Charlton Athletic against Manchester City

The Charlton fans won;t be happy with their team's performance this afternoon, and are making their thoughts heard.

This has become a bit of a rout now; despite looking shakey at the back themselves, City have torn the Charlton defence apart all afternoon, with Cole and Vassell excellent.

GOAL! Perry's header back is weak, and gives Cole the chance to round Kiely and slot a shot inside the near post.

Hughes sends a long cross to Bothroyd at the back post, but his header is weak and straight at James.

SAVE! Charlton break at pace through Thomas, who rolls the ball to Bent, on the penalty spot. The young striker takes his time, but places his shot too close to the City keeper, who palms over the bar.

SUB: Ambrose off, Hughes on. Curbishley uses his final roll of the dice, replacing a midfielder with another midfielder.

In contrast, Charlton are facing their sixth home defeat in succession; a terrible record for Curbishley to deal with.

City boss Pearce celebrated Vassell's goal with a passionate punch of his fist. Surely that should see the points go home with the Blues?

GOAL! Cole sends his strike partner Vassell through down the left channel, and the England man keeps his cool to place his shot under Kiely and finish the match.

This is only the second time this season that City have conceded two goals or more in a game, but they look a little nervous at the back as the final minutes approach.

This game has really come to life; the fans are roaring on their sides and the play has become really fast and open.

Dunne is booked for pushing Thomas as they chased a long clearance up field from Kiely.

More panic in the City area, though they eventually clear and mount a great counter attack through Cole and Vassell.

James is forced to put a shot from Ambrose behind for a corner. Nervous moments for City.

We're in for a cracking finish here; Bothroyd's bullet shot should perhaps have been saved by James at his near post, but it has brought the Charlton fans and team alive.

GOAL! Murphy tees up Bothroyd, who blasts a low shot from the corner of the area inside James' near post.

Charlton were furious that the referee deemed the offence took place outside the penalty area, though replays show the official made the correct decision. He books Young for dissent, and then Reyna for encroaching at the free-kick.

Bothroyd falls under a tackle from Thatcher; the Charlton man tumbles inside the penaltya area, though the foul was committed outside. Free-kick.

SHOT! Ambrose cracks a low volley a foot or so wide of the near post from the edge of the penalty area.

GOAL! Kiely saves Barton's penalty, but the City midfielder follows up and slots a low shot in to the corner. He got lucky there, but stayed cool to place his shot home.

PENALTY! A cross from the right is met by Vassell and strikes Perry's arm. City appeal, the referee turns it down, but then moments later spots Hreidarsson holding Vassell's shirt and points to the spot.

Smertin nicks the ball away from Barton in midfield, but the covering is excellent in the City defence and they break up the Charlton attack.

Some slick City passing involving Cole, Sinclair and Reyna as they break up a Charlton attack and mount one of their own.

Thomas is furious when he is adjudged to have pushed Sommeil as they challenged for a bouncing ball in the penalty area.

Hreidarsson mis-kicks as he attempts to clear Reyna's cross from the right, but he recovers his composure to eventually clear.

Murphy sends the ball in, but City win a free-kick when Hreidarsson is seen pushing Dunne at the far post.

The home side win a corner when Thatcher is forced to put a long free-kick behind at the far post.

There have been no real signs of a Charlton comeback since half-time, although the home side are still only a goal down and will think they are still in this match.

Vassell is punished for backing-in to his marker as he attempted to control Sinclair's flicked header.

Jihai spreads a great pass out to Sinclair on the right wing, but the former England man mis-controls and the ball runs away from him.

Sun Jihai is booked for sliding in on Spector on the half-way line. The Charlton man needs some treatment, but he's soon on his feet.

Another good block from Distin as he blocks Young's low cross from a good overlapping run down the right.

Sun Jihai curls the ball in to the area; Sommeil wins the header, but Vassell can't turn the shot in from four yards out.

...The City man drives a low shot in, but his effort is blocked inside a crowded penalty area. Corner to City.

...but then so do four or five other City players...

Perry earns a booking with the referee after bringing down Vassell on the edge of the Charlton penalty area. Barton looks interested in the set-piece...

Good defending from Distin as he manages to clear under pressure from Thomas.

...Murphy strikes it well, but his shot flies a couple of yards over James' crossbar.

Charlton win a free-kick as Thatcher attempts to plough through four players. 35 yards out, but Murphy is eyeing the shot...

SUB: Johansson is replaced by Bothroyd. Curbishey changes a striker for another striker as he searches for this equaliser.

City are all over Charlton at the moment, and the home side are not defending very well at all.

