Charlton Athletic vs Bristol City. Sky Bet Championship.
The ValleyAttendance18,058.
Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at The Valley
Thursday 26 December 2019 20:06, UK
Alfie Doughty scored his first career goal after Macauley Bonne's double to earn Charlton a 3-2 comeback victory over Bristol City amid a raucous Boxing Day atmosphere at The Valley.
The left winger, who turned 20 just five days ago, converted a low cross from Bonne eight minutes from time at the second attempt as Charlton recorded their first win in 12 games.
Not since October had Lee Bowyer's side tasted victory. Bonne was central to this triumph having scored Charlton's first two goals before supplying the winner for Doughty.
The result meant that Bristol City have now lost four successive Championship games and have dropped out of the promotion picture for now at least.
The opening half-hour passed with barely a chance worthy of the description.
Famara Diedhiou curled a 12th-minute shot just wide of the Charlton post, while at the other end Bonne swivelled on to a low Deji Oshilaja cross only to see his left-foot shot deflected for a corner.
Naby Sarr glanced a header just wide before the game sprang to life in the closing 10 minutes of the first period.
Charlton right-back Adam Matthews escaped down the right to send over a low cross which was met by Lyle Taylor whose simple tap-in was disrupted by a magnificent last-ditch tackle from Tomas Kalas.
The breakthrough came five minutes before half-time through a sublime piece of finishing from Bonne.
Released by a looping Albie Morgan pass, the striker judged his lob to perfection as he lifted his shot over advancing Bristol City 'keeper Daniel Bentley and saw it bounce into the roof of the net.
Boosted by the goal, Charlton pressed for another before half-time. First, Taylor stabbed a shot goalwards following a free-kick. Then, Conor Gallagher's fierce cross caused consternation in the visitors' defence.
Their failure to add to the lead proved costly just 45 seconds into the second half when Andreas Weimann threw himself at a cross from City substitute Niclas Eliasson to guide his header into the far corner of the net.
Along with Jay Dasilva, Eliasson was one of two half-time substitutions made by Lee Johnson in response to a lacklustre display in the opening 45 minutes.
The Swede's driving runs down the right caused all manner of problems for the home defence. He completed the turnaround on the hour but not before a Sarr header had struck the back of Taylor Moore and looped up onto the City crossbar as Charlton sought to restore their lead.
Again, that escape proved pivotal for the visitors as the ball ricocheted into Eliasson's path for him to steer his shot through the legs of Charlton 'keeper Dillon Phillips.
It was Bonne who lifted the Charlton spirits once more. His persistence in following in a Taylor flick-on was rewarded 12 minutes from time when he lifted a fierce shot into the roof of the net to give Charlton a deserved point.
That was followed by a cross for Doughty's winner four minutes later. The youngster's first shot was spilled by Bentley allowing Doughty to squeeze home his second effort.
Charlton's Lee Bowyer: "I'm pleased for Alfie, as sometimes he switches off. He reacted today. I wanted to drum it in that he has to arrive at the far post. He got his reward. I don't really know him. He's been with the under-23s. I've had a go at him a few times. He does things that drive me mad. All of the 23s they lose the ball and walk, and then beat themselves up.
"Macca (Bonne) is too nice and too soft at times. It drives me mad. I want him to use his strength. I played with (Alan) Shearer, probably the most horrible striker I've played with, and I want Macca to become like that. It's not rocket science, I just want him to be more hungry and stronger. The kid can finish, they were great finishes."
Bristol City's Lee Johnson: "We got ourselves into a great position and it gave us a boost. I thought in the second half we showed what we were about. There were positives, but it is difficult if you make errors like that. It was the bits that we work on, the fundamentals of our defending.
"We're trying to keep a consistency at the moment, but the individuals need to be consistent. I think we can still be successful this season. It is fine margins and Charlton will be very happy with that today. We were relatively comfortable and if we can wind time back to 70 minutes we should have seen it out."
