Charlton maintain pace for fourth place

Everton 0 Charlton 1

Charlton continue to make a mockery of the theory that they will not stand the pace in the race for Champions League football.

They defended with their lives to secure their seventh unbeaten Barclaycard Premiership game on the trot, and significantly opened up a five points gap over Liverpool in the battle for fourth place.

Graham Stuart, the former Everton midfielder, grabbed the winner in the first half and despite the hosts pounding Charlton, Alan Curbishley’s side hung on to what could be a crucial victory, their sixth away league win of the season.

Most people expect Liverpool and Newcastle to be competing now for fourth spot, but Charlton clearly have no intention of giving it up lightly.

And they turned in this sterling display without their best player, Scott Parker, left out because of the unsettling interest from Chelsea – one place above Charlton now.

Everton made five changes and sprung a shock by gambling on Thomas Gravesen in midfield, who has been struggling with a knee injury.

Boss David Moyes left out David Weir, Tomasz Radzinski, Tony Hibbert, Kevin Campbell and Tobias Linderoth from the side that lost at Fulham last weekend and recalled Duncan Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, Alessandro Pistone, Alan Stubbs and Gravesen.

Charlton boss Curbishley had already opted to leave out Parker because of the unsettling influence of Chelsea’s interest, but it did not unsettle the visitors’ overall performance.

Paul Konchesky came in, with Carlton Cole replacing Jonatan Johansson from the side that beat Wolves last time out.

Twice in the opening minutes Gravesen marked his return with fierce long-range efforts, and then he sent over a corner that Ferguson flicked wide with a close range header.

But Everton’s approach was all to predictable and a well organised Charlton withstood the aerial barrage and slowly started to mount some intelligent probing of their own, led by Paolo di Canio’s positioning, movement and awareness.

The Italian gained constant applause from the home fans, who recall his act of sportsmanship a couple of years back that won him a UEFA award in West Ham’s colours.

But that appreciation started to wear thin as di Canio started to pull Everton’s defence around.

Referee Mike Riley did not get off on the right foot with Charlton, ignoring an edge of the box foul on Stuart and then got a throw-in wrong that put the south Londoners under intense pressure.

The flow of crosses into the Charlton box maintained that pressure, with Ferguson the constant target.

But Mark Fish, in particular, handled the situation well and Everton failed to make a serious chance in the opening exchanges.

Riley’s performance continued to upset both sides. He failed to give a corner when a Ferguson shot was deflected wide, and gave a free-kick to Francis Jeffers when he had clearly handled.

And when di Canio skipped away from Stubbs and was obviously tripped, he got nothing from the Yorkshire official.

Wayne Rooney, playing out of the right, sent over a cross that saw Ferguson send in a downward header that was held by Dean Kiely, but Charlton’s break from deep defence to trouble Everton should have set alarm bells ringing.

Five minutes from the break Charlton broke quickly again and went ahead when Everton failed to deal properly when a di Canio right wing cross was headed down by Jason Euell.

The ball hit a couple of defenders before failing to Stuart to hammer in from close range.

And in first half injury time Stuart made a great chance for the unmarked Euell in the box, but the striker put his shot wide from eight yards.

Everton’s frustrations started to show after the break and Lee Carsley was booked for a foul on Euell.

But the dangers were still obvious when di Canio’s pass from defence sent Konchesky racing away to catch the hosts on the break. Only an off-target shot saved Everton.

An out-of-touch Jeffers was finally withdrawn on 57 minutes, with Radzinski taking over.

It sparked Everton into life, and Ferguson saw a header kicked off the line on 61 minutes, with Stubbs then nodding over from eight yards.

Everton continued to battle away, and Carsley saw a low header turned round a post by Kiely at full stretch.

Everton continued the aerial assault, which Charlton’s determined defence dealt with consistently well.

Campbell replaced Carsley as Everton threw on another attacker, but Charlton defended with their lives and secured an important victory.