Sport

Charlton show their pedigree

Should Crufts introduce a category for underdogs this year, then Charlton Athletic would surely win first prize

By DAVID LACEY
Mon Jan 31 2000 - 00:00

Should Crufts introduce a category for underdogs this year, then Charlton Athletic would surely win first prize. They are in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for only the second time since winning the trophy back in 1947 through their ability to combine a respectable pedigree with a mongrelish desire to hang on.

The surprise on Saturday was not so much that Alan Curbishley's team beat Coventry City but that they did so after conceding two goals in the opening 21 minutes. Charlton's perceptive midfield play lay at the heart of their remarkable recovery. In Coventry's defence, it should be pointed out that they were missing Youssef Chippo and Moustapha Hadji, who are still on Africa Nations Cup duty. Cedric Roussel, who scored both their goals, would have been an even bigger threat had he and Robbie Keane received better service throughout. As it was, he put Coventry in a position to win the tie.

On the quarter-hour Roussel drove the ball past Dean Kiely and six minutes later his header from Gary McAllister's cross increased Coventry's lead.

However, the more possession Charlton enjoyed the more opportunities Shaun Newton, the game's biggest influence, had to turn Coventry's defence on the right. John Robinson missed a couple of chances, but when Newton hooked the ball back from the byline five minutes before half-time his was the head that scored. In stoppage time Newton brought the scores level after Magnus Hedman had parried a shot from Andy Hunt.

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Paul Telfer, unattended as he met McAllister's corner, had a chance to reverse the trend in the 81st minute, but wafted his shot high into the crowd. Then Keane lost the ball to Steve Brown and a centre from Chris Powell ricocheted off Todd to Hunt, who turned to win the tie with an accurate shot of modest power.

Coventry: Hedman, Telfer, Williams (Shaw 48), Breen, Froggatt, Eustace (Gustafsson 71), McAllister, Palmer, Normann (Delorge 78), Roussel, Keane. Subs Not Used: Ogrizovic, Strachan. Goals: Roussel 15, 21.

Charlton: Kiely, Shields, Rufus, Brown, Powell, Robinson, Newton, Kinsella (Todd 41), Stuart (Salako 89), Pringle, Hunt. Subs Not Used: Ilic, Konchesky, MacDonald. GOALS: Robinson 40, Newton 45, Hunt 88.

Referee :D Gallagher (Banbury).