- Bent (86 pen)
- Date:2007-03-31
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:The Valley
- Attendance:26500
- Referee:Walton, P
Live Commentary
90mins
The final whistle goes and the Charlton faithful celebrate like they have won the league thanks to Darren Bent's penalty after an end-to-end game which seemed destine for a draw.
90mins
Landzaat floats a ball into the penalty area looking for McCulloch but some desperate Charlton defending means the Addicks are safe for now.
90mins
The fourth official indicates there will be three minutes of added on time.
88mins
Heskey goes into the referee's book after protesting a little too much over a decision that went against him.
86mins
The subsititute Darren Ambrose is brought off and replaced by Amady Faye in a tactical change.
84mins
Darren Bent gives Charlton the lead sending the ball right-footed past Filan
84mins
Hermann Hreidarsson goes down in the penalty area after a shove from Hall, a spot-kick and a yellow card too.
81mins
Baines has a shot from a free kick three yards outside the penalty area but the England under-21's grass-cutter is poor and cannons back off the wall.
79mins
Landzaat swings in a corner, the ball this time holding up in the wind and De Zeeuw can get underneath the it but only manages to send a header well wide of the goal.
77mins
El Karkouri wipes in a quick ball looking for a Charlton header, Hreidarsson nearly provides that with a glancing which goes just wide of the target.
76mins
Folan recieves the ball with his back to goal and turns well only to blaze his shot high over the bar, never troubling Carson.
75mins
Josip Skoko comes off to be replaced by Paul Scharner
73mins
Folan has a good chance for Wigan, striking the ball on the volley, which looks to be heading goalwards only for two Charlton defender to block the shot well.
71mins
Wigan make a change as well with Ryan Taylor coming off and Luis Antonio Valencia replacing him.
70mins
Charlton make their second substitution of the afternoon with Darren Ambrose replacing Matt Holland
67mins
D.Bent riggles his way into the penalty area and tries a shot which hits Jackson, the Charlton fans screaming for a handball but not given by Peter Walton.
65mins
El Karkouri tries to send in a long ball from a freekick 35 yards from goal but its a very poor pass and Wigan can clear away easily.
63mins
Taylor takes another corner for Wigan which doesn't clear Song at the near post who heads the ball away only for Baines to run onto and hit a shot just wide of the goal.
60mins
Folan hangs a ball in the air, sending it over the top of the Charlton defence for McCulloch to run onto who slides in at the far post and his toe-poke clips the post and goes wide.
58mins
Taylor takes a corner for Wigan, floating the ball into De Zeeuw but its just too far ahead of the defender and rolls harmlessly across the penalty area.
55mins
El Karkouri sends in a cross for Charlton looking for an unmarked D. Bent but Filan is off his line quickly to ctach the ball in mid-flight
54mins
Baines swings in an aimless ball for Wigan which goes behind the goal as both sides seem to have run out of ideas.
50mins
Ryan Taylor is booked after tripping Souleymane Diawara as he began to get away from the Wigan defender.
48mins
Zheng sends in a corner, directing it towards the far post for D.Bent to get his head on, but Charlton's topscorer can't send the header goalwards only managing to find the fans behind the goal.
45mins
Dennis Rommedahl comes off at half time and is replaced by Marcus Bent
45mins
Wigan get the second half underway as they search for a break through in this vital Premiership clash.
45mins
The referee brings an end to a exciting game despite the lack of chances as neither side failed to create any clear cut chances, Wigan dominating in terms of possession.
45mins
Baines strikes a great free kick from 25-yards out, hammering the ball inches wide of Carson's goal with the Charlton goalkeeper beaten.
45mins
The fourth official indicates there will be one minute of added on time.
41mins
Thomas uses his quick feet to create some space for himself before rattling off a shot which fizzes just past Filan's left hand post.
40mins
Talal El Karkouri is the first name into the referee's book after a late sliding tackle on Heskey.
38mins
Rommedahl takes another corner, whipping a cross into the area which causes chaos in the penalty area as Filan flaps at the ball before Wigan are able to scramble away.
36mins
The game has become incredibly sloopy with neither side able to string a series of passes together.
32mins
Thomas swings in a good ball for Bent who just can't get enough contact on the ball to stab it past Filan, the Wigan goalkeeper eventually able to claim the ball.
31mins
Rommedahl takes another corner, this time sending it towards the near post where Fitz Hall is stood and the Latics defender can get a good clearing header on the ball.
28mins
Rommedahl swings in a corner for Charlton looking for Hreidarsson but it's again just too high for the defender and Wigan area able to get the ball away.
25mins
El Karkouri floats a free kick into the Wigan penalty area but it's just too high for Hreidarsson who can't get a header on goal.
23mins
El Karkouri tries a shot from a free kick but it's a poor attempt as the ball flies into the stand behind the goal.
21mins
Rommedahl flights in a great cross for Bent but the Addicks topscorer goes down under the aerial challenge of Jackson and the Charlton faithful cry out for a penalty but it's not given by referee Peter Walton.
19mins
Denny Landzaat slides the ball through the Charlton defence for Folan who finds himself clean through on goal but can't convert the chance from a tight angle as Carson closes the angle well and puts the ball behind for a corner.
