Charlton wrapped up their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win over Championship side Norwich at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.
Jake Forster-Caskey’s deflected strike just before the hour mark was enough to clinch the win.
Lee Bowyer fielded his first choice defence, with George Lapslie, Joe Aribo, Forster-Caskey, and Mark Marshall ahead of them.
Reeco Hackett-Fairchild and Karlan Grant were the front runners.
The Addicks started brightly and fashioned their first chance after just 20 seconds. Hackett-Fairchild pinged over a cross from the left that narrowly evaded Grant.
Grant hit the outside of the post after 17 minutes, and Onel Hernandez had the ball in the net after 33 minutes, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
Charlton took the lead just before the hour mark in bizarre circumstances. Forster-Caskey’s shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Grant Hanley. Tim Krul was wrong footed as the ball trickled over the line.
Ten minutes from time, Dillon Phillips made a fantastic save to push Todd Cantwell’s effort round the post.
The resultant corner saw Phillips produce an even better save. He somehow managed to push Ben Godfrey’s bullet header onto the bar. His defenders scrambled the ball clear.
A minute from time, Phillips produced another stunning save to palm a Cantwell shot round the post.
So the Addicks went through pre-season unbeaten, and Bowyer would have been particularly pleased with his team’s performances against higher status opposition in the last two matches.
He said this after the Norwich game:
“I’m delighted. It’s been tough as we’ve lost some vital players the last couple of week so to come through the last couple of games – Brighton and today – is good.
“A clean sheet is good going into the opening week of the season. There were again a lot of positives from the game.”
Charlton: Phillips; Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Page; Lapslie (Pratley 46), Aribo, Forster-Caskey, Marshall; Hackett-Fairchild (Ajose 75), Grant (Maloney 83).
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Sarr, Mascoll
Goal: Forster-Caskey 59.
Norwich: Krul; Passlack (Marshall 46), Hanley (Zimmerman 72), Klose (Godfrey 72), Husband (Stiepermann 46); Trybull (Thompson 72); Hernandez (Buendia 77), Pukki, Leitner (Aarons 46), McLean (Cantwell 77); Srbeny.
Sub (not used): Matthews.
Referee: Craig Hicks (Surrey).
Attendance: 2,110 (529 away).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic