If you see any others, copy them in:
The Times
AS AWAKENINGS go, Swansea City’s first taste of the second tier in 24 years could hardly have been more rude. Charlton scored in the first five and final five minutes from set-pieces, and just to complete Swansea’s misery, their captain was dismissed, and the few chances they created were spurned.
“The goals were soft,” admitted manager Roberto Martinez, “but the positives outweighed the negatives by a mile. This was a test we undoubtedly passed.”
If Swansea’s close season had been troubled with new faces chary of heading west, playmaker Ferrie Bodde seemingly desperate to leave and leading scorer Jason Scotland unable to start after a stomach operation, Charlton’s was disastrous. A raft of major departures was followed by manager Alan Pardew claiming that the financial situation “wasn’t made clear to me”. The rows of empty seats showed his disillusion was shared by Charlton’s fans.
Afterwards, he was in brighter mood. “A good start. They embarrassed us in midfield sometimes, but we were better where it mattered: up front and in the centre of defence,” he said.
With just two minutes gone Jonjo Shelvey, the strapping 16-year-old, slung over a corner from the right and the Swansea defence stood and admired Charlton’s new captain Mark Hudson as he marked his arrival from Crystal Palace with a firm header past Dorus De Vries.
Swansea’s high-falutin’ ideas evaporated. With Jerome Thomas giving Matthew Collins a royal runaround, the red-shirted kids exuded both menace and joie de vivre against a defence who persisted in playing too close together, leaving both wings invitingly free.
Swansea squandered half-chances, and De Vries had to be at his most athletic in the 32nd minute to paw away Lloyd Sam’s scissors kick. Their best opportunity came two minutes into the second half when Leon Britton crossed for Guillem Bauza, but his snapshot was inches wide.
After 69 minutes, Swansea’s long trek home seemed more wearying still when, not for the first time, Garry Monk tackled high and late on Matt Holland. Already booked, the captain was dressing-room bound before Holland hit the ground, and when Charlton substitute Grant Basey clipped in an 86th minute free-kick, Andy Gray neatly headed past De Vries, and that was that.
Star man: Jerome Thomas (Charlton)
Referee: R Beeby
Attendance: 21,675
CHARLTON: Weaver 5; Semedo 6, Fortune 7, Hudson 7, Youga 5; Sam 7 (Bouazza 83min), Shelvey 6, Racon 5, Thomas 7 (Basey 78min); Gray 6, Varney 6
SWANSEA: De Vries 6; Collins 4, Monk 5, Williams 6, Painter 5; Gower 7 (Scotland 76min), Britton 6, Bodde 5, Pratley 7 (Gomez 80min), Butler 6; Bauza 5 (Brandy 64min) Sent off:Monk 69min Booked:Bodde, Monk
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article4493573.ece
0
Comments
Goals at opposite ends of the game from Mark Hudson and Andy Gray gave Charlton
victory over Coca-Cola Championship newcomers Swansea.
New Charlton captain Hudson took less than 90 seconds of his debut to head Alan
Pardew's side ahead at The Valley.
The visitors had Garry Monk dismissed in the 69th minute - and Andy Gray
finished them off five minutes from time.
Roberto Martinez's side were beginning their first season in the top two tiers
of the Football League in 25 years.
But the Welshmen were guilty of still savouring the occasion when some woeful
marking allowed Hudson to head in from a corner.
It was a nightmare start for the new boys but they soon settled down into the
fluid attacking play which was their trademark last season with the duo of
Ferrie Bodde and Darren Pratley bossing midfield.
Jason Scotland hit 24 goals for the Swans last season as they romped to the
League One title but Martinez chose to leave the striker on the bench as he
packed his midfield, with Guillem Bauza deployed as the lone outlet up front.
Charlton were without the industrious Zheng Zhi - who is on Olympic duty with
China - but gave a start to the club's youngest ever player, 16-year-old Jonjo
Shelvey, in midfield.
The youngster had a hand in the goal, which came in the game's first attack.
Gray cut the ball back from the right but Dorus De Vries was ready to make an
easy catch when Swans skipper Monk needlessly put the ball out for a corner.
