The pantomime season arrived at The Valley with a freak own goal by Richard
Rufus as Aston Villa returned to the top of the Premiership table.
But Charlton will not be laughing on a night of high farce - there was also a
half-time appeal for a referee to volunteer from the crowd and a streaker who
braved Arctic conditions - after Dion Dublin's cross deflected off Rufus into
the net in only the third minute.
Good fortune has not always been on Villa's side this season, with Chelsea
having claimed a 94th-minute winner two weeks ago, but if that is what needed to
win titles, they had it in abundance against Charlton.
Trailing to defender Rufus' own goal, the home side launched a spirited
second-half revival but hit the woodwork twice, had one effort cleared off the
line and came up against a reserve keeper, Michael Oakes, in phenomenal form.
Their spirit and adventure had merited an equaliser but Villa hung on grimly,
with manager John Gregory having long abandoned his starting 4-3-3 formation to
resort to his tried and tested 5-3-2.
The bold approach in keeping faith with the players who came back to secure
victory against Arsenal nine days ago after trailing 2-0 at half-time had
appeared to work early on though as the visitors completely controlled the
game.
Charlton were weakened at the back with Eddie Youds out suspended and the
errors which have led to their failure to win any of their past seven League
games resurfaced almost immediately as Rufus conceded his second own goal of the
season.
Gareth Southgate played the ball forward and Stan Collymore, back in the
starting line-up as Gareth Barry was rested, flicked the ball on for Dublin to
chase towards the dead-ball line.
The England centre-forward, who appeared at The Valley for Coventry earlier
this season, crossed the ball more in hope than expectation and Rufus was left
in acres of space to clear.
However, the ball bounced off the defender's thigh and keeper Sasa Ilic was
left to look on helplessly as it rolled into the far corner of his net.
Two minutes later, Charlton appealed for a penalty as Steve Jones crumpled in
the area after the faintest of touches from Southgate, who angrily confronted
the striker on the ground as referee Steve Dunn waved play-on.
But they were outnumbered at the back whenever Villa piled forward in numbers
and developed a siege mentality that ensured that it was always the visitors who
capitalised on any loose clearances.
Ilic was called upon to tip a shot from Dublin around the post, while Chris
Powell denied Collymore with a last-ditch block, Ian Taylor shot just over and
Julian Joachim was a constant menace with his pace.
Charlton did have their moments on the break, with Rufus confounding an
instantly forgettable evening by missing a free header when the ball hit his
shoulder, while Danny Mills volleyed over the bar from five yards out.
Even when Andy Hunt and Steve Jones both went for a cross from Robinson, they
still conspired to miss the target, although Hunt did come closer with a looping
header.
At least the home side showed more adventure just before the break but
Dublin's volley, which Mark Kinsella headed off the line, was a warning sign for
the second-half.
The restart was however delayed for 10 minutes as referee Steve Dunn had
injured a hamstring and a bizarre tannoy announcement was made appealing for a
qualified referee to come forward - almost a case of 'is there a doctor in the
house?'
Boots were finally found for the volunteer fourth official and the arrival of
Gary Willard as Dunn's replacement coincided with an immediate resurgence by
Charlton.
First Shaun Newton left marker Alan Wright rooted to the spot with a sparkling
turn in the penalty area but placed his shot just inches wide of the far post.
Then John Robinson was denied by a truly stunning one-handed diving save from
Oakes to tip the ball over the bar.
And when the keeper appeared to have been beaten by a header from Carl Tiler
after a scramble following the ensuing corner, up popped the diminutive figure
of Wright behind him to nod the ball off the line.
Villa boss Gregory had seen enough and immediately sent on centre-back
Riccardo Scimeca for Collymore to reform his tried and tested central back three
formation just 10 minutes into the half.
Still Charlton pressed forward, their workrate increasing by the minute, and
their bravery was only outdone by the streaker, whose attempts at playfully
slapping Oakes made a mockery of the slow reaction of the stewards.
After that impromptu delay, Villa should have sealed the match. First Joachim
broke clear, outpacing the Charlton defence, but his touch let him down, Ilic
blocked and Taylor's follow-up effort deflected off the shoulder of Tiler.
Then Dublin's header was saved well by Ilic but even that did not come close
to equalling Oakes' diving effort to tip a Neil Redfearn free-kick up onto the
bar.
But still Charlton would not lie down. They hit the woodwork yet again within
a minute as Tiler's header rattled the top of the bar and frantically threw
players forward in the four minutes of injury-time.
It was simply not their night and with luck like this, their battle against
relegation will be tough. John Gregory was certainly not complaining though.
Teams:
Charlton: Ilic, Mills, Powell, Redfearn, Rufus,
Newton (Mendonca 70), Kinsella, Hunt, Robinson, S. Jones, Tiler.
Subs Not Used: Brown, K. Jones, Konchesky, Royce.
Booked: S. Jones, Tiler, Mills.
Aston Villa: Oakes, Wright, Southgate, Ehiogu, Watson, Taylor,
Collymore (Scimeca 56), Thompson, Joachim, Dublin, Hendrie.
Subs Not Used: Charles, Grayson, Vassell, Rachel.
Booked: Watson, Taylor, Thompson.
Goals: Rufus 3 og.
Att: 20,043
Ref: S Dunn (Bristol).
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