Euell rescues Charlton

John Hills puts Blackpool ahead with a delicate chip

Charlton 2-1 Blackpool

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Second Division Blackpool gave Charlton an almighty shock at The Valley before the Premiership side struggled into the fourth round.

The last time these two sides met in the FA Cup was in 1951, when Blackpool had the likes of the Stanleys, Matthews and Mortensen, in their team.

This year's vintage is not quite up to that quality, but the Tangerines so nearly pulled off a major upset, before bowing out of this year's competition.

They took a 19th-minute lead through a delightful goal from John Hills and then defended for all they were worth as Charlton seized control of the game.

  Match details

19 mins: Hills races clear to put Blackpool ahead

74 mins: Captain Stuart converts a penalty to level matters

75 mins: Euell pounces to send the Addicks through

For all their possession it was not until the second half that the Addicks began to really threaten.

And it took two goals in a minute, with the match moving in to the final quarter of an hour, for them to claim a fourth-round berth.

Charlton should have opened the scoring after seven minutes when Kevin Lisbie was sent clear, but the striker's shot lacked power and Phil Barnes saved well in the Blackpool goal.

We had to work very hard but that's what the third round is all about, and I'm pleased with all the players because they gave everything they had

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley

The visitors took the lead with a delightful goal after 18 minutes.

Paul Simpson sent a measured pass over the defence for Hills, who broke the Charlton offside trap and raced clear before clipping the ball over Dean Kiely from just inside the area.

Charlton struggled to create chances and when they did get a sight of goal Barnes comfortably denied Jason Euell and John Robinson.

Chris Powell wasted their best chance of the half, ballooning a shot miles over the bar, and Jonathan Fortune had a header blocked at the far post.

Lee Collins could have made it 2-0 late on

Charlton started the second half brightly and Graham Stuart set the tone with a powerful shot just over the bar.

Euell was then denied three times in quick succession, with one effort cannoning off the post, before Lisbie also went close with a header.

Euell was increasingly looking like Charlton's most potent threat

His turn past a static defence on the edge of the Blackpool box deserved a better end product than the toe-poke straight at Barnes that it resulted in.

I'm delighted because it could have been a real drubbing, but we held our own

Blackpool boss Steve McMahon

Soon after the keeper was a helpless bystander as Jonatan Johansson's volley flashed off the bar.

Barnes' opposite number Kiely was then quickly off his line to deny Lee Collins at the other end.

Stunning save

It was a decisive moment because seconds later Charlton were level.

Referee Knight was only a couple of yards away when Brian Reid handled the ball, and although Barnes got a hand to Stuart's penalty the Charlton captain's effort squeezed in by the post.

And within a minute they had taken the lead as Euell finished off a goalmouth scramble, after Barnes had made a stunning point-blank save from substitute Shaun Bartlett.

Charlton ended the match well on top and several times could have added to their lead, but in the end they were just relieved to have ended Blackpool's tangerine dream.

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Charlton: Kiely, Young, Fortune, Costa, Powell, Konchesky (Bartlett 64), Stuart, Bart-Williams (Brown 87), Robinson, Lisbie (Johansson 64), Euell.

Subs Not Used: Roberts, Jensen.

Goals: Stuart 74 pen, Euell 75.

Blackpool: Barnes, Jaszczun, Coid, Reid, Marshall, Hills, Bullock, Simpson (O'Kane 57), Collins, Wellens (Day 80), Fenton (MacKenzie 80).

Subs Not Used: Pullen, Jamie Milligan.

Booked: Jaszczun, Simpson, Fenton.

Attendance: 17,525.

Referee: B Knight (Orpington).