Charlton relegated (From This Is Local London)

Charlton relegated

9:15am Tuesday 8th May 2007 in Charlton Match Reports

Charlton Athletic 0 v 2 Tottenham Hotspur

Barclays Premiership

Report by Gary Haines

Photos to follow

PLUCKY Charlton saw their seven-season stay in the Premiership finally extinguished on Monday night.

The Addicks failed to get the win they needed to take the fight to the final day of the season as they were undone by an early goal from Dimitar Berbatov and a late strike from Jermain Defoe as Tottenham Hotspur took all three points in a 2-0 victory.

The Bulgarian striker spun away from Talal El Karkouri before firing home in the seventh minute - and try as they might the hosts could not force their way back into the game.

Charlton largely dominated in the second period as UEFA Cup-chasing Spurs clung on to preserve their own aspirations - and then Defoe finally consigned the Addicks to Championship football next season in the last minute.

Alan Pardew could ask no more of his players after a valiant effort at The Valley and the standing ovation the players received at the final whistle - and in the post-match lap around the pitch - showed how much the fans are with the club.

But when the dust settles on the season it was as much about the club's wretched start to the campaign than their failure to beat Paul Robinson when it really mattered in the penultimate match that will be defining.

That they were still in with a chance with two matches to go is testament to the way they have embraced the philosophy of manager Alan Pardew since he arrived at The Valley, just a handful of hours before Santa Claus.

The turnaround has been there for all to see but in the end Charlton just ran out of games, something that always looked a possibility.

On the night there was spirit, effort and endeavour in abundance, with Berbatov's run and drive the only blemish in the opening period.

Indeed, the hosts hit back encouragingly and things may have been different had Alexandre Song got a slice more direction on a diving header and Darren Bent a touch more accuracy on a low drive.

And despite knocking at the Spurs door throughout the second half, they couldn't find a way through the white-shirted rearguard in which Ledley King, and particularly Michael Dawson, held firm, making sure Robinson was not significantly tested.

And just to rub things in it was a former Addicks youngster in Defoe who made absolutely sure at the death, finding the net like he all too often does against his former employers.

The big team news saw boss Alan Pardew make two changes ahead of the clash against a Tottenham side that had plenty to play for themselves.

UEFA Cup football was on the agenda for Martin Jol's side and Ben Thatcher missed out on the chance of facing his former club through suspension.

Hermann Hreidarsson reverted to left-back and that meant a recall in the centre of defence for Souleymane Diawara.

Across midfield injury ruled out Jerome Thomas so Zheng Zhi came back into the starting line-up and there was a place for young winger Lloyd Sam on the bench.

Newly-crowned supporters' player of the year Scott Carson also made his final appearance of the season for the hosts with the terms of his loan agreement from Liverpool preventing him playing at Anfield on Sunday's last day.

European-chasing Spurs boasted the formidable strike partnership of Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov, joint winners of the Premiership of the month award.

Fit-again Ledley King also started at the back for the visitors who were just outside the European places at the start of play - with Defoe on the bench.

After more pre-match opera singing from tenor Martin Toal the home crowd was in good voice from the opening whistle and, although Spurs started brightly, it was the Addicks who fashioned the first opening on five minutes.

Working a quick corner on the right the ball was switched to Darren Ambrose and his low centre thudded against Michael Dawson - scorer of an own goal in the fixture at White Hart Lane earlier this season - and then hit Marcus Bent before landing in the arms of Paul Robinson.

But it was Spurs who struck first two minutes later with Berbatov continuing his rich vein of form.

There seemed little on as King hoisted a long ball forward but suddenly it was Bulgaria against Morocco as Berbatov hunted down Talal El Karkouri.

One neat flick from the striker allowed him to ease away from El Karkouri, however, and he raced through to fire past Carson and give the Addicks an even bigger mountain to climb.

The home defender required lengthy treatment after falling awkwardly when Berbatov strode through and after the restart was delayed Jermaine Jenas screwed a 10th-minute effort wide as the hosts attempted to regroup.

Spurs continued to show real incision, moving the ball around nicely and forcing the hosts to work hard for possession.

And from one long spell of possession the visitors worked a 19th-minute opening for Teemu Tainio, whose angled effort from the edge of the box was expertly fielded by Carson.