BLOCK! Vassell finds some space in the penalty area, turns and shoots, although his effort is blocked on the six yard box.

Thomas almost slides a good pass in to Bent, but the ball is slightly over-hit and James collects on the edge of the area.

WIDE! Barton flashes a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area after a one-two with Renya. He should have worked the keeper, at the very least.

Barton is showing some good composure on the ball in the centre of midfield; he has had a good game this afternoon.

Sommeil does well to cover as Thomas and Smertin team up against him on the Charlton left. He could be set for a long run in the side, with Danny Mills currently injured.

Hreidarsson wins a header from another long pass in to the penalty area, but James collects comfortably.

...The midfielder whips in a great cross, but Cole heads over the crossbar from six yards out. He should have done better with that.

Sinclair wins his side a free-kick on the right-edge of the Charlton penalty area. Dangerous spot. Barton stands over the ball...

Thomas heads on Kiely's long clearance, but bent is adjudged off-side as he tried to get on to the flick.

The Charlton home fans were getting a little restless at the end of the first half; they are desperate to see their side win here at The Valley.

City kick off the second half.

HALF-TIME SUB: Holland is replaced by Thomas. Charlton look to be trying to get some width in to their game.

HALF-TIME: A good half from City, who go in at the break with a deserved 2-1 lead. I think they'll be more goals in this game; it has been quite open.

Vassell does well to hold off Young and send over a left-footed cross, but it's just too long for Cole and Sinclair.

Ambrose does well to spread the play out to Young on the right, but the move eventually breaks down after Bent's mis-placed pass.

The game has slowed a little since City's second goal; both teams are struggling to put any passes together.

Spector's cross from deep on the left takes a deflection, and Dunne does well to get his head on the high ball and flick it back to his goalkeeper.

I think both sides will be keen to get to half-time for a breather and the chance to regroup.

Cole flicks on a long free-kick from Distin, but it has just too much on it and Kiely gets to it before Vassell.

City's front two of Cole and Vassell have caused problems for the Charlton defence all afternoon; Cole's pass in to Sinclair for City's second was superbly weighted.

A remarkable couple of minutes here at The Valley; Charlton just switched off for a second, and Sinclair restored City's lead.

GOAL! Sinclair fires City back in front, just seconds after Bent's equaliser! Cole slid lovely pass in to the winger, who fires a low shot under Kiely from a tight angle.

GOAL! Bent latches on to a long pass over the top from Young, holding off Dunne before firing a low shot in to the bottom corner.

There are signs of a recovery from the home side; they are managing to cause a few moments of concern in the City defence after changing to 4-4-2.

Smertin is pushed by Barton as he tried to pass him, 45 yards out. Free-kick, central, for Charlton.

Cole mis-cues as he attempts a first-time shot from Sinclair's pass in to his feet on the edge of the penalty area.

The home side win their second corner when Distin is forced to put the ball behind as Johansson ran down the right channel.

Charlton are looking very dangerous; going a goal down has really sparked them in to life. Dunne and Distin are being forced in to some desperate blocks and challenges at the back.

The corner is sent in to the middle, but Hreidarsson, under pressure from Dunne, heads wide from six yards out.

Distin fires his side up; he is forced to make a good challenge on Johansson as the pacy striker looked to cut in to the area. Corner.

CHANCE! Murphy fires a pass in to Bent, who does well to chest the ball down to Ambrise on the edge of the area. The youngster takes a good touch, but blasts high over the bar with only James to beat.

Alan Curbishley has recognised that his side are being out-played, and the change to a 4-4-2 should make his side more competitive in midfield.

Cole and Vassell are starting to link up very well now, with the older player slipping some excellent passes through to his lively partner up front.

Charlton look to have made a change to their system, reverting back to a traditional 4-4-2, with Murphy moving out to the right of midfield.

City deserve to be in front after dominating the early exchanges, and it was a super finish from the veteran Cole - his 6th league goal of the season.

GOAL! Cole and Vassell link up brilliantly as they combine to hunt down Distin's long header. Cole sprints on to the ball on the edge of the area and places a shot past Kiely inside the far post.

City try to take a quick free-kick as Barton looks to release Vassell over the top, but the City striker is flagged off-side.

This is Alan Curbishley's 700th game in charge at Charlton; he is one of the longest-serving managers in the league.

City's right-back this afternoon, David Sommeil, is playing with a face mask on to protect a broken cheekbone.

Reyna puts the ball out as Ambrose lies on the turf in the City half. The Charlton youngster is holding his face, and needs a little attention from the physio.

