Report by Gary Haines