Magnanimity

Manchester City 0 Charlton 0


Darius Vassell and Herman Hreidarsson

Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce said both before and after this game that he thought Charlton would stay up, and has behaved throughout the pre and post match days in a most unusual way for a Premiership manager in that he has not moaned about dropping a home point, and in fact hinted that the outcome was satisfactory for both sides, and vaguely sounded as though he was doubly satisfied on that account. All in all a most reasonable man, unlike, as I say, many Prem managers (though not Pards or Curbs, of course), especially for someone once known as 'Psycho'. And certainly unlike, for example the dreaded Glenn Roeder of Newcastle, (ask any Burnley supporter about him), who, as Frankie pointed out, joined in this game of praising lower-table opposition and saying they will stay up, which he did after Newcastle had beaten Sheffield United on Saturday.

Of course this result means that Charlton, who had been reported in the press as having finally got out of the relegation slots, were able to stay out of them, for the time being (mustn't tempt fate). In any case, the main reason they had got out was that they had played on Friday and most of the others were playing on Saturday. I had hoped to get a piece in during our 22 hours outside relegation slot misery to celebrate this, but then Newcastle (inspired by Spotty, do you think?) beat Sheffield United and Charlton's 17th slot took on a more solid appearance.

Frankie Valley was hurt that Roeder had said that the Blades would stay up, but hadn't said that about Charlton, but when you come to think about it, Newcastle had just beaten Sheffield United, whereas they had lost to Charlton. It is easy to be magnanimous in victory, even though our quiz rivals the OFs have never managed to acquire that particular skill.

Once again, I am in the position of getting a piece in before Charlton go into action again. Home to Reading tonight, which means that while I am asking quiz questions downstairs, it will be on TV upstairs. The other results are in; and Manchester City have won 3-1 at Fulham, showing that virtue can bring its rewards for Stuart Pearce, while Wigan have picked up a point at Aston Villa. But Charlton's destiny is now in their own hands; if they keep picking up points, all will be well.

Just look at the difference 3 wins can make; 10 days ago I was worried about my other team, Burnley. This afternoon they beat Cardiff 2-0 to make it 3 wins in 9 days, and a points total of a safe-looking 51 as against a dodgy-looking 42. It can be done.

Let's hope so. Good luck to my teams this evening then, as of course the quiz team swings back into action, as indicated above, after a short break for Holy Week, which is when people in Spain take their Easter holidays.

My picture is for those friends who watched the Spain - Iceland game with me two weeks ago, and wondered which one Herman Hreidarsson was, when all along he hadn't been playing. I nicked the photo from the Sporting Life report, and have just noticed that it wasn't taken during Saturday's game; Joma stopped sponsoring Charlton's shirts over a year ago.