Charlton Power On As Rivals Stumble, Plus The Rest Of Saturday's Action

IT MIGHT be just the first week of March, but runaway first division leaders Charlton can surely put the promotion champagne on ice after the three Saturday results that mean Alan Curbishley’s Londoners are ten points clear at the top of the table.

Charlton’s 2-0 win at Bolton, avenging their FA Cup quarter-final loss to the Trotters last month, combined with a defeat for second place Ipswich against Portsmouth and a draw for third placed Manchester City at Crystal Palace to make the remainder of the season look like a formality and virtually guarantee the Addicks Premier League football again next season.

The travelling support had to wait for their heroes' 11th straight win though, the game staying deadlocked at 0-0 for 80 minutes before Swedish striker Martin Pringle netted to put Charlton ahead. Within 60 seconds, the lead was doubled thanks to Andy Hunt. No such luck for Ipswich though, beaten 1-0 at home by struggling Portsmouth thanks to a goal from Steve Claridge midway through the first half. City took am eighth minute lead at Selhurst Park through Bob Taylor but Clinton Morrison levelled things up 20 minutes later.

With fourth place Barnsley having played and won on Friday night at Stockport, the other big gainers on Saturday were Birmingham and Huddersfield. Blues started early with a 1pm kick-off in their local derby at troubled West Brom. Red-hot Dele Adebola had the Baggies reeling with goals after six and eight minutes – giving him five in six games - and substitute Marcelo wrapped up a win that lifts Trevor Francis’ men up to 57 points with an 86th minute header from Martin Grainger’s right wing cross. Huddersfield started the day only a point ahead of Wolves in the chase for the final play-off spot but are now four points ahead of the Midlanders thanks to a 2-0 win secured by Martin Smith’s first goals for the Terriers (on 20 and 34 minutes) since his transfer from Sheffield United.

West Brom’s defeat means they fall into the relegation zone after 1-0 wins by Pompey at Ipswich, Crewe against Norwich and Walsall against Grimsby. Crewe snapped a run of seven league games without a victory thanks to Neil Sorvel’s fifth minute goal and Walsall made it three league wins on the spin as they doggedly protected Mark Robins’ 39th minute goal.

Port Vale stay on 29 points after a 3-1 defeat at Fulham, Lee Clark scoring on 18 and 52 minutes either side of Andy Melville’s 29th minute goal and rock-bottom Swindon still have just 20 points. The Robins also lost 3-1 away, Nottingham Forest celebrating three goals in the space of ten minutes from Alan Rogers, Chris Bart-Williams and Dougie Freedman to ease their own relegation worries. Chris Hay got a 52nd minute consolation for the visitors.

In Saturday’s other game, cup fighters Tranmere claimed their second 2-1 win in as many matches. Victorious at Portsmouth in midweek, the Merseysiders took the lead at Blackburn through Alan Mahon on 47 minutes and wrapped up the points when Wayne Allison scored in injury time. There was still time for Christian Dailly to pull one back, but Rovers’ hopes of an instant return to the Premiership are looking increasingly far-fetched.


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