The Championship

Saturday March 1st, 2008 - Sheffield Utd 0 - 2 Charlton Athletic

Alan Pardew completed the loan swoop of Chelsea starlet, Scott Sinclair, on Thursday, and was thrown straight into the Addicks squad for this vital game in the "steel city". Having lost the weekend before, Pardew reverted to a 4-5-1 formation, with a recall for Chris Iwelumo up front on his own.

Andy Gray, a £1.5m signing in the January transfer window, was dropped altogether from the squad, having failed to score a goal in his seven appearances, with Luke Varney switched to the right flank and Jerome Thomas back in the side on the left.

The game started on a lively note and Charlton started off better, playing its crisp, flowing football. It was Matt Holland who created the Addicks' first attack after 10 minutes with a low drive that Utd 'keeper Paddy Kenny clawed away to safety.

Greg Halford, who received criticism the following week, on loan from Sunderland, was causing mayhem in the Sheffield Utd danger area with his long throws, while Jerome Thomas and Kelly Youga were combining well down the left.

15 minutes in, Charlton's impressive play nearly created the game's first goal. Thomas received a telling pass from Holland, played a neat one-two with Youga, who crossed first time to find Iwelumo, but his header was off target.

Chinaman Zheng Zhi, ever present in the Charlton side this season, was a quiet figure in the middle of the park for the first half-an-hour, but came alive with a rasping shot that went just wide and then creating a chance for Luke Varney, who failed to convert from 15 yards.

Sheffield Utd, under new management with Kevin Blackwell, had a struggle to create any clear cut opportunities up until the 35th minute, when Speed fed Billy Sharp, who swivelled past Paddy McCarthy, but shot way wide of the target. Charlton 'keeper, Nicky Weaver was having a quiet first-half as the Londoners continued to press forward, and on the stroke of half-time, they took the lead after another Halford throw into Sheffield Utd's penalty area.

His majestic throw was flicked on by Zheng, with the ball dropping perfectly for Iwelumo to steal in and stab home his 14th goal of the season.  

It was no more than Charlton deserved and perfect timing as the players went in for half time seconds after.

In the second-half, the home side still struggled to get any rhythm going, with the ''Bramall Lane Library'' finding it difficult to get behind their team. Sheffield Utd's supporters were so quiet, you could hear Alan Pardew barking out instructions from the away end.

Blackwell made two changes on the hour mark, bringing on Jon Stead and Keith Gillespie, but it made no difference to the home support as Charlton went in search of a second goal. McCarthy and Sodje, immense in the heart of the defence, won every aerial battle against Stead and James Beattie, and it was McCarthy's header that sent Zheng Zhi free down the left-wing after 70 minutes.

Having beaten a challenge from Alan Quinn, the China captain cut inside and had his shot palmed away by Kenny to his right. From the resulting corner, Ambrose whipped in a great cross and Iwelumo rose abover Utd captain Chris Morgan, but his header went over the crossbar. 

Weaver in the Charlton goal was made to work on 75 minutes as Utd offered little, as a free-kick from Speed was flicked on by Stead and found the unmarked Billy Sharp six yards out, but his header was straight at the former Manchester City 'keeper. Utd then came alive moments later when a corner was only half cleared by Charlton's defense, as Alan Quinn drove the ball back into the danger area, but his cross-cum-shot missed a sea of players and went narrowly wide of the post.

It would have been harsh on the Addicks to concede, but on 82 minutes, they got the killer goal that put any faint Utd hopes to rest. After Luke Varney's teasing cross was cleared away for a corner, Ambrose's flighted delivery was met by the arrival of Sam Sodje, who rose to powerfully head past Kenny and give the Londoners a 0-2 lead and the win.

Sodje, on loan from Reading, was terrific throughout and Charlton fans will be hoping that they can secure him permanently in the summer. He wheeled away in delight after scoring his third goal this season, before an amusing goal celebration with his feet.

Pardew sent on Scott Sinclair with eight minutes remaining, and he nearly gifted Utd a goal after losing the ball inside his own half, but McCarthy cleared the danger once again with last-ditch tackle. As Charlton started to wind down the clock, Jose Semedo was brought on to anchor the midfield, but was on the end of a terrible late tackle in the final minute from Alan Quinn.

The referee had no option but to show Quinn a straight red card as Utd's fans started to flee Bramall Lane in their droves. It was a poor performance from their side, as they contemplate another season in the Championship.

For Charlton, the only direction is onwards and upwards as they hold onto fifth spot in the league, before a crucial home game on Tuesday night against second-placed Bristol City, which could blow the race for promotion open once again. Expect the most exciting race the league has had in years, with five teams all competing for the top two places.

Charlton: Weaver 7, Halford 7, Sodje 8, McCarthy 8, Youga 7, Ambrose 7 (Semedo 5), Holland 8, Zheng 7, Thomas 7, Varney 7 (Sinclair 5), Iwelumo 8.

Subs Not Used: Elliot, Fortune, Cook.

Attendance: 23,180