Robinson revives flagging Charlton hopes

Watford 3 Charlton Athletic 2 aet; 2-2 at 90 mins

Charlton Athletic's attempt to reach the quarter-final of the Worthington Cup and its various predecessors for the first time floundered last night at Vicarage Road, after their long-serving Welsh International John Robinson had headed an equalising goal in the final minute of added time. Watford, lying in the bottom half of the First Division, raised their game and deserved to force a victory.

Gianluca Vialli's side played positively throughout and should not have needed an additional half-hour to earn a place in the last eight of the competition that gave him his first trophy as Chelsea's manager in 1998.

In the 80th minute of a rousing tie Tommy Smith had a penalty saved by Dean Kiely, which would have put them 3-1 ahead. Instead, they had to wait for the ninth minute of extra-time and a goal from the substitute Heidar Helguson, bundled in after Kiely saved from Smith. Even with four strikers on the pitch, Charlton could not recover this time, despite Scott Parker hitting the inside of a post.

Unlike some of the Premiership big boys, Charlton, with 11 senior professionals out, did not have many reserves available to throw in even if they had wanted to. None of the long-term injured are fully fit yet and Jason Euell, suddenly blossoming as their leading goalscorer, was still absent following a bereavement. Most of Saturday's team at Southampton were therefore given the opportunity to atone for a wretched performance at St Mary's, though Mark Fish had picked up a knock. He was replaced by Andy Todd, playing for the first time since being suspended by the club for the incident which left his team-mate Dean Kiely with a black eye.

The home side, again without their experienced Italian captain Filippo Galli in defence, went for a bold approach, with Gifton Noel-Williams added as an extra attacking player. That gave them a 3-4-3 formation against Charlton's three defenders, leaving the Premiership side with abundant possession in midfield but no cover at the back.

They were behind in the 18th minute, ironically at a time when there were plenty of bodies in defence. Lloyd Doyley, a young wing-back standing in for Patrick Blondeau, completely mis-hit a shot that was cleared to the edge of the penalty area for Paolo Vernazza to drive in off Graham Stuart.

For all Charlton's command of the ball, Alec Chamberlain in the home goal was required to make only one save until just before the break, pushing Scott Parker's shot aside after a strong run. Then came an equaliser, also with the benefit of a miscue, John Robinson the fortunate miscreant, skewing his attempted shot to Steve Brown for the centre-half to drive in his third of the season.

It was Vialli who changed tack and tactics first, replacing Marcus Gayle with a midfielder, Gary Fisken and settling for a more conservative 3-5-2. The newcomer soon sent in a difficult low cross, held by Dean Kiely, who then did well to save Tommy Smith's angled shot after a clever dribble and later held Ramon Vega's header.

On the hour the First Division side went in front again, Paul Robinson beating Luke Young to Vernazza's pass and sliding the ball across Kiely and into the far corner of the net.

As Charlton pushed forward, there were more goals for the taking on the counter-attack. Gary Fisken dispossessed Claus Jensen and burst into the area, but allowed the midfielder to distract him into shooting wide.

Ten minutes from time Kevin Lisbie, who had just come on as substitute, pushed Paul Robinson to concede a penalty, Kiely saving Smith's kick. Jensen seemed to have come the closest to forcing extra-time with a measured drive that Chamberlain touched onto a post. Then the Dane chipped in a cross that John Robinson headed past Chamberlain. There was no time for the game to restart.

Watford (3-4-3): Chamberlain; Cox, Issa, Vega; Doyley, Hyde, Vernazza, Robinson; Smith, Noel-Williams (Helguson 89), Gayle (Fisken, h-t). Substitutes not used: Baardsen (gk), Wooter, Helguson, Hand.

Charlton Athletic (3-5-2): Kiely; Brown, Todd (Konchesky, 91), Young; Robinson, Stuart (Lisbie, 78), Parker, Jensen, Powell (MacDonald, 89); Bartlett, Johansson. Substitutes not used: Roberts (gk), Kinsella, MacDonald.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe).