A player needs many qualities to cut it at the highest level, ability alone is not enough.

Skill has to be combined with work rate, practice on the training ground, desire and an ice cool temperament.

Fans admire the mesmerising skills of Cristiano Ronaldo, but his prodigious work rate is often overlooked. As in any profession, hard work is essential to reach the top in football.

Chris Solly – dual Player Of The Year – is admired by all at The Valley. Solly’s problematic knee will always give him issues, but his never-say-die attitude  endears him to the fans.

Solly got caught up in the red hot atmosphere at the Den on Friday. He showed his intent early on with a strong – but fair – challenge on Dan Harding that drew rapturous applause from the travelling hordes.

He was booked as early as the tenth minute. At the time, it looked a fairly innocuous challenge but replays indicated that Solly had moved his head towards his opponent.

The popular right-back was perhaps fortunate to escape with just a yellow. Solly was not so lucky eighteen minutes later when he was shown a red card after being adjudged to have handled a goal bound shot in the area.

Guy Luzon had to re-jig his team. Chris Eagles was withdrawn and replaced by Andre Bikey.

Bikey partnered Roger Johnson in the heart of the defence, with young Joe Gomez switching to right-back.

Just 17-years-old, Gomez had played three games for the England Under-19 team since the Addicks’ last game against Reading.

Adaptable and unflappable, Gomez is mature beyond his years. His temperament was ice cool despite the  fiery atmosphere.

Gomez has all the attributes to cut it at the very highest level. He looks set to be a regular in Luzon’s team next season and Charlton will have to work hard to keep admirers at arms length.

If he keeps his feet on the ground and continues to work hard, there is nothing Gomez can not achieve.