Charlton stun Man City

City had won three consecutive league games

Manchester City 0-1 Charlton

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Manchester City fell back down to earth with a bump as a determined Charlton side came away from Maine Road with three priceless points.

With 11 minutes to go, Jonatan Johansson crossed and Shaun Bartlett slid in to score only his second goal of the season.

We weren't the same side as against Man Utd

Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan

The win pushed Charlton a place and a point above Sunderland, who play Liverpool on Sunday.

Having won their three previous league games, including that pulsating victory over Manchester United, City paid the price for their inability to bring a similar level of intensity to their play.

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So poor was the opening half that both teams managed just a single shot on target between them.

Hovering close to the relegation zone, Charlton have struggled to find goals, a weakness exemplified by a succession of chances that came and went for Alan Curbishley's side.

I don't think many people would disagree that we deserved the victory

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley

Gary Rowett and Bartlett both failed to find the target with free headers, while Peter Schmeichel also produced a low stop to deny Johansson.

Finally on 79 minutes Johansson and Barlett got their act together as the Finn set up his South African striking partner.

What Charlton lacked in finesse they more than made up for in determination to grind out a result.

Richard Rufus typified Charlton's defensive resolve

But their determination occasionally stepped over the boundaries of legality as Scott Parker, Luke Young and Richard Rufus were all booked.

City's most creative force was Eyal Berkovic, but the Israeli's promptings were thwarted by Charlton's defensive determination.

No more so than when the sheer pace of Anelka got the Frenchman on the end of Berkovic's pass but Gary Rowett did well to blocked the first-time shot.

City upped the tempo and Kevin Horlock's long-range shot went close as did Anelka with a header.

A neat dummy from Berkovic gave Anelka some space to run into but the former Arsenal man blasted wide.

Anelka finally forced Dean Kiely into his first save after an hour, although the Charlton keeper collected the angled drive comfortably enough.

Considering the manner of last weekend's triumph in the Mancunian derby, City's performance was a real disappointment.

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Man City: Schmeichel, Jihai, Dunne, Mettomo, Wright-Phillips, Berkovic (Benarbia 74), Foe (Horlock 47), Tiatto, Jensen, Anelka, Goater (Huckerby 73).
Subs Not Used: Nash, Shuker.

Charlton: Kiely, Rowett, Fish, Rufus, Young, Parker (Konchesky 90), Kishishev, Powell, Euell, Bartlett (Lisbie 86), Johansson.
Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Bart-Williams, Fortune.

Booked: Parker, Young, Rufus, Kishishev.

Attendance: 33,455.

Referee: G Barber (Hertfordshire).