Southampton claimed all three points in a scrappy relegation dogfight to push
hapless Charlton deeper into trouble at The Dell.
Moroccan international Hassan Kachloul put the home side in front after eight
minutes before Andy Hunt equalised just five minutes later, the first goal from
a Charlton striker in open play since November 2.
Patrick Colleter restored the Saints' advantage after 52 minutes with a
thumping left foot drive past Sasa Ilic, the goalkeeper looking slow to get down
to the angled drive,
And the excellent James Beattie wrapped up the Saints' fourth win of the
season with the final kick of the game in injury time.
The crucial win meant Dave Jones' side leapfrogged their opponents to leave
Alan Curbishley's men just one off the bottom after their eighth league defeat
in a row.
The Addicks had won the corresponding fixture between these sides 5-0 at the
Valley to briefly head the table back in August.
But they have now gone 11 Premiership games without a win and look in need of
a miracle to escape an instant return to the Nationwide League in May.
Southampton manager Dave Jones went all out for the win from the start,
pushing Hughes up front alongside Beattie and Ostenstad against Charlton's back
four.
And the gamble paid instant dividends when Saints took the lead after eight
minutes through Kachloul.
Danny Mills was booked for a foul on Mark Hughes and Patrick Colleter's
resulting free kick caused panic in the visitor's defence.
Hughes' shot was blocked but Mills and Richard Rufus failed to get the ball
clear as it stuck beneath their feet and the Moroccan international Kachloul
pounced to score his third goal of the season.
But just five minutes later Charlton were level with another scrappy goal from
Hunt.
Neil Redfearn's initial left foot shot was cleared off the line by Colleter
but when Mark Kinsella swung the ball back in, Hunt glanced a header past Paul
Jones into the far corner.
Hunt then went close to adding a second but his shot rolled inches wide of
Jones' right hand post as Saints' composure was rocked.
After a bright start the game descended rapidly with a series of niggling
challenges with Youds, Hunt and Beattie all booked by referee Graham Poll.
Hughes showed what he is still capable of when he briefly broke free of his
shackles, splitting the defence with a superb ball with the outside of the right
foot towards Egil Ostenstad forcing Ilic to race from his line to clear the
danger.
The home side then thought they had good claims for a penalty on 40 minutes
when Rufus appeared to head the ball against his own hand when under no real
pressure, but Mr Poll waved away the claims.
And just seconds before the interval Saints almost went ahead, Beattie beating
Ilic to Palmer's deep cross only for Mills to get back to clear off the line.
Hughes was lucky not to be sent off just three minutes into the second half
when he appeared to kick Youds off the ball in view of the referee who felt a
yellow card was sufficient punishment.
Moments earlier, Ilic had spilled Jason Dodd's deep cross to give away a
corner from which Kachloul flashed a 25-yard drive just over the ball.
Southampton didn't have long to wait to go ahead however, Colleter beating
Ilic from fully 25-yards with a left foot drive for his first goal for the club
since joining from Marseilles just before Christmas.
The visitors then almost fashioned an instant response but Dodd reacted
quickly to hack over his own bar as Robinson closed in after Jones had spilled
Mills' cross.
Charlton began to turn up the pressure as they went after a vital equaliser
but they struggled to create any clear cut chances.
At the other end Hughes almost increased the lead with one of his trademark
spectacular overhead kicks, his right foot effort from just inside the area
hitting the top of the crossbar as Ilic flapped.
Manager Alan Curbishley brought on new loan signing Martin Pringle on for the
injured Steve Jones after 72 minutes but there was to be no fairytale debut for
the Swedish international.
Newton brought the best from Jones with a 15-yard volley but at the other end
Ostenstad forced a good save from Ilic and Powell had to intercept Palmer's
goalbound effort.
And Saints rubbed salt in the wounds with a third deep in injury time, Ilic
only able to palm away Ostenstad's effort into the path of Beattie who steered
the ball into the empty net.
Teams
Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Colleter, Palmer, Monkou, Lundekvam,
Hughes, Oakley, Ostenstad, Beattie, Kachloul.
Subs Not Used: Hiley, Howells, Bridge, Basham, Stensgaard.
Booked: Beattie, Hughes.
Goals: Kachloul 8, Colleter 52, Beattie 89.
Charlton: Ilic, Mills, Powell, Redfearn, Rufus, Youds, Kinsella,
Newton, Robinson, Hunt, Jones (Pringle 71).
Subs Not Used: Brown, Parker, Konchesky, Royce.
Booked: Mills, Youds, Hunt.
Goals: Hunt 13.
Att: 15,222
Ref: G Poll (Tring).
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook