Six and a half hours without a goal

ATHLETIC 0 CHARLTON 1

REFEREE Trevor Kettle sent off three players – two from Charlton – as Athletic manager Paul Dickov saw his team suffer an eighth loss in the last 10 matches.

Visiting captain Danny Hollands saw red for a reckless challenge on Kieran Lee in the first half, before the numbers were levelled up as a result of Jean-Yves Mvoto’s second booking later in the opening period.

After Yann Kermorgant had netted with a 49th-minute close range header from a superb Rhoys Wiggins cross – one of precious few clear scoring chances in a tight contest – Scott Wagstaff got his marching orders after being handed a second yellow card.

All three decisions seemed harsh.

It is now more than six-and-a-half hours since Athletic found the net. Though at the very least, they responded to adversity by pushing the nine-man npower League One champions-elect all the way for their three points by showing plenty of energy, if little cutting-edge.

For Charlton, Wagstaff may have done better than hit his early shot into the turf when well-set, while Shefki Kuqi and Tom Adeyemi forced Ben Hamer into blocks of their long-range drives.

Harry Bunn – sacrificed following Mvoto’s dismissal – scuffed his left-footed shot when set in by Kuqi, but the game was a drab one.

Never a dirty contest, Kettle marked his own card by throwing yellow cards out like confetti as Mvoto and Bradley Diallo for Athletic and Dale Stephens and Wagstaff for the visitors went into the book.

Hollands was dismissed for a late lunge on Kieran Lee near the touchline in front of the main stand. Charlton were distinctly unimpressed by the showing of the red card, as it seemed their captain was merely a little too late in the timing of his challenge rather than flying in with menace.

Five minutes before half-time, Mvoto got his marching orders for a shove on Yann Kermorgant.

Kuqi was booked for a show of dissent as the period drew to a close, Kettle feeling the impact of a barrage of abuse as he retreated down the tunnel.

Filipe Morais fired over after a neat move as Athletic tried to push forward.

But the sucker-punch goal came after 49 minutes, the impressive Kermorgant making no mistake with his headed effort from six yards out.

Athletic responded with purpose and after a lovely flowing move, Tom Adeyemi saw his goal-bound effort blocked by two diving Charlton defenders.

Robbie Simpson went down heavily under a challenge from Leon Cort as he collected a short corner, but Kettle ignored the pleas of Paul Dickov’s side to award a penalty.

Charlton’s defence was resolute and aside from a stinging Simpson shot from long range and a shot from Kuqi which had insufficient power to worry Hamer, Athletic never really created a clear opportunity to break their scoring duck.

Wagstaff was dismissed for a foul on Furman when he had appeared to slip on the turf.

Despite being reduced to nine men, though, Charlton stood firm to take another step towards the Championship.

In total, Kettle went to his pocket 12 times, dismissing three players and showing cards to 10 different players.

Athletic (4-4-2): Bouzanis; Lee, Mvoto, Brown, Diallo (Tounkara 77); Simpson, Furman ©, Adeyemi, Morais (Hughes 84); Bunn (Tarkowski 43), Kuqi. Subs not used: Gerrard, Mchangama.

Booked: Mvoto, Diallo, Kuqi, Simpson.

Sent off: Mvoto (41)

Charlton (4-3-2): Hamer; Solly, Morrison, Cort, Wiggins; Wagstaff, Stephens, Hollands ©, Cook (Taylor 78); N’Guessan (Pritchard 71), Kermogant. Subs not used: Jackson, Wright-Phillips, Sullivan.

Booked: Hamer, Morrison, Stephens, Wagstaff, Kermorgant

Sent off: Hollands (31). Wagstaff (76)

Ref: Trevor Kettle

Attendance: 3,641

Star man:Tom Adeyemi