El Karkouri's flick at a Luke Young free-kick forced a save from Robinson midway through the half and Jenas had to clear from deep inside his box after the England keeper failed to gather a corner under pressure from Hreidarsson.

Zheng saw a shot charged down a minute shy of the half-hour mark after some dogged persistence from skipper Darren Bent.

Three times the striker went for a bouncing ball before the ball broke to Zheng and was eventually blocked.

This was much better for the hosts and a diving Darren Bent just failed to make contact with a tempting cross from the right from Ambrose.

Carson had a hairy moment 10 minutes before the break as he advanced for a high ball but had to spill it as he threatened to topple over the line.

Eventually the ball was cleared and the Addicks spurned a great chance to draw level on 37 minutes with Song instrumental.

The midfielder played a fine slide rule pass to Darren Bent and the striker nipped away from Paul Robinson but was forced wide.

The striker checked back and clipped the ball across for the on-loan Arsenal midfielder, who had continued his run, but the diving midfielder was left to beat the turf in frustration after flinging himself full length to head wide of the left upright.

The hosts were in again on 43 minutes as a long ball was flicked on by Marcus Bent for his namesake who hared down the middle but drove wide of Robinson's right upright.

Hreidarsson earned a ticking off from Mark Halsey after a tip-off from the linesman and the hosts continued to press in the closing stages of the half.

Ricardo Rocha made way for Anthony Gardner at the break for the visitors and Carson had to beat away a drive from Berbatov two and a half minutes in after a neat flick from Lennon.

With the hosts pushing on, Spurs were a threat on the break and intricate play involving Keane and Berbatov opened up the red backline before El Karkouri put the ball behind for a corner.

There were several nearly moments for the hosts thereafter, with most coming from the right side, as the Addicks piled on the pressure.

Ambrose saw one low cross cut out after outmuscling his man on the right and Charlton had penalty claims turned down on 59 minutes as Zheng's burst was halted by Dawson's slicing challenge.

Hreidarsson got up to meet the subsequent corner but Keane was on hand close to the line to hack clear.

Spurs sent on Steed Malbranque for Lennon on the hour probably with an eye on bolstering the midfield ranks in light of some strong home pressure.

In a brief foray forward Berbatov headed wide at a corner for the visitors but with the home crowd still in full voice the hosts continued to press.

"Attack, attack, attack," was the chorus from around SE7 with the minutes ticking away and Malbranque blazed over on the break before Pardew launched a double offensive.

On came Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Sam for Marcus Bent and the tireless Song with 19 minutes remaining.

Young kept the dream alive with a firm block on Malbranque as the game - and possibly Charlton's seven-season stay in the Premiership entered its final 15 minutes.

Darren Bent failed to react sufficiently as a dangerous Zheng cross flashed across the face of goal, the striker's rather bundled effort landing in the arms of Robinson.

Ambrose rattled a drive against his own player in Hasselbaink and even when Darren Bent got away in the box and pulled the ball back it was a Spurs player who cleared.

It was that sort of night.

Jol sent on Defoe for Keane six minutes from time and Zheng made way for Bryan Hughes as Pardew rolled the dice for one final time.

Sam's cross was sliced narrowly wide of his own upright by King as the hosts still pressed and after a Holland rive was blocked, Robinson smothered at the feet of Hasselbaink.

"Always look on the bright side of life," sang the home faithful as the seconds ebbed away and there was a six-man strikeforce for the hosts as Valley Floyd Road rang out around the ground.

But the final nail came in the final minute as Spurs struck home their second.

And as brilliant as the home crowd had been they must all have thought the arrival of Defoe was an ominous one.

And so it proved as the striker surged on to a clipped ball over the top and lashed the ball over Carson and in.

The dream over, still Charlton surged forward - but the damage had been done.

Halsey blew his whistle for the last time, caught the ball and dashed for the tunnel.

Disappointed? Yes. Despondent? Of course. But those fans that cheered and cheered some more after the final whistle were full of praise for a heroic effort from their heroes.

The Championship beckons but with spirit and effort like this, surely it will just be a 12-month stay before the Addicks are back in the big time again.

MATCH FACTS:

CHARLTON: Carson; Young, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri, Diawara; Ambrose, Song (Sam, 71), Holland, Zheng (Hughes, 84), M Bent (Hasselbaink, 71), D Bent.

SUBS NOT USED: Randolph, Bougherra.

ATT: 26,339