And it proved costly when Shelvey's corner from the right was headed home by
Hudson to cap a remarkable start to his Addicks career.
The former Crystal Palace man was given the freedom of the penalty area and
made no mistake in powering a header past De Vries and into the roof of the
net.
Pratley had Swansea's best effort as they dominated possession but his shot
from the edge of the area was well held by Nicky Weaver.
And Lloyd Sam nearly extended the hosts' lead as the half drew to a close but
his volley from another Shelvey corner was tipped over by De Vries.
Charlton: Weaver, Semedo, Fortune, Hudson, Youga, Sam, Racon, Shelvey, Jerome Thomas, Gray, Varney. Subs: Elliot, Holland, Dickson, Basey, Bouazza.
Swansea: De Vries, Collins, Monk, Williams, Painter, Gower, Bodde, Britton, Pratley, Butler, Bauza. Subs: Tate, Scotland, Brandy, Jordi Gomez, Fede.
Referee: Richard Beeby (Northamptonshire)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1043128/Newcomers-Swansea-sunk-Charltons-Hudson-Gray.html
MONK'S MISERY
Charlton 2, Swansea 0
Mark Hudson
OPENER - Mark Hudson puts Charlton ahead
By BOB HARRIS, 09/08/2008
GARY MONK’S red card ended brave Swansea’s hopes of a comeback.
And boss Roberto Martinez stormed: “The sending-off was not at all justified.
“I know Gary Monk is good and strong in his challenges and that was one that went against us.
“But they tend to even out over the season and you just have to forget about them.”
Monk went after picking up two yellow cards in less than a minute.
His first, after 67 minutes, was for a foul on Luke Varney. And referee Richard Beeby sent him off for a second challenge on Matt Holland as the ball appeared to get away from him.
The newly-promoted Swans showed not only their ability, but also their character as they battled back against a Charlton side who had taken the lead after just two minutes.
Jonjo Shelvey, the 16-year-old who only began working as a full- time professional a month ago, produced the perfect corner for newly-signed skipper Mark Hudson to score with a firm header.
Martinez admitted: “It was a soft, early goal. In fact both goals were soft, at whatever level you play, but there was a block when the corner was taken to give Hudson his header.”
Swansea looked good in their build-up play but lacked the power up front to really threaten Charlton keeper Nicky Weaver until Trinidad striker Jason Scotland emerged from the bench with just 15 minutes remaining.
Scotland, who had surgery just a month ago, gave them that cutting edge. But Swansea then paid the price for pushing forward.
With five minutes left another dead-ball situation brought the second goal.
Nineteen-year-old substitute Grant Basey drove his free-kick to the near post and 30-year-old Andy Gray scored with a stooping header.
Martinez added: “The performance was more important than the result. We knew The Valley was a difficult place to come, but we controlled the tempo and wasted 14 chances.
“There were a lot of positives and while there is a lot we need to improve on, there is also a lot to take out of the game.
“Set-pieces are one of the easiest things to sort out and I have to say I am not concerned about it, we have never been strong in that area.”
Charlton boss Alan Pardew insisted: “Swansea don’t need to have any fears. They will stay up and at times they embarrassed us in midfield because they pass the ball really well.”
Swansea stayed true to their principles and it needed a couple of good, late saves from Weaver to deny Scotland while Jordi Gomez, coming on as a late sub, just failed to get the touch needed to convert Scotland’s low cross.
It will, however, be a long and difficult season for the Championship new boys.
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/article12597.ece
CHARLTON: Weaver 5; Semedo 6, Fortune 7, Hudson 7, Youga 5; Sam 7 (Bouazza 83min), Shelvey 6, Racon 5, Thomas 7 (Basey 78min); Gray 6, Varney 6
SWANSEA: De Vries 6; Collins 4, Monk 5, Williams 6, Painter 5; Gower 7 (Scotland 76min), Britton 6, Bodde 5, Pratley 7 (Gomez 80min), Butler 6; Bauza 5 (Brandy 64min) Sent off:Monk 69min Booked:Bodde, Monk
[url]http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article4493573.ece[/url][/quote]
Swap Thomas' 7 with Racon's 5 and I'd agree with those marks maybe Sam only a 6 and Youga up to a 6.