City Weaver, Distin, Dunne, Richards, Thatcher, Reyna, Barton, Beasley, Sinclair, Samaras, Dickov – Subs Vassell(50), Corradi(63), Hart(unused), Trabelsi(63), Johnson(unused)

Charlton Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Diawara, Hreidarsson, Rommedahl, Faye, Holland, Reid, Thomas, D Bent- subs Hughes(45), Hasselbaink(87), Anderson(unused), Kishishev(unused), M Bent(unused)

WHAT THE PRESS SAID

Two weeks ago, lain Dowie wallked off at The Valley with fists waved in his direction after Charlton surrendered points to struggling Watford. Yesterday, the manager was punching the air in triumph as three points were secured against a team with travel sickness.
Only one point has been earned   away from the City of Manchester  Stadium and with the luck they enjoyed at The Valley, it is not difficult to see why. City had shots blocked on the line and when the strike at goal was clean, they had Scott Carson to contend with.
…And when the Charlton defenders and Carson were beaten, the goal frame came to City’s rescue after substitute Hatem Trebelsi’s left-foot shot eluded everyone, hit the post and rolled back into the area. “At our place, the ball would have probably have gone in,” said City manager Stuart Pearce. “We needed a little sniffer in there. But that is how it is going for us on the road.What we need to do is get in front and if we keep creating chances, then we will start.
The game was decided by a poacher.” The man in question was Darren Bent. Pearce declared: “His goals kept Charlton in the Premiership last season and he could do the same thing again. If you lose him in the box, he will score”
Bent’s strike came in the 28th minute as he capitalised on a serious inisjudgernent by City goalkeeper Nicky Weaver and also benefited from the detailed pre-match preparation that is Dowie`s hallmark. Weavers clanger came as he let a ball that had clearly come off the head of Sylvain Distin run out of play. He expected a goal-kick, but referee Chris Foy rightly awarded a corner. City failed to clear their lines and when Jerome Thomas floated the ball back, Bent was in splendid isolation to head past Weaver…
STEVE STAMMERS WRITING FOR THE SUNDAY MIRROR 5TH NOVEMBER 2006