The pace of the game has slowed a little as Charlton gradually claw their way back in to it; they are starting to scrap for the loose balls a lot more now.

Charlton are playing very narrow as their wide front players come inside to try and search for the ball. Their system is playing right in to the visitors' hands.

The referee awards City a free-kick as Distin and Bent chase down a long ball over the top and in to the City penalty area.

Charlton are really struggling to get their forwards in to the match; Johansson and Ambrose have barely touched the ball in the opening quarter of an hour.

City maintain the pressure on the home goal as they win a succession of corners down the right. Sinclair is seeing a lot of the ball on his return to the team.

Dunne smashes a volley over the bar from 30 yards out. An ambitious effort from the Irish defender.

City will be very disappointed not to have translated this promising start in to a goal; they might be made to rue it later on in the match.

OVER! Dunne plants a header a couple of yards over the bar as he ran on to Jihai's cross from the right. Another good chance for the visitors.

OOOH! Sun Jihai sends over a tempting cross from the left, and Hreidarsson is forced to put the ball behind for their second corner of the match.

City are putting good pressure on the Charlton midfield, with Barton and Ryena getting through a lot of woek in the middle.

Sun Jihai puts the ball in to the middle, but Ambrose is able to clear.

Sinclair ensures City keep up the pressure on the home side as he breaks down the right and wins a corner off Spector.

...Barton fires the ball in low, Dunne reads it well and clips a shot away, but it flies a yard or so past the near post. Good effort from the big centre-back.

City win another free-kick in a dangerous spot when Sinclair is brought down by Spector on the right wing. Barton stands over the ball as Dunne and Distin go forward...

City have had all of the ball and play in these early minutes, and have already created a couple of chances for Vassell. They had made much the brighter start.

Kiely needs some treatment on his arm from the Charlton physio, but he's a brave lad and is soon up on his feet.

BRAVE SAVE! Kiely is injured as he dives at Vassell's feet as the City striker ran on to Cole's excellent through-ball. Vassell's first touch was poor; he should have at least got a shot away.

City register another shot as Barton clips a pass over the top for Sinclair to chase; the former England winger scuffing a shot across goal which Kiely collects easily.

The City fans are in good voice early on in this match, though there isn't much of a response from the home fans.

Perry gets just enough weight on a back-pass back to Kiely, with Vassell attempting to hunt it down.

City are playing with a regular 4-4-2 formation, with the home side lining up with a 4-3-3.

WIDE! Sun Jihai curls a good cross in from the left wing, but Vassell can only direct his header a couple of yards wide of the far post. He perhaps should have done better there.

Vassell goes down under a Perry challenge as he tried to get away down the right wing. Free-kick.

Charlton are playing in their usual red strip with white shorts, while City are wearing their away kit of dark blue.

Charlton kick off the action at The Valley.

Charlton go in to the match on the back of five successive home defeats.

Some team news: Manchester City have made five changes, with manager Stuart Pearce turning to experience in a bid to get City's season rolling again.

Hello, I'm Alex, and I'm here to commentate on Manchester City's trip to Charlton. It might be a beauty. It might be a stinker. Who knows?

GOAL! Murphy tees up Bothroyd, who blasts a low shot from the corner of the area inside James' near post.

Charlton were furious that the referee deemed the offence took place outside the penalty area, though replays show the official made the correct decision. He books Young for dissent, and then Reyna for encroaching at the free-kick.

Bothroyd falls under a tackle from Thatcher; the Charlton man tumbles inside the penaltya area, though the foul was committed outside. Free-kick.

SHOT! Ambrose cracks a low volley a foot or so wide of the near post from the edge of the penalty area.

GOAL! Kiely saves Barton's penalty, but the City midfielder follows up and slots a low shot in to the corner. He got lucky there, but stayed cool to place his shot home.

PENALTY! A cross from the right is met by Vassell and strikes Perry's arm. City appeal, the referee turns it down, but then moments later spots Hreidarsson holding Vassell's shirt and points to the spot.

Smertin nicks the ball away from Barton in midfield, but the covering is excellent in the City defence and they break up the Charlton attack.

Some slick City passing involving Cole, Sinclair and Reyna as they break up a Charlton attack and mount one of their own.

Thomas is furious when he is adjudged to have pushed Sommeil as they challenged for a bouncing ball in the penalty area.

Hreidarsson mis-kicks as he attempts to clear Reyna's cross from the right, but he recovers his composure to eventually clear.

Murphy sends the ball in, but City win a free-kick when Hreidarsson is seen pushing Dunne at the far post.

