Charlton Athletic 0 – 1 Bolton Wanderers

CHARLTON are still searching for their second home win of the season after going down to a solitary goal against Bolton in the Premiership at the Valley on Saturday.

The home side made five changes to the side that knocked Chelsea out of the Carling Cup in midweek. Among those missing was leading scorer Darren Bent, who was ruled out through illness leaving Jay Bothroyd to play as a lone striker.

Charlton thought they had taken the lead midway through the first half after Bothroyd picked out Darren Ambrose, but the England under-21 international controlled the ball with his arm before firing into the net.

Ambrose had another chance on 34 minutes but he blasted the ball into the side netting from a tight angle.

Bolton made most of the running early in the second half leading to Addicks boss Alan Curbishley bringing on Bryan Hughes and Jonatan Johansson to freshen up the midfield.

Johansson almost snatched a goal on the break for Charlton after 69 minutes when Bothroyd flicked the ball onto him and he got behind the visitors’ defence but his shot was saved by Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

The breakthrough came on 71 minutes when Amdy Faye’s shot took a deflection and, although Addicks keeper Stephan Andersen did well to parry the ball, Hidetoshi Nakata squared it to Kevin Nolan who scored.

Matt Holland came on for Radostin Kishishev as Charlton switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Johansson joining Bothroyd in attack.

Hughes went close with a header from Danny Murphy’s free kick which Jaaskelainen did well to tip over the bar, but without Bent the home side rarely threatened.

Charlton: Andersen, Young, Perry, Hreidarsson, Spector, Kishishev (Holland 77), Smertin (Hughes 60), Murphy, Rommedahl (Johansson 62), Ambrose, Bothroyd.
Subs Not Used: Kiely, El Karkouri.
Attendance: 26,175.