From ecstasy to despair

Carling Cup 4th Round

ALAN Curbishley admitted he was numb after seeing his side crash out of the Carling Cup despite holding a two goal lead at The Valley.

Charlton led 2-0 through Darren Ambrose and Danny Murphy with just 15 minutes to go but loose defending cost the Addicks dear as goals from Shefki Kuqi, David Thompson and David Bentley completed a sickening comeback for Blackburn Rovers.

A calamitous capitulation saw Charlton squander a golden chance to reach the last eight of the League Cup for their first time in their history.

Darren Ambrose fired the Addicks in front seven minutes before the break and when the returning Danny Murphy added a second soon after the restart, Rovers looked to have no way back.

But two inspired substitutions from Mark Hughes turned the game on its head as replacements Shefki Kuqi and David Thompson netted in quick succession before David Bentley stroked home the winner three minutes from time.

This was a disaster of monumental proportions for Curbishley and his side, who slumped to a fifth successive defeat.

The big team news saw Dean Kiely back in the Charlton starting line-up for the first time this season as well as the return of midfield maestro Murphy.

There was also a surprise start on the right-hand side for Jonatan Johansson as Jerome Thomas made way.

As well as trying to break new ground the Addicks were also up for revenge after slumping to a 4-1 reverse when the two sides met at Ewood Park on November 5.

Rovers boss Hughes opted for a solitary striker in the shape of Craig Bellamy who netted in the league clash last month.

Brett Emerton and Morten Gamst Pedersen, who also scored that day, were in the starting line-up which was skippered by former Addick Andy Todd.

After Alexei Smertin saw a fourth minute effort deflected behind Murphy's drilled corner into the danger zone was fisted to safety by Brad Friedel.

Kiely then almost claimed an assist on his return when his punted free-kick was headed on by Darren Bent only for Johansson to miss his kick when handily placed.

But Kiely did what he does best in the 13th minute frustrating the lively Craig Bellamy with a smart stop after his sluggish rearguard had been all too easily pierced by Bentley.

Bellamy had the ball in the net for the visitors in the 18th minute but the Welsh striker's celebrations were shortlived as, according to the assistant, the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.

Even so it was a warning sign after both Emerton and Bentley were left in oceans of space for the bright-starting visitors and Curbishley was clearly unhappy as he prowled the touchline.

The hosts then awoke from their slumber and persistent play from Bent on the left carved out an opening for Ambrose on the edge of the box midway through the half.

There was nothing wrong with the midfielder's looping shot and Friedel had to instinctively stick up a glove to swat the effort away.

Moments later the hosts made ground on the right and Luke Young's cross was touched back by Bent for Smertin who blazed over.

Eight minutes before the interval Curbishley finally got what he has been craving, a lead.

The build-up was rather strange and it looked as if Charlton were heading down a blind alley when Young and Bent were surrounded by a cluster of blue and white shirts.

But the visitors failed to properly clear the danger as Radostin Kishishev and Johansson worked an opening for Murphy to capitalise from a position he dearly loves.

His slipped through pass was deftly touched on by Johansson and the fleet-footed Ambrose took over to rip a shot over Friedel for his third goal of the season.

Having got the lead Charlton almost surrendered their advantage two minutes before the interval after a disastrous mis-communication between Kiely and Hermann Hreidarsson.

Obviously presuming his keeper was on hand the Icelander inadvertently stepped over a dangerous cross from the left but with a gaping target in front of him Bellamy put a gilt-edged chance off target.

In the second half a fabulous pass from Murphy sent Young clear on the right but the England full-back's cross was just too high for Bent in the middle.

Ambrose then waltzed into space before firing in a shot which was expertly tipped away by Friedel but the American was beaten for a second time four minutes later.

A clearance towards Robbie Savage was blocked by Murphy and the midfielder showed neat composure to skip through and coolly roll a shot past the exposed custodian.

Steven Reid powered through from midfield to set up a shooting chance for Emerton which was well held by Kiely.

But the first sign of their frustrations surfaced around the hour mark when Reid ploughed down Johansson and became the first booking of the evening and Bellamy quickly followed for dissent.

Then Young, however, looked to have picked up a knock and was replaced by Jonathan Spector 20 minutes from time.

Bent stung the hands of Friedel moments after the switch while Kiely plucked the ball off the head of former Charlton trialist Ryan Nelsen during a mini-scramble at the other end.

Hughes sent on Kuqi in an attempt to get back in the game and the Finnish striker scored 15 minutes from time.

Craig Bellamy slid the ball through to his recently-arrived strike partner who left El Karkouri on the turf before prodding a shot past Kiely.

Thompson's pass - aimed for Bellamy on the left - came off the foot of Spector before sailing over the bar as the visitors came again and Curbishley quickly responded by replacing Johansson with Bryan Hughes.

But it failed to stem the tide and Rovers were level eight minutes from time when Kiely's miss-hit clearance spun to Thompson.

The midfielder still had plenty to do and he let fly with a screaming drive from 30 yards which swerved past a full-length Kiely.

It was all going rather sour for the hosts and they were lucky to escape seconds later when Pedersen seized possession on the edge of the box but blazed a good chance over.

Still the hosts failed to heed the warning and yet more defensive dawdling allowed the resurgent visitors to take the lead.

El Karkouri was caught dwelling on the ball at the edge of his own box and Pedersen sauntered inside before teeing up a gleeful Bentley to roll home.

Jay Bothroyd was introduced for the closing stages and Bent shot wide but there was not a barnstorming finish as the visitors held firm to clinch a magnificent win.

As for Charlton, the boos told the story of their increasing woes.

Curbishley said: "Obviously we're very down because I don't think we could possibly have gone out of the competition in a worse way than what we've done.

"I'm not taking anything away from Blackburn as they kept going and put us under pressure but we had opportunities to make it 3-0.

"On the plus side we looked quite bright going forward but you can't defend like that. You can't let three goals in at home and expect to get anything."

He added: "I think one or two of the players have got a death wish and they keep letting me down.

"If the team needs shaking up again on Sunday I'll do it because I can't allow this to keep happening.

"Only four weeks ago we came out of Stamford Bridge on a real high having knocked out Chelsea and since then we've gone from ecstasy to despair.

"But we have to take this on the chin and try to bounce back against Manchester City and if I'm being honest I would have swapped a result tonight for a win on Sunday.

"Everyone talks about wanting a cup run but I'm not sure how much the fans want it as it was a half-empty stadium out there.

"The league is what we're all about."

Charlton: Kiely; Young (Spector, 70); Powell (Bothroyd, 88); Hreidarsson, El Karkouri; Kishishev; Smertin; Murphy; Ambrose; Johansson (Hughes, 80); Bent.

Subs not used: Myhre; Thomas.

Att: 14,093.