Simon Church’s second-half strike was enough for Charlton Athletic to record a first win of the season over Huddersfield at the third time of asking – firing them into the Fifth Round of The FA Cup in the process.
Heading into this clash at the John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield had triumphed in both clashes this season over Charlton – in the Championship and in the League Cup clash.
And although the teams were level at half-time after both failed to find the back of the net, Huddersfield looked the far more dangerous with Charlton goalkeeper Ben Alnwick needing to be in fine form to keep his side in it.
Huddersfield Town 0-1 Charlton Athletic
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fourth Round Proper
3pm, Saturday 25 January
John Smith's Stadium
Winners receive £90000
By Alex Lanigan
But it was the visitors who found a winner through Church on 54 minutes, the striker having played on loan at the Terriers in 2012, to leave Addicks manager Chris Powell dreaming of a famous FA Cup run.
“It is a competition that I take seriously and we have not done too well in the cups in recent years,” he said.
“So it is good for us to progress with another clean sheet and let’s see where it takes us.
“We rode our luck at times, the 'keeper made a good save in the first half to keep us in it. We kept chipping away and eventually got our rewards.
“In the end it was about showing a bit of character and patience.”
It was all Huddersfield in the first half and Alnwick had to be alert to deny Oliver Norwood and Danny Ward as the hosts pushed for an opener.
Charlton game out after the break a much improved side and took the lead their play deserved after ten minutes.
Lawrie Wilson drifted off the right wing and played an excellent reverse pass to Church who calmly slid the ball past Alex Smithies.
Smith blazed wildly over the bar from inside the box after being picked out by the substitute Sean Scannell as the home side looked for a leveller.
Huddersfield should have equalised in the 62nd minute but Ward steered his effort harmlessly wide after Scannell once again tormented the Addicks defence.
Holmes came agonisingly close to equalising in the 87th minute, twisting and turning before poking his effort wide as the home side’s dominance failed to be rewarded with a leveller.
Huddersfield manager Mark Robins said: “We created a number of chances, had we taken one we would have won the game there is no doubt about it, but we didn’t. It is about what happens in both penalty areas that matters.
“There was nothing on our goal; it was a poor goal to concede.
“We have to hold our hands up, we are out of the competition because of an error strewn game in terms of sticking the ball in the back of the net.”
Huddersfield Town (3-5-2): Smithies, Smith, Gerrard, Wallace, Dixon, Hammill (Scannell 35, Sinnott 55), Gobern (Holmes 64), Clayton, Norwood, Ward, Vaughan.
Subs not used: Woods, Bennett, Stead, Bunn.
Manager: Mark Robins.
Charlton Athletic (4-3-3): Alnwick, Wilson, Evina (Lennon 35), Morrison, Dervitte, Stephens, Jackson, Ajdarevic (Cousins 69), Harriott, Church, Sordell (Green 69).
Subs not used: Wood, Cook, Thuram-Ulien, Pigott.
Manager: Chris Powell.
Goal: Simon Church (54).
