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Live updates from The Valley as Roy Hodgson’s Bristol City take on Charlton Athletic in the Championship (3:00pm kick-off)
Charlton Athletic host Bristol City at The Valley in the Championship(Image: Getty Images)
Hello and welcome to this Good Friday live blog, where we will be bringing you live updates from The Valley as Bristol City kick off the Roy Hodgson interim era against Charlton Athletic in the Championship.
It has been just under a fortnight since the Robins were last in action, with a home defeat to West Brom ultimately proving to be the final nail in the coffin for Gerhard Struber. The Austrian’s side saw their gap to the play-off places stretched to 12 points as they were beaten 1-0 by the Baggies.
For this afternoon’s opponents, the international break has also been spent stewing over a defeat. Charlton missed the chance to move further away from the relegation zone as they were beaten 1-0 by Norwich City last time out, with Pelle Mattsson’s goal the difference.
With a win over the Reds this afternoon, Nathan Jones’ side could move as many as 12 points away from the bottom three, depending on results elsewhere in the division. For the Robins, three points will be required if they wish to keep their increasingly slim play-off chances alive.
When these two sides met at Ashton Gate earlier this season, the points were shared in a 0-0 draw. On City’s last visit to The Valley, it was The Addicks who came out on top as a Macauley Bonne brace and a goal from Alfie Doughty secured a 3-2 win on Boxing Day in 2019.
Hodgson will be eager to get his interim tenure off to a winning start and avoid stretching City’s winless run in all competitions to seven matches this afternoon.
You can follow all the action, as it happens, here…
Today16:53 BST
90+1Five minutes added
Plenty of time of a twist or two more here….
Today16:52 BST
90Armstrong should do better
That is such a waste from the substitute who should have killed this off. Having picked up on a loose ball on the halfway line, he breaks towards the area and takes the ball to his left to shape for the finish.
He takes too long, however, and is tackled. He had to get a shot away there, if not score.
Today16:50 BST
88What a miss!
Charlton couldn’t have asked for a better chance! A deep cross lands at the feet of Campbell at the back post, who has enough time and space to first control and then sit himself for the volley.
He catches this one and if anything, gets too much on it. It flies well, well wide of the post. Moments later, Dykes heads over from close range.
Today16:48 BST
86Another change for the Robins
That is the end of Emil Riis’ afternoon as he makes way for Sinclair Armstrong with less than five minutes of regular time to play. It hasn’t been the Dane’s afternoon.
Today16:45 BST
83Change for Bristol City
Hodgson makes his second change of the afternoon as Bird is replaced by George Earthy. The midfielder has been superb this afternoon on just his second league start this term.
Today16:44 BST
82WHAT A SAVE!
Radek Vitek you beauty! Charlton’s first corner fizzes across the area and the Addicks do well with the follow up to ping a cross towards the back stick where it is headed down towards goal from close range.
Vitek gets down so, so, so quickly to keep it out and push away from danger.
Today16:43 BST
81Vital from Eile
That is very good from the big Swede who steps out to meet a pass into the final third. He is brave as he leaves the line to win possession and clear up field.
The home side have a corner now, however….
Today16:41 BST
79Not sticking for Riis
That sums up the forward’s afternoon. He does very well to break onto a loose ball, but loses it as quickly as he gets it when his touch lets him down.
Charlton make a double chnage with Coventry and Clarke off for Godden and Rankin-Costello.
Today16:37 BST
75Behind for a goal kick
Charlton’s corner is chipped deep beyond the back post where it is nodded back towards goal. It smashes into an Addicks’ body before it crosses the line and is behind for a goal kick.
Today16:36 BST
74Charlton corner
The Robins are very lucky to still be ahead here. First, Vitek misses a punch and no-one can turn into an empty net, then the stopper makes a good save to deny Fullah.
Charlton do have a corner though.
Today16:34 BST
72Comes to nothing
The Robins work the corner short but in the end, it comes to very little. In fact, Charlton look to break after a poor Mark Sykes header, but Pring covers well to win possession and clear for a throw-in.
Today16:33 BST
71City corner
Twine’s free-kick looks to have got up and over the wall, but is – in the end – headed behind for a corner…
Today16:32 BST
70Foul on Bird
The home crowd feel this one is soft but the referee doesn’t care. Bird has been fouled on the left corner of the penalty area, with a trailing arm catching him in the face.