15mins
Taylor takes another corner, this time sending it towards Folan who gets a glancing header on the ball but only sends it across the Charlton penalty area and out for a throw-in.
14mins
Taylor swings in a corner from the left and sends it into the six yard box looking for Heskey who comes in with a diving header, but the former England forward can't direct his header and ends up sending it wide of the goal.
12mins
Heskey lays the ball on for McCulloch who runs onto the ball and tries a long range shot but it's way over Carson's bar
10mins
Dennis Rommedahl is picked out in aches of space on the right of the penalty area but the winger takes too much time and is forced out wide again to deliever a cross which is caught well by Filan.
9mins
Taylor speeds his way down the right flank and puts a great cross in for Folan to attack but it's just too far ahead of the big striker.
9mins
Folan tries an ambitious first time cross for Heskey but it's a poor attempt and Carson can catch the ball without any Wigan player around him
8mins
Young swings in a cross for the Addicks, trying to pick out Zheng but Filan is quick off his line to claim the ball with a good catch.
6mins
Zheng tries a clever through ball for Dennis Rommedahl but the Danish winger is just caught offside as Charlton begin to find their feet in this crunch match.
4mins
Wigan have dominated the opening moments of this game in terms of possession without creating any clear cut chances.
0mins
Today's referee Peter Walton gets this relegation battle underway here at the Valley with Wigan getting the game underway
0mins
Wigan XI: Filan, Hall, De Zeeuw, Jackson, Baines, Taylor, Landzaat, Skoko, McCulloch, Folan, Heskey
0mins
Wigan go into this huge relegation battle having not lost in their last four games and are boosted by the returns of Leighton Baines,Lee McCulloch and Fitz Hall from suspension.
0mins
Charlton XI: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Diawara, Hreidarsson, Rommedahl, Holland, Song Billong, Thomas, Zheng, Darren Bent
0mins
Charlton go into this six-pointer with no new injury worries as Alexdanre Song is included after being a doubt with a hamstring injury and Darren Bent has recovered from the injury that saw him drop out of the England squad.
Match Preview
Charlton Athletic's late charge to avoid relegation from the Premiership reaches a vital stage as they host Wigan Athletic at The Valley.
The Addicks have closed to within four points of safety after taking seven points from a possible nine in their last three league games.
Manager Alan Pardew believes his side need to win at least four of their last eight games to escape the drop, as he said: "We need four more wins, no less. The job is for us to do, not anybody else and we can do it.
"We're scoring goals and we're threatening to score more goals. The problem in the Premier League is actually scoring and we're starting to score goals. We've got eight in our last three games, so that's a good sign."
Pardew has few injury problems to contend with as his side approach their vital run-in, with just defender Cory Gibbs (knee) and winger Andy Reid (hamstring) currently sidelined.
Wigan travel to the capital with their own drop fears far from over, with Paul Jewell's side currently only six points above the Addicks.
Their recent form is also solid enough, with the Latics having won two and drawn two in their last four outings.
Jewell is also boosted by the returns after suspension of left-back Leighton Baines, centre-half Fitz Hall and forward Lee McCulloch, while striker Caleb Folan is likely to be fit to feature after overcoming an ankle injury.
Folan missed the chance to make his international debut for the Republic of Ireland as a result of the knock suffered against Fulham last time out. If he fails to make it, Henri Camara is likely to be handed a start in attack alongside Emile Heskey.
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Match Report
Charlton Athletic took another giant step towards Premiership safety with a late winner from the penalty spot to drag their opponents, Wigan Athletic, back into the relegation battle.
The Londoners took their unbeaten run to four matches and gained their first back-to-back wins in 65 Premiership matches at the most crucial time of the season.
They are just one point behind Sheffield United and three behind Wigan as the battle to beat the drop looks like going to the final game of the season.
The match was tension-packed with neither side able to create any clear-cut chances and neither goalkeeper had a decent save to make, as the two defences dominated the game.
Charlton's first clear-cut chance of the match came from the winner, their 86th minute spot-kick converted by their skipper Darren Bent, for his tenth Premiership goal of the season.
The penalty was awarded after Charlton defender Hermann Hreidarsson, who was up in an attacking position, was bundled over by Fitz Hall after Wigan failed to deal with a long ball out of the Charlton defence.
Before the penalty Wigan looked the more likely side to score from the half-chances that they created, Caleb Folan firing over the bar and having another shot blocked.
For Charlton, Darren Bent headed wide and Jerome Thomas shot across the face of goal in the few chances that either side created.
The goal that Wigan conceded was their first in over seven hours of Premiership football, but it could prove a very costly one come the end of the season.
With fellow-strugglers Sheffield United still to come to The Valley and Charlton picking up a head of steam there is real hope that Alan Pardew's side can pull off safety which looked impossible a few weeks ago.
After their recent good run of results Wigan will be disappointed to have lost the match in the manner in which they did.
Charlton Athletic Team
Wigan Athletic Team
Charlton Athletic | Wigan Athletic |
Corners
| 4 | 9 |
Fouls
| 10 | 15 |
Goal attempts
| 5 | 6 |
Shots off target
| 3 | 5 |
Offsides
| 4 | 1 |



90mins
Wigan are throwing everything at the Charlton defence but still can't find a way through.