Lisbie breaks brilliance of Hoult's resistance

Charlton Athletic 1 West Bromwich Albion

Charlton ended the year by extending an unbeaten run to eight matches, cementing their mid-table position and thanking heaven for the inability of West Brom to translate easy dominance into goals.

Kevin Lisbie settled the destination of the points in the seventh minute with one of his rare goals, and by then Russell Hoult had underlined a reputation as one of England's best keepers with two stunning saves. Thereafter Albion made nearly all the running and most of the chances, although the statistics tell a bleak tale: this was their ninth defeat in 11 away games, producing a miserable seven goals. Still, manager Gary Megson managed to be upbeat. "We can't ask any more in terms of effort, work rate and desire," he said. "We just have to keep on doing what we are good at."

What West Brom are not good at is goals. They achieved promotion last season with a bucketful of 1-0 wins, but now even the single goals are hard to come by. What has not changed is the excellence of Hoult. After the quick and elusive Jason Roberts had turned inside Gary Rowett to deliver a shot which Dean Kiely repelled with his boots, Charlton fashioned three chances in quick succession. First, Hoult soared to push over Rowett's free-kick, and from the corner he denied Jason Euell at point-blank distance.

However, he could do nothing about the third one, another corner from the right by Claus Jensen to which Lisbie rose at the near post for a neat header. There was time for a further vintage Hoult save, turning away Scott Parker's vicious low drive, before Albion settled to take charge. Kiely could only look on as a Jason Koumas free-kick struck his left-hand upright, then Roberts and Danny Dichio saw shots charged down before Parker headed off the line from Darren Moore.

Having seen Kiely again deny them with a full-length save from Ronnie Wallwork just before the interval, Albion kept up the pressure afterwards. Koumas had a shot charged down and Adam Chambers wafted the loose ball over. Another header by Moore flew just wide and Dichio's effort from a corner was turned over by Richard Rufus. Albion's best chance came midway through the second half. Roberts turned past Rufus and was brought down – even the other Charlton defenders briefly stopped playing in anticipation of a penalty. When it did not come, incensed West Brom players surrounded the referee, Steve Dunn. They certainly seemed to have a valid complaint, and Megson agreed: "I couldn't believe it wasn't given, it was an absolute stone penalty."

The extent of Charlton manager Alan Curbishley's anxiety was shown after Parker was booked seconds before half-time. As the teams walked off, the player remonstrated with the referee and Curbishley was forced to admit: "I tried to get Scott away and I got involved, stupidly. I have apologised to Steve," adding, "I am very pleased with the three points, but I am sure West Brom are very disappointed. But it's a cruel game."

Charlton Athletic 1 West Bromwich Albion 0
Lisbie 6

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 26,196