Match Report
You join us as the light drizzle comes down at the City of Manchester Stadium - with City looking to do the double over today’s opponents.
Of course the massed ranks of the photo press await the snapshot of two managers in the spotlight - messrs Pearce and Curbishley - which duly comes.
And to the match itself, Micah Richards comes in for his full debut, replacing Sun Jihai who sustained a knee injury in training yesterday. David Sommeil also comes into the side and in the process makes his 50th appearance for City.
City started the brighter and after good build-up play between Barton and Sinclair, Vassell nipped in to get there ahead of Myhre and lay off for Cole, his fifth minute shot deflecting wide for a corner.
Five minutes later it was Riera having a shot deflected for a corner. His edge-of-the-box drive hitting Kishishev before going behind.
With the pressure all on Charlton, the breakthrough came on 22 minutes. Richard Dunne lashed the ball home from 18-yards following another City corner. The big Irishman claiming his first goal of the season and his delight was obvious.
Charlton’s first real threat came on 33 minutes. Smertin’s ball in from the right found Marcus Bent and his measured shot skidded just wide of James’ right hand post.
Blues continued to dominate the half without creating much more in the way of clear cut chances but certainly deserve their half time lead.
HALF TIME: CITY 1-0 CHARLTON
One change at the break. City bringing on Georgios Samaras for Trevor Sinclair.
It was a fairly quiet opening to the second 45, but with their first attack of the second half Charlton were level. El Karkouri’s fine low ball from the right was just out of Dunne’s reach and Darren Bent grabbed his 16th goal of the season after 50 minutes.
The scores didn’t stay level for long. Joey Barton worked the space for a lovely cross down the Charlton right and from 12-yards out Georgios Samaras headed City back into the lead. Cue a fine version of ‘Feed the Greek and he will score!’
Buoyed by that City pushed on again and managed to claim an amazing third goal. Joey Barton sent a 30-yard screamer in off a post and raced off to the North Stand to celebrate.
But three minutes later Charlton were back in it. Almost a carbon copy of Samaras’ header but from just six-yards Marcus Bent scored his second goal for the club. This time Kishishev’s ball in leaving David James with no chance of stopping the recent signing from Everton.
City’s super sub Samaras had a great chance to put the Blues clear again, but just had too much time to think about it before slicing a shot wide right-footed, maybe a left foot shot would have been better advised.
Charlton then hit City with a triple substitution, Curbishley showing his intent in at least coming away with one point.
But it was another City sub, Sibierski, who then had a goalbound header well tipped over from Barton’s free kick on 77 minutes.
The game was well alive as we headed into the last ten minutes. Sadly not for Andrew Cole though, he picked up an injury and had to be replaced by Stephen Ireland.
In time added on David James produced the save of the match to deny Charlton. El Karkouri’s powerful volley was superbly stopped by the big keeper.
All in all an eventful second period with four goals coming in that time and City hung on to claim a vital three points and go four ahead of Charlton in the league.
FULL TIME: CITY 3-2 CHARLTON