The home side win a corner when Thatcher is forced to put a long free-kick behind at the far post.

There have been no real signs of a Charlton comeback since half-time, although the home side are still only a goal down and will think they are still in this match.

Vassell is punished for backing-in to his marker as he attempted to control Sinclair's flicked header.

Jihai spreads a great pass out to Sinclair on the right wing, but the former England man mis-controls and the ball runs away from him.

Sun Jihai is booked for sliding in on Spector on the half-way line. The Charlton man needs some treatment, but he's soon on his feet.

Another good block from Distin as he blocks Young's low cross from a good overlapping run down the right.

Sun Jihai curls the ball in to the area; Sommeil wins the header, but Vassell can't turn the shot in from four yards out.

...The City man drives a low shot in, but his effort is blocked inside a crowded penalty area. Corner to City.

...but then so do four or five other City players...

Perry earns a booking with the referee after bringing down Vassell on the edge of the Charlton penalty area. Barton looks interested in the set-piece...

Good defending from Distin as he manages to clear under pressure from Thomas.

...Murphy strikes it well, but his shot flies a couple of yards over James' crossbar.

Charlton win a free-kick as Thatcher attempts to plough through four players. 35 yards out, but Murphy is eyeing the shot...

SUB: Johansson is replaced by Bothroyd. Curbishey changes a striker for another striker as he searches for this equaliser.

City are all over Charlton at the moment, and the home side are not defending very well at all.

BLOCK! Vassell finds some space in the penalty area, turns and shoots, although his effort is blocked on the six yard box.

Thomas almost slides a good pass in to Bent, but the ball is slightly over-hit and James collects on the edge of the area.

WIDE! Barton flashes a shot narrowly wide from the edge of the area after a one-two with Renya. He should have worked the keeper, at the very least.

Barton is showing some good composure on the ball in the centre of midfield; he has had a good game this afternoon.

Sommeil does well to cover as Thomas and Smertin team up against him on the Charlton left. He could be set for a long run in the side, with Danny Mills currently injured.

Hreidarsson wins a header from another long pass in to the penalty area, but James collects comfortably.

...The midfielder whips in a great cross, but Cole heads over the crossbar from six yards out. He should have done better with that.

Sinclair wins his side a free-kick on the right-edge of the Charlton penalty area. Dangerous spot. Barton stands over the ball...

Thomas heads on Kiely's long clearance, but bent is adjudged off-side as he tried to get on to the flick.

The Charlton home fans were getting a little restless at the end of the first half; they are desperate to see their side win here at The Valley.

City kick off the second half.

HALF-TIME SUB: Holland is replaced by Thomas. Charlton look to be trying to get some width in to their game.

HALF-TIME: A good half from City, who go in at the break with a deserved 2-1 lead. I think they'll be more goals in this game; it has been quite open.

Vassell does well to hold off Young and send over a left-footed cross, but it's just too long for Cole and Sinclair.

Ambrose does well to spread the play out to Young on the right, but the move eventually breaks down after Bent's mis-placed pass.

The game has slowed a little since City's second goal; both teams are struggling to put any passes together.

Spector's cross from deep on the left takes a deflection, and Dunne does well to get his head on the high ball and flick it back to his goalkeeper.

I think both sides will be keen to get to half-time for a breather and the chance to regroup.

Cole flicks on a long free-kick from Distin, but it has just too much on it and Kiely gets to it before Vassell.

City's front two of Cole and Vassell have caused problems for the Charlton defence all afternoon; Cole's pass in to Sinclair for City's second was superbly weighted.

A remarkable couple of minutes here at The Valley; Charlton just switched off for a second, and Sinclair restored City's lead.

GOAL! Sinclair fires City back in front, just seconds after Bent's equaliser! Cole slid lovely pass in to the winger, who fires a low shot under Kiely from a tight angle.

GOAL! Bent latches on to a long pass over the top from Young, holding off Dunne before firing a low shot in to the bottom corner.

There are signs of a recovery from the home side; they are managing to cause a few moments of concern in the City defence after changing to 4-4-2.

Smertin is pushed by Barton as he tried to pass him, 45 yards out. Free-kick, central, for Charlton.

Cole mis-cues as he attempts a first-time shot from Sinclair's pass in to his feet on the edge of the penalty area.

The home side win their second corner when Distin is forced to put the ball behind as Johansson ran down the right channel.

Charlton are looking very dangerous; going a goal down has really sparked them in to life. Dunne and Distin are being forced in to some desperate blocks and challenges at the back.

