FT REPORT: Charlton 2-1 Hull City

FT REPORT: Charlton Athletic vs Hull City

Brandon Smith reports

Hulls trip to South London on Saturday meant the clash between two teams who hoped to continue their unbeaten record with Charlton coming off the back of a well fought draw at Derby which saw last seasons joint top scorer Tony Watt snatch a goal, however the Irishman was an injury doubt for the addicks. 

it was winter 1985 when Hull last beat Charlton at the Valley and they were looking to try and renew that record with Sone Aluko In great form. A relatively unchanged squad for the Tigers with Akpom and Jelavic continuing their partnership from the start.

Charlton, who are still without their Goalkeeper Henderson through injury, continued to use loan signing Makienok as their frontman. 

The Tigers had their first opportunity at goal written off through Nikica Jelavić being offside only for Icelandic talisman Johann Berg Gudmundsonn to then win a free kick in the attacking half but nothing was to come of it. 

He was the first however to have a pop at goal with his shot being blocked but nonetheless showed the confidence that Guy Luzon has instilled in his men. Not that Gudmundsonn needs a confidence boost for him to shoot. 

The addicks continued to press and Zakarya Bergdich was the second man to have an opportunity at McGregor's net but this once again came to nothing after it was blocked by Curtis Davies. 

Disaster then struck for Charlton when former Barcelona and Tottenham youngster Christian Cabellos had to be replaced through injury. However Karlan Ahearne-Grant is by no means any less of a player after scoring an impressive goal in the league cup and is another of the many impressive youngsters to come out of Charltons youth squad.

He made an immediate impact in the match with some good link up play with Ahmed Kashi leading to a shot, but once again this led to nothing as it went begging. 

Possession was against Hull but they were slowly wrestling into the match with an effort from Meyler producing a few ooh's from the away fans. However Charlton were without doubt more dominant throughout the half with more tackles shots and Corners than the Visitors.

It was a hot day in London and the sweat must have been getting in Ahearne-Grant's eyes as he once again fired wide after a cutting through ball from former Black cat El  Hadji-Ba just before the break.

The second half saw Charlton come flying out the traps and 52 minutes, the valley was rocking. 

Gudmundsonn is never far from the goals and once again he played a key part in scoring by whipping in a cross for the 6"7 Dane, Makienok, to header home from close range to give Charlton the lead and to give him his first goal of the season. 

Nikica Jelavic was then ruthlessly brought down by Hadji-Ba to give the referee a reason for the first yellow card of the game. 

A carbon copy substitution from Wednesday saw Isaac Hayden replace Tom Huddlestone who's bad form since Hulls relegation continues. 

Ahmed Elmohamady then picked picked out Chuba Akpom well which called Nick Pope into action who has performed well in the start of this season.

Hull needed a response and so Uruguayan Abel Hernandez replaced Chuba Akpom. However an immediate response was not to be given as all he could do was give Charlton a free kick after a random foul on Charlton defender Patrick Bauer. 

If a yellow card was giving Luzon the shakes, prospect of an injury definitely did as El Hadji-Ba was replaced by Regan Charles-Cook (Charlton seem to be enjoying their double barrel names as of late).

Quick firing shots from Hull then tested Charltons defence with Robertson and Meyler both having shots before Meyler blasted high and wide for a goal kick. 

Both sides were going for it as Harriot replaced Bergdich for Charlton and Andrew Robertson was exchanged for Sam Clucas giving the midfielder his 3 game in a Hull shirt since his Arrival from Chesterfield this summer.

Charles Cook was immediately In the mix, hitting a shot as the ball came in from the corner which whisked past the post. 

After that Hull went for it and Abel Hernandez's shot was blocked well but only for the Tigers to put pressure on the Addicks defence forcing a corner from Bauer. Hull were then off their seats as Jelavić connected with it but were sent back down thinking what could have been as it went sailing wide. 

There must be something about Hull and bad keepers as the Charlton keeper then made a horrendous mistake leaving Abel Hernandez a simple tap in. McGregor will know the feeling all too well...

More bad news was to come from Pope as he was then blighted by injury straight after his error. With Henderson injured we may well see Dimitar Mitov between the sticks for Charltons trip to Peterborough in the League cup.

Gudmundsonn then had a chance late on to score a winner but his shot was one that had Charlton fans sighing with disappointment, perhaps expecting some Viking magic from the Iceland man. 

However Gudmundsonn knows when he's had a bad game, and will change that with all his power. And he did just that as the Valley was roaring 8 minutes into stoppage time when he scored from a header following a corner. That was the last of the action as the Valley has become somewhat of a problem for teams as of late and Hull were no exception as Their unbeaten run comes to an end. 

LINEUPS- 

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 

Guy Luzon

GOALKEEPER - N. Pope

DEFENDERS - J. Cousins, A. Diarra, P. Bauer, M. Fox

MIDFIELDERS - E. Hadji-Ba, A. Kashi,

J. Gudmundsonn, C. Cabellos, Z. Bergdich

FORWARDS - S. Makienok

HULL CITY 

Steve Bruce

GOALKEEPER - A. McGregor 

DEFENDERS - A. Robertson, C. Davies, M. Dawson, 

M. Odubajo

MIDFIELDERS - S. Aluko, T. Huddlestone, D. Meyler, A. Elmohamady, 

FORWARDS - N. Jelavic, C. Akpom