Sporting CP 0-1 Charlton Athletic

Charlton will no doubt be delighted with a one goal victory over Europa League semi-finalists Sporting Lisbon. Johnnie Jackson's last minute header from a Danny Green free-kick won it for the Addicks, in a game that could quite easily have finished at least 0-3, if it weren't for three poor refereeing decisions.

Sporting controlled the ball for much of a quiet first period, but never really managed to threaten the Charlton goal. The men in red were very composed on the ball, in particular young Spanish midfielder Ruben Bover Izquierdo, who was linking the defence and midfield together very well. The first chance of the game fell to Sporting striker van Wolfswinkel, whose scuffed shot from the edge of the area was comfortably saved by Ben Hamer after ten minutes. Midway through the first-half, Charlton forward Danny Haynes was quite clearly brought down inside the area by former Liverpool left-back Emiliano Insua, however referee Calzada Morales denied the forward's strong claims, and booked him for dissent. With two minutes to go before the much needed interval in the Mediterranean heat, Yann Kermorgant played a clever long ball out of the defence, which allowed Haynes to run through at goal, however a heavy touch let a Lisbon defender to throw himself in front of the ball, for goalkeeper Marcelo to come and gather.

Similarly to the Welling game on Saturday, Chris Powell decided to field two different sides in each half, with the only real surprise of the second-half being full-back Chris Solly playing in central midfield, with young Jordan Cousins in Solly's normal position. Six minutes into the second half the Addicks had the ball in the net, after Jackson's cross was poked home by Yado Mambo, yet the Reds were dealt a complete injustice, as the linesman put his flag up despite replays showing the big central defender could not have more clearly been onside. Only five minutes later and Charlton had scored again, only for the assistant to put his flag up against an onside Jordan Cook, who finished wonderfully from a neat Michael Smith through-ball. Lisbon's first chance of the half came through a cleverly worked overhead kick, which never really looked like troubling John Sullivan, and flew straight over the bar. Scott Wagstaff was the next to shoot at the SCP goal, but his twenty yard left-footed effort was saved this time by the Lisbon goalkeeper, diving to his left. With ten minutes to go, Chris Powell made his twelfth change of the match, with former Rangers man and triallist Salim Kerkar replacing Jordan Cousins, allowing for Chris Solly to slot back in at right-back. Soon after, Sporting won a free-kick on the edge of the Addicks penalty area, only for them to squander a big chance to win the game, firing it straight into the wall. The Portuguese were left to rue their wasted chances, as in the final minute of the game Charlton won a free-kick. The David Beckham of the English third division (soon-to-be second) Danny Green swung in a fantastic free-kick from the left, letting skipper and ever-reliable Johnnie Jackson net the winner with a diving header from close range.

Charlton fans went wild inside the San Roque de Lepe stadium, and at home behind their laptops. This win will give fans who may have been doubting this side's ability to compete at Championship level due to a lack of transfer activity a sense of reinstalled belief and confidence, and certainly give the players something to be proud of. Definitely an evening to be remembered.

Charlton (first-half): Hamer, Wilson, Morrison, Cort, Evina, Pritchard, Stephens, Bover, Haynes, Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips.
Charlton (second-half): Sullivan, Cousins (Kerkar), Mambo, Taylor, Wiggins, Green, Solly, Jackson, Wagstaff, Smith, Cook.

Welling United 0-4 Charlton Athletic

In a similar vein to last year, Charlton ran out comfortable winners, despite a goalless first-half, over Welling United at their Park View Road home ground.

Charlton started with a mixture of younger players and those who had played a big role in the League One winning team last season. Young goalkeeper Nick Pope started in goal, behind a back four of promising right-back and England youth player Jordan Cousins, an experienced central defence pairing of Leon Cort and first-half captain Matt Taylor, and left-back Cedric Evina. Danny Green and Callum Harriott played out wide for the men in the new black away kit, with Ruben Bover Izquierdo and Bradley Pritchard in the middle. Last season's top scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips started up top alongside fan's favourite Yann Kermorgant, who was playing for the first time at Welling.

The game began with a fairly even first-half, with Bover pulling the strings with some wonderful passes in the Charlton midfield and Bradley Pritchard looking as energetic as ever. It has to be said, Welling did play some good football in the first-half, and Wings player Fairweather-Johnson did manage to test Pope with a drive, but the goalkeeper handled it calmly. However the first chance of the goalless first-half came to young midfielder Callum Harriott, who squandered a Danny Green centre well wide of the goal, and eventually out for a throw-in. The best opportunity came to Bradley Wright-Phillips, who perhaps tried to do too much with Harriott's fantastic through-ball, and with his shot blocked the ball fell to Pritchard, who could only direct the ball narrowly wide of the Wings goal.

Chris Powell played a whole new eleven in the second-half, and a new formation to go with it. Spanish triallist Jacobo Sanz Ovejero started in goal, protected by 2011/12 player and young player of the season Chris Solly, powerful young centre-back Yado Mambo, Michael Morrison and Rhoys Wiggins. Powell played three in midfield, with Scott Wagstaff and captain Johnnie Jackson flanking Dale Stephens. Up front new signing Jordan Cook was given his first chance to shine alongside Danny Haynes and Michael Smith.

A fantastic move down the right between Jackson, Smith and Solly led to the opener, an own-goal by Joe Obersteller from the latter's cross. Five minutes later and Charlton had the ball in the net again, this time a Dale Stephens corner neatly headed in by big forward Smith.  The next action came from the other end, with a long clearance misjudged by Morrison, allowing Ross Lafayette through on goal, but he could only find the near post, with Sanz Ovejero fast closing him down. A clever pass from controlling midfielder Stephens allowed Danny Haynes to run through on goal, but the striker was brought down  by United defender Franks, and the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Jackson converted the penalty into the bottom right corner as calmly as ever, and with twelve minutes to go The Addicks were cruising. Seven minutes later Jordan Cook almost made it four, a long cross/shot from wide right hitting the crossbar. However in the 86th minute, Charlton did make it four. Another good corner from Stephens was headed home emphatically into the far corner from the near post by Haynes. The game finished soon after, and the away side will surely be satisfied with their comfortable victory.

Charlton (first-half): Pope, Cousins, Taylor, Cort, Evina, Green, Bover, Pritchard, Harriott, Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips.
Charlton (second-half): Sanz Ovejero, Solly, Mambo, Morrison, Wiggins, Wagstaff, Stephens, Jackson,  Haynes, Smith, Cook.