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Saturday, August 19, 2006

West Ham 3 Charlton 1

With a predicted defeat the Addicks made a disappointing start to the new season . Monica surprised us all by selecting new signing Scott Carson in goal and leaving Myhre as sub and included Andy Reid on the bench.

After an early 15th minute lead scored by Darren Bent from the penalty spot we suffered another first game dismissal. And as happened in the opening game last year away to Sunderland where Darren Ambrose was dismissed so it was a another new signing that was shown the red card.

With 2 yellows in a matter of 3 minutes left-back Djimi Traore left the field in the 26th minute for an early shower. Changes were immediately made to correct the shape of defence and ironically it was Darren Ambrose that left the field to be replaced by Gonzalo Sorondo while HH moved to left-back. A brave decision by Monica to pull off a midfielder rather than one of his strikers as would be the norm away from home.

A save by Carson from Harewood and a booking for Young but the score at half-time remained 1-0 to the Addicks.

Facing 10 man West Ham came on strong and on 51 minutes our old-boy Lee Bowyer's said thank you with a cross from the right that Zamora tapped home the equaliser at the far post.

And it got worst 20 minutes later with Zamora once again involved. His miss-hit volley deflected off Hreidarsson, hits the right hand post and goes in under the foot of El Karkouri to make it 2-1 to the Hammers.
As Charlton tired another reject Carlton Cole fired home a third in injury time to make it a miserable start for Dowie and it doesn't get any easier as that red lot from up North are due at the Valley next Wednesday.

Charlton: Carson; Young, Traore, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri; Ambrose (30mins Sorondo), Faye, Holland, Hughes, (72mins Reid); Hasselbaink (64 mins M Bent), D Bent.

Subs: Myhre, Sorondo, Reid, Rommedahl, M Bent

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