UR TV CAST

After the quick and elusive Jason Roberts had turned inside Gary Rowett to deliver a shot which Dean Kiely repelled with his boots, Charlton fashioned three chances in quick succession. First, Hoult soared to push over Rowett’s free-kick, and from the corner he denied Jason Euell at point-blank distance.However, he could do nothing about the third one, another corner from the right by Claus Jensen to which Lisbie rose at the near post for a neat header. There was time for a further vintage Hoult save, turning away Scott Parker’s vicious low drive, before Albion settled to take charge. Kiely could only look on as a Jason Koumas free-kick struck his left-hand upright, then Roberts and Danny Dichio saw shots charged down before Parker headed off the line from Darren Moore.Having seen Kiely again deny them with a full-length save from Ronnie Wallwork just before the interval, Albion kept up the pressure afterwards. Koumas had a shot charged down and Adam Chambers wafted the loose ball over. Another header by Moore flew just wide and Dichio’s effort from a corner was turned over by Richard Rufus Albion’s best chance came midway through the second half. Roberts turned past Rufus and was brought down – even the other Charlton defenders briefly stopped playing in anticipation of a penalty.

When it did not come, incensed West Brom players surrounded the referee, Steve Dunn. They certainly seemed to have a valid complaint, and Megson agreed: “I couldn’t believe it wasn’t given, it was an absolute stone penalty.”The extent of Charlton manager Alan Curbishley’s anxiety was shown after Parker was booked seconds before half-time. As the teams walked off, the player remonstrated with the referee and Curbishley was forced to admit: “I tried to get Scott away and I got involved, stupidly. I have apologised to Steve,” adding, “I am very pleased with the three points, but I am sure West Brom are very disappointed. But it’s a cruel game.”Charlton Athletic 1 West Bromwich Albion 0 Lisbie 6Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 26,196. Bolton manager Sam Allardyce believes Everton’s current success is built on their ability to keep a clean sheet, and if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, his side paid his opposite number David Moyes the greatest of tributes.

His close control, his mature positional sense and his pace on the ball caused all sorts of problems for a Bolton rearguard, which had previously failed to inspire confidence. He beat three defenders as he cut into the penalty area, then opted to shoot straight at Jaaskelainen when laying the ball back might have paid greater dividends. On the stroke of half-time he was away again, and seemed to be pulled back as his shot was deflected for a corner, from which he flashed a drive across the face of the Bolton goal.If that had gone in there is little doubt Everton would have taken all three points, but their finishing did not improve when leading scorer Tomasz Radzinski replaced the injured Kevin Campbell 10 minutes into the second period. Jaaskelainen made a fine one-handed save from Rooney after he had given the youngster the ball, and then fell at his feet to deny him again.The youngest player on the pitch may have stolen the show in this encounter between two of the football league’s founder members, but Bolton were happy with a rare clean sheet.”This was a moral victory for us,” said Allardyce.