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Just got back from Old Trafford, bloody freezing!! I'm colder than I would be coming back from watching the reserves.....
Onto the game, a very even game to be honest and though United won with an odd sort of goal a draw wouldn't have been out of place as such. Though extra time and pens would have followed.
Charlton started better than United and there defence dominated a United attack made up of Campbell and Brandy. Neither really saw the ball in the first half, and any attacks were dealt with well by the Charlton team. Jamie Mullen wasn't on top form, he was tending to keep hold of the ball longer than he should, though any crosses he did put in were normally very good and ones which could have caused problems.
After with holding the first 20 minutes, Charlton broke well down the right and scored a very well taken goal. Though slightly against the run of play, Charlton then started to control the game and could have made it 2-0 prior to the break.
The second half started well with Brandy robbing the Charlton defence on the edge of the centre circle in the Charlton half and then neatly placing the ball in the net beyond the advancing keeper. United took charge of the midfield in the second half with excellent performances by Danny Rose and Darron Gibson. Chances were being created, but nothing clear cut enough to take the lead. Then, just as you though extra time would be needed a bit of luck took United through. Campbell picked the ball up on the edge of the area, neatly turned and shot. The ball was deflected and span into the air, the keeper watched it, felt it was going wide, left it and on bouncing the spin took it into the net, much to the horror of the keeper.
Apart from a last minute corner in which nearly every outfield Charlton player camped themselves on top of Zieler in the United goals, they didn't create anything to suggest they would have snatched an equaliser.
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