Schoolboy downs Addicks as Brum win 1-0 at The Valley

Charlton 0 Birmingham City 1

Charlton Atheltic lost 1-0 to Birmingham City in the EFL Championship on Saturday in the game marking their 100th match at The Valley.

Birmingham took the lead through 16-year-old Jude Bellingham on the 52nd minute after a Kerim Mrabti pass found him in space in the box and he comfortably slot past Dillon Phillips.

The sentimental occasion for 18752 Charlton supporters was marked in front of club heroes such as Alan Curbishley and Darren Bent who were brought onto the pitch at half time.

A great chance by Lukas Jutkiewicz on the 38th minute forced a reaching save out of Phillips in what was the best chance of a quiet first half.

Birmingham City came out into the second half as the brighter of the two sides after both teams failed to get a foothold in the first half.

Jutkiewicz had a chance to double the advantage on the 65th minute but the striker couldn’t keep his shot down as it rocketed over the crossbar.

On the 71st minute the hosts forced a save out of Lee Camp via Chris Solly and the Northern Ireland international suddenly had to spring to life just moments later as he reached to palm away a chance from Conor Gallagher as Charlton had their best period of the match.

The on-loan Chelsea man, Gallagher was one of Charlton’s sharper players going forward.

The game threatened to boil over on the 81st minute when David Davis appeared to obstruct Jason Pearce after he had won a free kick.

There was a late chance for Charlton on the 88th minute when Hemed found the ball at his feet after substitute Chuks Aneke crossed into him but he couldn’t make anything of the opportunity.

Manager Lee Bowyer was red carded in the dying stages of the game after he protested time wasting by chucking a ball in the Birmingham City dugout.

Charlton made two changes since their 2-0 win at Reading. Erhun Oztumer and Tomer Hemed replaced Jonny Williams, who dropped to the bench and injured Lyle Taylor.

Taylor picked up a knock during the International break, the striker, who’s the joint top scorer in the Championship has already scored five goals in his six starts this season.

The loss means Charlton still remain in second place and two points adrift of Swansea City who also lost 1-0 in their game against Nottingham Forest.

Charlton’s next game will be away against Wigan Athletic in the EFL Championship on Saturday 21st September.

Charlton: D. Phillips, B. Purrington, T. Lockyer, J. Pearce, C. Gallagher, J. Leko (OFF), C. Solly, J. Cullen, T. Hemed, S. Field (OFF), E. Oztumer (OFF)

Subs: B. Amos, J. Williams (ON), C. Aneke (ON), D. Pratley, M. Bonne, B. Kayal (ON), N. Sarr

Birmingham City: L. Camp, K. Pedersen, M. Roberts, M. Colin, D. Crowley (OFF), L. Jutkiewicz, H. Dean, K. Mrabti (OFF), J. Bellingham (OFF), D. Davis, I. Sunjic

Subs: D. Stockdale, W. Harding, J. Clarke-Salter, J. Maghoma (ON), G. Gardner (ON), A. Gimenez (ON), O. Bailey