Charlton Athletic 2 Notts County 4
Charlton Athletic suffered their second straight home defeat
after a shock 4-2 reverse against Notts County in League 1 on
Saturday.
They were made to pay for being off the pace in an incredible
first half which saw the visitors race into a 4-0 lead on the back
of a hat-trick from Jonathan Forte.
The Addicks did put together a spirited comeback after the break
but were unable to find the vital third goal which would have
set-up a grandstand finale.
Alan Judge blasted the visitors ahead on 16 minutes, beating Ben
Hamer from the edge of the box, and then two minutes later Judge
found Forte to slide in his first.
Charlton had not conceded three goals in a game all season, but
they found themselves 3-0 behind after just 35 minutes when Forte
was handed an easy chance after a mix-up between Hamer and Matt
Taylor.
He then completed a 22-minute hat-trick with a header to make it
4-0 at the break.
Athletic were right back in the game within 10 minutes of the
interval after Bradley Wright-Phillips fired in a spectacular
acrobatic volley after County failed to clear a cross from
substitute Scott Wagstaff.
And then Wagstaff (pictured) himself made it 4-2 with a
brave diving header in off the post from close range.
The hosts saw frenzied appeals for a penalty, firstly for a foul
on Wright-Phillips and then for a handball after a Yann Kermorgant
shot, turned down, and despite continuing to press
they couldn't find a way past the County defence again.
Second-placed Sheffield United cut Charlton's lead to 10 points,
but have a game in hand, while third-placed Sheffield Wednesday are
a further point back.
Do you think the Addicks can recover from the defeat or
are their title chances in jeopardy? Have your say
below.
10/03/12
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