Dean’s bolt from the blue

Dean Furman is mobbed after scoring for Oldham

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Charlton 1, Athletic 1

Midfield ace hits cracker to earn point

WHAT does Chris Taylor do for an encore?

Back in the side at Charlton, the winger sported a dramatic military-style buzzcut as a result of losing a wager – that once goal-dry Dean Furman scored for Athletic, he would shear off his ginger locks.

The South African midfielder performed the trick against Notts County last week, cracking home a 30-yard shot at the end of a staggering move encompassing no less than 14 consecutive passes.

You dread to think what was on offer from Taylor for Furman to repeat the trick at Charlton.

Yet that is exactly what he did. No goals – and little danger of goals, in fairness, in his 43 barren appearances up to that point – suddenly became two in as many npower League One games.

And in another excellent team performance at The Valley, Furman exceeded even the previous week’s strike in terms of raw power and technique.

Furman slammed the ball into the top-left corner of the goal shortly before half-time to hand Athletic a deserved equaliser.

Paul Dickov’s men could easily have claimed all three points.. On the balance of chances in an entertaining game, the visitors were the superior side.

Oumare Tounkara could have had a hat-trick.

The on-loan Sunderland player isn’t the most refined of strikers – at full pelt, he runs like an enormous toddler – but the French youngster was a constant thorn in the side of the home defence.

Powerful surges, strength on and off the ball and a willingness to work every blade of grass put him within a hair’s width of claiming the Chronicle Star Man award.

Having opened his account against Notts County, Tounkara hit the post twice and also forced Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot into a brilliant low stop in the second half.

Dickov made one change to his starting line-up that saw off Notts County 3-0 the previous week.

Taylor replaced the injured Lewis Alessandra on the left wing, new on the substitutes’ bench for the visitors were Paul Gerrard – the club’s goalkeeping coach, signed on a non-contract basis – and Congolese right-back Rodrigue Dikaba, who joined Athletic on a short-term deal on Friday after a successful trial period. Deane Smalley was also present for the first time this season following injury.

After dangerous winger Kyel Reid had volleyed narrowly wide, Athletic settled down and went close to taking a 12th-minute lead when Tounkara controlled a Ritchie Jones knockdown and hit the far post with his shot.

Jarrett was booked for a crude hack at Lee Martin on the halfway line, but when Charlton’s goal arrived it was out of the blue.

Ex-Boundary Park favourite Pawel Abbott nodded down to Martin and the danger appeared to have passed before Kieran Lee miscued, allowing Scott Wagstaff to fire into the roof of the net.

The goal set in motion the home side’s best period of the game, with the two wingers pushing on to cause problems with their pace.

Gradually, though, Athletic regained composure and deservedly equalised a few seconds before half-time.

Gary Doherty’s headed clearance was controlled perfectly by Furman, who fired an unstoppable 25-yard shot past Elliot.

The visitors improved after the break and could easily have gone in front within six minutes when Tounkara’s saved shot looped up and hit the far post. Dale Stephens’ follow-up effort was blocked just in front of the goalline.

The game continued to be end-to-end but few real chances arose until substitute Warren Feeney sent Tounkara into the area and his hammered low shot was superbly stopped by Elliot.

With the game heading for a draw, Jarrett’s dismissal gave Charlton hope.

Reid flicked the ball past the centre-back and there appeared to be minimal – if any – contact between the pair.

A free-kick was awarded to Charlton and that appeared to be that – only for the home team’s manager Phil Parkinson to throw his arms up, appealing for Jarrett to be shown a second yellow card.

It was a lack of dignity unbecoming of a man in Parkinson’s position and Athletic’s own bench contingent were clearly less than impressed with his antics.

Unfortunately for Athletic, Parkinson got his reward, with Jarrett dismissed after Shoebridge had second thoughts.




Loads of positives – Dickov

ATHLETIC boss Paul Dickov was caught between two emotions after his side’s point at Charlton.

On the one hand, he emphatically praised another top-class team effort which kept Athletic in the npower League One promotion positions.

On the other, though, the result was tinged with a modicum of regret that a first-ever victory at The Valley wasn’t quite achieved.

Still, Dickov wasn’t too glum in the post-match press conference, feeling his team again showed their mettle in an increasingly-positive beginning to the campaign.

“I thought the players were fantastic,” said Dickov, who also spoke of his feeling that Jason Jarrett was unlucky to pick up a late red card (see back page).

“We feel we should have won the game and that we were good enough to have won the game.

“We played some really good football at times. This is a very hard place to come and they are one of the favourites (in npower League One).

“We hit the post a couple of times, Oumare (Tounkara) has done fantastically well and their goalkeeper has made some great saves.

“There were loads and loads of positives. I told the players that I am proud of them and they should be proud of themselves. The effort, commitment and football they played was great.”

Dean Furman’s rocket-shot equalised a 24th-minute opener from Scott Wagstaff shortly before half-time.

Dickov can hardly believe the midfielder’s sudden scoring spurt.

“It must be my shooting practise I think,” the manager said.

“We put shooting sessions on all through the week and he very rarely scores.

“But it was a fantastic strike and he was brilliant today. He was all over the place.”

Dickov was also keen to give rookie striker Oumare Tounkara a big pat on the back.

The French striker hit the goal frame twice, forced another decent save from Rob Elliot and forged good partnerships with both Djeny Bembo-Leta and substitute Warren Feeney.

“Every time we got the ball up to him he was dangerous,” said Dickov.

“I said to the players at half-time, we have pace and power up there and we have got to use it.

“He will get better every game he plays. He is a young kid, he is raw, but he will be a big player for us.”

Charlton boss Phil Parkinson wasn’t surprised at the visitors’ display.

He said: “They have got energy in the team and will cause a lot of upsets this season.

“They are the best team we have played so far this season.”



Latics’ next game: Saturday, Yeovil (League One), home