The corner is sent in to the middle, but Hreidarsson, under pressure from Dunne, heads wide from six yards out.

Distin fires his side up; he is forced to make a good challenge on Johansson as the pacy striker looked to cut in to the area. Corner.

CHANCE! Murphy fires a pass in to Bent, who does well to chest the ball down to Ambrise on the edge of the area. The youngster takes a good touch, but blasts high over the bar with only James to beat.

Alan Curbishley has recognised that his side are being out-played, and the change to a 4-4-2 should make his side more competitive in midfield.

Cole and Vassell are starting to link up very well now, with the older player slipping some excellent passes through to his lively partner up front.

Charlton look to have made a change to their system, reverting back to a traditional 4-4-2, with Murphy moving out to the right of midfield.

City deserve to be in front after dominating the early exchanges, and it was a super finish from the veteran Cole - his 6th league goal of the season.

GOAL! Cole and Vassell link up brilliantly as they combine to hunt down Distin's long header. Cole sprints on to the ball on the edge of the area and places a shot past Kiely inside the far post.

City try to take a quick free-kick as Barton looks to release Vassell over the top, but the City striker is flagged off-side.

This is Alan Curbishley's 700th game in charge at Charlton; he is one of the longest-serving managers in the league.

City's right-back this afternoon, David Sommeil, is playing with a face mask on to protect a broken cheekbone.

Reyna puts the ball out as Ambrose lies on the turf in the City half. The Charlton youngster is holding his face, and needs a little attention from the physio.

The pace of the game has slowed a little as Charlton gradually claw their way back in to it; they are starting to scrap for the loose balls a lot more now.

Charlton are playing very narrow as their wide front players come inside to try and search for the ball. Their system is playing right in to the visitors' hands.

The referee awards City a free-kick as Distin and Bent chase down a long ball over the top and in to the City penalty area.

Charlton are really struggling to get their forwards in to the match; Johansson and Ambrose have barely touched the ball in the opening quarter of an hour.

City maintain the pressure on the home goal as they win a succession of corners down the right. Sinclair is seeing a lot of the ball on his return to the team.

Dunne smashes a volley over the bar from 30 yards out. An ambitious effort from the Irish defender.

City will be very disappointed not to have translated this promising start in to a goal; they might be made to rue it later on in the match.

OVER! Dunne plants a header a couple of yards over the bar as he ran on to Jihai's cross from the right. Another good chance for the visitors.

OOOH! Sun Jihai sends over a tempting cross from the left, and Hreidarsson is forced to put the ball behind for their second corner of the match.

City are putting good pressure on the Charlton midfield, with Barton and Ryena getting through a lot of woek in the middle.

Sun Jihai puts the ball in to the middle, but Ambrose is able to clear.

Sinclair ensures City keep up the pressure on the home side as he breaks down the right and wins a corner off Spector.

...Barton fires the ball in low, Dunne reads it well and clips a shot away, but it flies a yard or so past the near post. Good effort from the big centre-back.

City win another free-kick in a dangerous spot when Sinclair is brought down by Spector on the right wing. Barton stands over the ball as Dunne and Distin go forward...

City have had all of the ball and play in these early minutes, and have already created a couple of chances for Vassell. They had made much the brighter start.

Kiely needs some treatment on his arm from the Charlton physio, but he's a brave lad and is soon up on his feet.

BRAVE SAVE! Kiely is injured as he dives at Vassell's feet as the City striker ran on to Cole's excellent through-ball. Vassell's first touch was poor; he should have at least got a shot away.

City register another shot as Barton clips a pass over the top for Sinclair to chase; the former England winger scuffing a shot across goal which Kiely collects easily.

The City fans are in good voice early on in this match, though there isn't much of a response from the home fans.

Perry gets just enough weight on a back-pass back to Kiely, with Vassell attempting to hunt it down.

City are playing with a regular 4-4-2 formation, with the home side lining up with a 4-3-3.

WIDE! Sun Jihai curls a good cross in from the left wing, but Vassell can only direct his header a couple of yards wide of the far post. He perhaps should have done better there.

Vassell goes down under a Perry challenge as he tried to get away down the right wing. Free-kick.

Charlton are playing in their usual red strip with white shorts, while City are wearing their away kit of dark blue.

Charlton kick off the action at The Valley.

Charlton go in to the match on the back of five successive home defeats.

Some team news: Manchester City have made five changes, with manager Stuart Pearce turning to experience in a bid to get City's season rolling again.

Hello, I'm Alex, and I'm here to commentate on Manchester City's trip to Charlton. It might be a beauty. It might be a stinker. Who knows?