Charlton Athletic 0-1 Birmingham City: Addicks lose unbeaten start as Lee Bowyer is sent off against former club
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton’s unbeaten start to life back in the Championship came to an end as Lee Bowyer’s former side Birmingham City secured a narrow victory at The Valley.
A goal from 16-year-old Jude Bellingham shortly after half-time was enough to inflict a first home league defeat in 21 outings for the Addicks as they struggled to find away beyond Lee Camp in the visiting goal.
And things went from bad to worse for Bowyer as he was shown a red card in the dying embers after some sort of altercation on the touchline.
A member of the Birmingham staff had thrown an additional ball onto the field during play in order to waste time in added-on time. Blues manager Pep Clotet was shown a yellow card, but Bowyer was sent to the stands for his reaction as he was accused of throwing the ball aggressively towards the visiting dugout.
The Addicks were rocked before kick-off by the news that Lyle Taylor would miss the game after returning from international duty with an injury. Tomer Hemed started in his place – with Erhun Oztumer also recalled to the starting line-up with Jonny Williams rested on the bench.
Chances were limited in a tight first-period. Blues’ Harlee Dean had a sight of goal as the ball fall kindly for him from a corner but he was quickly charged down, with Charlton skipper Jason Pearce heading wide from a set-piece himself at the other end soon after.
Connor Gallagher had scored in two of Charlton’s three home games so far this campaign but he was off-target as Chris Solly teed him up on the edge of the area. Jonathan Leko was similarly wayward from the edge of the area before the visitors created the best opportunity of the half.
Marc Roberts had been trying to cause chaos in the Charlton area with a string of long-throws but it was a cross from the Blues centre-half that was flicked towards goal by Lukas Jutkiewicz. Dillon Phillips was able to tip it over the crossbar to keep the game was all-square at the break.
The stalemate was broken five minutes after the break. Bellingham, who bagged his first goal in senior football as Birmingham beat Stoke last time out, finished off a teasing cross from inside the area in front of the 3,000 travelling supporters.
Bowyer brought Williams and Chuks Aneke into the action as he looked for a reaction but the Addicks next chance came from an unlikely source
Chris Solly, who has never scored at The Valley, powered Gallagher’s cross towards goal but Lee Camp was equal to it. The Blues stopper then denied Gallagher from the edge of the area as the South Londoners piled on the pressure.
Beram Kayal was awarded his Addicks debut from the bench as Charlton continued to search for a leveller but Pep Clotet’s side had enough to see out their second away win of the season – although the controversy that led to Bowyer’s dismissal at the end of the game tainted what had been a strong defensive display from the visitors.
