Norwich City 1 Charlton 0
Charlton were edged out 1-0 by Norwich City in a tight contest at Carrow Road on Boxing Day.
It was a fixture where the first goal always felt crucial and, while there was an element of fortune in the way the ball broke for Jovon Makama’s 61st-minute winner, it would be unfair to suggest the Addicks did enough to deserve more from the game.
Nathan Jones was forced to watch from the stands due to suspension, having picked up a third booking in Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Oxford United.
With Kayne Ramsay sidelined through injury, Jones handed a full debut to 19-year-old Keenan Gough. The youngster performed well and provided Charlton’s first sight of goal, his header from a deep corner comfortably gathered by Norwich goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic.
Almost immediately at the other end, the in-form Makama struck the post with a fierce effort that rebounded to the relief of the travelling support.
Although Charlton’s pressing caused problems, it was Thomas Kaminski who was the busier goalkeeper in the first half. The Addicks’ stopper beat away an early Kenny McLean effort and later produced an excellent low fingertip save to his right to deny Matej Jurasek.
After some neat play from Tanto Olaofe, the striker found Karoy Anderson on the edge of the area, but the midfielder’s goalbound effort was blocked behind for a corner.
Early in the second half, Sonny Carey won a dangerous free kick, but James Bree’s curling set piece crashed into the well-positioned Norwich wall.
Norwich took the lead 16 minutes after the restart when Lloyd Jones’ clearance struck Makama and fell perfectly for the forward to smash home from close range with his right foot.
Kaminski was called into action again soon after, making another smart save to keep out Oscar Schwartau after the winger had broken in behind the Charlton defence.
The Addicks pushed for an equaliser and utilised the bench, but were unable to carve out a clear opening.
Nathan Jones will return to the touchline on Monday as Charlton travel to Portsmouth.
The Addicks are back at The Valley on New Year’s Day for the visit of Coventry City. Click here to purchase your tickets now!
Norwich City: Kovacevic, Darling, Mattsson, Jurasek (Springett 46), Chrisene (Mahovo 68), McConville, Ben Slimane (Wright 46), McLean (c), Makama (Kvistgaarden 84), Schwartau (Stacey 84)
Subs (not used): Grimshaw, Gibbs, Marcondes, Cordoba, Mahovo
Goal: Makama 61
Booked: Chrisene 46 (foul on Carey), Darling 65 (foul on Leaburn)
Charlton: Kaminski; Gough, Jones (c), Gillesphey; Bree, Carey, Coventry (Berry 85), Anderson (Docherty 60), Bell (Campbell 60); Leaburn (Kelman 71), Olaofe (Apter 71)
Subs (not used): Mannion, Burke, Rankin-Costello, Knibbs
Booked: Kaminski 64 (pushing Makama), Campbell 77 (foul on Springett)
Referee: Matthew Donohue
Attendance: 26,594 (1,777 from Charlton)