Clark goes into the book.
Today16:31 BST
68The Robins defending well here
At risk of tempting fate, the Robins have defended well since the restart here to really limit what Charlton have created. The home side have got into some half decent positions, but have been unable to really test Radek Vitek.
Today16:27 BST
64Double change for Charlton
Nathan Jones is mixing things up. Kelman and Chambers are replaced by Campbell and Fullah. The Charlton boss isn’t likely to be happy with what he’s seen since the restart.
Today16:24 BST
62Twine forces a save!
The Robins are finding their rhythm now and very nearly have a third. Some really good work and then feet from Max Bird sees the midfielder hold the ball up and then break towards the Charlton area. He spreads play to his right where Twine is stationed and his right footed shot forces a good save.
Today16:22 BST
59Morsy forces a save
This is one off the training ground. Twine chips the corner beyond the back post and closer to the corner of the area where Morsy has peeled off into some space. He chests the ball before striking towards the near post, where Mannion is able to gather.
Today16:21 BST
58City corner
Morsy slips Riis down the right of the area and from the angle, he forces a corner with a powerful shot.
Today16:17 BST
55GOAL! Charlton 1-2 Bristol City [Eile]
The Robins are ahead again and we think it will be Noah Eile’s goal. Twine’s free-kick is struck under the Charlton wall and Mannion is unable to gather as it bobbles around the area.
Eile appears to be the man to prod it over the line, but Morsy has celebrated as well. I have to say, this is a foul, foul goal.
Today16:16 BST
55Into the wall
But he will get another go. The number 10’s first effort is fired into the wall and moments later he is again fouled on the edge of the box. He’ll have another go…
Today16:15 BST
53Borges fires over!
What a goal that would have been. Borges, who has been lively today, gets his head down from centre-back and drives towards the edge of the Charlton penalty area before playing a one-two with Max Bird.
He sets himself and swivels before trying his luck with his left foot. It ends up over the bar.
Moments later Twine is fouled on the edge of the area…
Today16:09 BST
47Comes to nothing
Charlton deal with the initial danger of Twine’s corner which is nodded back to Sykes on the right wing by Randell. The Irishman aims to chip a ball down the right for Twine to chase, but it is watched behind for a goal kick.
Today16:08 BST
46City corner
A mix-up by the Charlton backline gifts the Robins an early second half corner…
Today16:07 BST
46We’re back underway as Hodgson makes a change
We did wonder if Ross McCrorie would be able to continue after that knock at the end of the opening period. It doesn’t look as though the Scotsman will play on, with Sam Morsy taking his place ahead of the restart.
Speaking of the restart, we are back underway at The Valley. The Robins have 45 minutes to find a winner and end this six-match winless run in all competitions.
Today15:51 BST
Half-time: Charlton 1-1 Bristol City
The two sides head into the break level. Ross McCrorie didn’t manage to make his way back onto the field, but did appear to be ready to return to the field, had that half gone on a little bit longer.
The story of the contest so far is that Scott Twine’s opener has been cancelled out by a Lyndon Dykes strike. The Reds have played some very good stuff going forward, but have perhaps faded slightly as the half wore on.
Today15:48 BST
45+3Clarke fires over
Charlton play on after that clearance from Pring, despite the fact that McCrorie is down with what appears to be a serious injury – if his reaction is to be believed.
Clarke lines up an attempt from range and his right-footed shot narrowly ends up over the bar. That was a good attempt.
Today15:47 BST
45+8Pring hacks clear
The Robins were living dangerously there. The corner is fizzed beyond the back post where it is nodded back across goal and towards the six-yard box.
Pring does very well to volley clear with his left foot.
Today15:46 BST
45+2Charlton corner
The ball is kicked against Eile and the hosts have a corner late in the first half…
Today15:45 BST
45+1Twine goes close
That is a clever attempt from Scott Twine. City have a free-kick some 50 yards from goal on the right touchline and the attacking midfielder attempts to catch the keeper off guard as he goes from goal.
Mannion is scrambling, but it ends up over the bar. Three minutes added.
Today15:44 BST
44Twine shoots
No he won’t. Twine and Randell and interchange over the free-kick that is some 30-yards from goal to allow the number 10 to set himself and shoot with his right-foot from range.
It is a dipping effort that has Mannion on the move, but ends up comfortably wide of the post.
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