Charlton secured their third away win of the season at Brentford on Saturday thanks to two Callum Harriott strikes.
The main pre-match talking point was the absence of Stephen Henderson. The club site used the word ‘absent’ to describe his omission, and sources have suggested that the keeper was not injured.
Harriott operated on the right, with Johann Berg Gudmundsson tucked in behind Yaya Sanogo. Jose Riga reverted to a conventional four man back line in front of Nick Pope, with Rod Fanni partnering Jorge Teixeira in the middle, and Roger Johnson dropping to the bench.
Marco Motta continued on the right, and Morgan Fox returned on the left. Yun Suk-Young was pushed up to the left side of midfield.
Makienok dropped to the bench to accomodate Harriott.
Harriott justified his inclusion in a blistering start to the match. Inside the first minute Fox crossed from the left. The ball came back off Sanogo for Harriott – who celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday – to slot home.
The Addicks were bright in the opening period, but their Achilles heel of defending corners came back to haunt them.
Marco Djuricin raced clear with just Nick Pope to beat. The keeper brilliantly thwarted Djuricin at the expense of a corner.
Yoann Barbet rose unopposed at the far corner to bring the Bees level.
Alou Diarra limped out of the game before half-time, to be replaced by Diego Poyet.
Charlton had an early scare in the second period when Sergi Canos broke clear on the right but fired across goal.
The Addicks sealed victory midway through the second period. David Button contested a cross from the left with Sanogo. The ball broke to Harriott, who kept his composure, sidestepped Button and fired home.
Simon Makienok thundered the ball against the bar in stoppage time, as Riga’s team safely saw the game out.
Results elsewhere were not kind to the Addicks. Milton Keynes Dons beat Queens Park Rangers, making a win for Charlton on Tuesday essential.
Charlton: Pope; Motta, Fanni, Teixeira, Fox; Harriott (Makienok 86), Diarra (Poyet 34), Cousins, Suk-Young; Gudmundsson (Ghoochannejhad 90);Sanogo.
Subs (not used): Mitov, Johnson, Bergdich, Lookman.
Goals: Harriott 1, 69.
Booked: Sanogo 13 (Handball), Motta 56 (foul), Fanni 87 (time-wasting).
Brentford: Button; Yennaris, Barbet, Dean, Bidwell; Woods, Canos (Saunders 71), McEachran (Hofmann 82), Judge; Swift, Djuricin (Vibe 61).
Subs (not used): Bonham, McCormack, Kerschbaumer, O’Connell.
Goal: Barbet 26 .
Booked: Canos 53 (foul), Judge 89 (foul), Hofmann 90 (foul) .
Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire_.
Attn: 10,108 (1,175 Charlton).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic