Charlton recorded a comfortable victory at The Valley on Saturday to maintain top spot in League One.
An emphatic win put smiles back on the faces of all connected with Charlton. Carlisle played their part in a hugely entertaining game. They were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time when they were already trailing 3-0. Greg Abbott’s reaction was to go with just three defenders.
Chris Powell restored his favoured back-four with Chris Solly at right-back and Michael Morrison was reunited with Matt Taylor at the heart of the defence. Green and Kermorgant kept their places but Powell had to make an enforced change in central midfield, where Andy Hughes came in for Dale Stephens. Stephens’ partner gave birth on Friday night.
The Cumbrian’s made a bright start but their narrow diamond formation gave Charlton’s wide players plenty of space to exploit.
Johnnie Jackson clipped a pass into the path of Rhoys Wiggins, who delivered the perfect cross for Kermorgant to head home his fourth goal of the season in the 13th minute.
Eleven minutes later, Bradley Wright-Phillips doubled Charlton’s advantage. A huge kick from Hamer picked Wright-Phillips on the left side of the penalty area. The striker escaped James Tavernier and his left footed shot went in at the far post.
More good work from the outstanding Wiggins ended with the left-back laying on a gilt edged chance for Wright-Phillips. The top scorer’s rather casual effort was cleared off the line, Wright-Phillips’ second effort was cleared to Kermorgant whose shot was hammered into the ground and bouced up high into the net.
In injury time at the the end of the first period, Matt Robson hauled Wright-Phillips down just outside the box. Robson was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Three minutes after the break Danny Hollands completed the scoring. Hollands – playing further forward in Stephens’ absence – picked the ball up in the centre circle and ran at the retreating Carlisle defence. His speculative effort from outside the box squirmed through Adam Collin’s hands and over the line.
To complete a miserable afternoon for the visitors, James Berrett missed a penalty after Wiggins was adjudged to have handled as he slid in to try to block a cross. Hamer made a good save from Berrett’s spot-kick.
Powell was even afforded the rare luxury of being able to take three of his more important players off, to rest them ahead of Tuesday’s game at Wycombe.
Carlisle’s style was far more to Charlton’s liking than that of recent opponents and they took full advantage.
FULL TIME: CHARLTON ATHLETIC 4-0 CARLISLE UNITED
Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Wiggins, Taylor, Morrison, Green (Wagstaff 69), Hughes, Hollands (Euell 73), Jackson, Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Hayes 77).
Subs not used: Sullivan, Cort.
Goals: Kermorgant (13) & (37), Wright-Phillips (21), Hollands (48).
Booked: Kermorgant (89).
Carlisle: Collin, Tavernier, Robson, Livesey, Murphy, Taiwo, Berrett, Noble (Michalik H/T), McGovern, Loy (Curran 77), Miller (Zoko 77).
Subs not used: Gillespie, Helan.
Booked: Robson (19), Curran (89), Zoko (93).
Sent Off: Robson (45).
Referee: Mr Darren Sheldrake (Surrey)
Attendance: 16,741 (538 Carlisle)