Southend United slip at Charlton Athletic (From Thurrock Gazette)

Southend United slip at Charlton Athletic

9:43am Monday 7th December 2009

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SOUTHEND United left Charlton Athletic with plenty of plaudits but no points on Saturday.

The Shrimpers enjoyed sustained periods of possession against the Addicks and were the better team for long spells.

But they could not make that pressure count and subsequently crashed to a sixth successive away defeat as Deon Burton headed home the only goal of the game midway through the first half.

The scoreline was certainly harsh on Southend who started the match strongly.

With three minutes on the clock, Jabo Ibehre fired over from 20 yards after a burst into the box by Franck Moussa and, moments later, the Belgian winger volleyed just wide of the right post from a similar distance.

But Charlton soon hit back and almost opened the scoring in the 11th minute when former Blues loanee Lloyd Sam unleashed a well-struck 14-yard shot which Steve Mildenhall did well to tip around the right post.

Mooney then fired a low drive across the face of goal but Southend replied with Sean Morrison heading a right-wing corner from Scott Malone wide of the left post.

Blues continued to push forward and, in the 21st minute, top goalscorer Lee Barnard wasted an excellent chance to score after being teed up by Francis Laurent.

The French winger sped away from Grant Basey down the right hand side before picking out the unmarked Barnard out at the back post with a fine cross.

But, after initially controlling the ball well, Barnard cut across goal before seeing his shot blocked by the advancing Rob Elliot.

The miss immediately increased in significance too as four minutes later the home side netted what proved to be the only goal of the game when Sam delivered an inswinging left-foot cross from the right-hand side which was headed home by Deon Burton for his 10th effort of the season, Ex Shrimpers midfielder Nicky Bailey, who was roundly booed by the visiting supporters, then had a 20-yard free-kick tipped over by Mildenhall but, on the stroke of half-time it was Southend’s turn to threaten from a set piece situation as Simon Francis curled an effort straight at Elliot.

At the start of the second period, it was initially Charlton back on top as Therry Racon fired wide of the left post from the edge of the penalty area But Southend soon began to dominate possession with Scott Malone sending a twice-taken free-kick tamely over the crossbar from 20 yards before Burton headed a left-wing cross into the gloves of Mildenhall.

The match then became quite scrappy for a spell with Southend having plenty of the ball but they could not convert that into goalscoring opportunities.

Their best opportunities therefore came from set pieces and, in the 78th minute, a 25-yard free-kick from Francis fizzed only inches over the crossbar.

In a bid to conjure up an equaliser Blues boss Steve Tilson threw on both James Walker and Damian Scannell in the closing stages.

And it almost made a difference too as Walker, who was facing his former side, sped down the left flank and pulled the ball back to Laurent six yards from goal. But the ball skidded off the wet surface and just hit the French winger before rolling to safety.

That made sure of another win for second-placed Charlton as they celebrated their 17th anniversary of returning to the Valley with all three points.

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