Huddersfield Town 0 Charlton Town 1: ‘If I’m lucky, I might have a minor rather than a major injury’

ADAM HAMMILL hobbled out of the John Smith’s Stadium on crutches and with a bitter taste in his mouth.
Adam Hammill injured after a rash challengeAdam Hammill injured after a rash challenge
Adam Hammill injured after a rash challenge

It was not the fact that his Huddersfield Town side had made a tame exit from the FA Cup but that he had been the victim of what could easily have been a career-threatening challenge.

The wing-back had been tormenting Charlton down the right when he was caught above the right knee by a high, flying challenge from Dale Stephens, who seconds earlier had made a late off-the-ball contact with Adam Clayton in the centre circle.

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The inevitable melee followed but Stephens escaped with a booking and opposing central defenders Anthony Gerrard and Michael Morrison were also yellow-carded for their part in the fracas.

Hammill attempted to continue but had to be replaced five minutes later in the 34th.

A couple of players began to take matters into their own hands after what they perceived as weak refereeing but, fortunately, no-one else suffered serious injury, though Charlton lost left-back Cedric Evina at the same time as Hammill after he had been caught twice.

“I was disappointed with the tackle, it was reckless,” said Hammill.

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“I have seen the incident and how high it was and, if I’m lucky, I might come away with a minor injury instead of a major one, which I’m relieved about but if it had been a red card it would have been a different game.

“Obviously I felt I was coming right into the game and so it is a bitter pill to swallow. It’s swollen up and we’ll assess it tomorrow but it feels like a dead leg.

“Without a shadow of a doubt he should have been sent off. Any challenge above the knee is pretty reckless. I know it was at speed and what-not and I couldn’t tell you if he got the ball or not but I know he caught me and I could not continue.

“Not only were my team-mates upset by it but I was and I reacted straight away because it’s not nice to get a tackle like that. I don’t know what type of lad he is, whether he has done it intentionally or not but I have seen a picture of it. Fortunately, I’m walking.”

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Of referee Stuart Attwell’s leniency, Hammill continued: “If there is an assessor here then let him assess it. Referees get a lot of stick and are trying to do a job and I’m not here to take a swipe at the referee because it is a very hard job but at times, when you see decisions like that, then you scratch your head.”

The Hammill incident seemed to knock Town completely out of their stride against a poor Charlton side, who were without French target man Yann Kermorgant, fuelling speculation that he could be on the way out of The Valley.

The hosts should still have won but Danny Ward, who found some great positions but has yet to develop a striker’s finish, squandered their best opportunities.

Unflappable goalkeeper Ben Alnwick, however, made the save of the game from Ward in the first half, going down to his left to block the low shot before gathering at the second attempt.

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The tempo was low-key until Mark Robins reluctantly withdrew Hammill’s replacement, young Jordan Sinnott, who had made a big impact in previous cameo roles but who, on Saturday, just could not get anything right.

By the time Sean Scannell replaced him in the 55th minute, tearing down the right and creating several opportunities, Town had gone behind to a player they had on loan for seven games in 2012.

There was a touch of irony about the goal for it was set up by right-back Lawrie Wilson, who had been given a torrid time in the first half when Scotland prospect Paul Dixon produced as fine an attacking wing-back display as has been seen at the stadium in a long time.

When the tables turned, Dixon tracked his man as he cut inside but a reverse pass freed Church down the right channel and he struck the ball across Alex Smithies into the net by the far post.

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It was virtually the only threat produced by Charlton, who had already suffered two defeats in the League Cup and Championship at Town this season.

Town chief Robins, who believed Stephens should have been red-carded, said: “It was a poor goal to concede and we have to hold our hands up.

“We are out of the competition because in an error-strewn game we did not take our chances.

“The disappointment to me was that we stopped probing and passing and didn’t have enough guile.”

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Huddersfield Town: Smithies, Smith, Gerrard, Wallace; Hammill (Sinnott 35, Scannell 55), Gobern (Holmes 64), Clayton, Norwood, Dixon; Vaughan, Ward. Unused substitutes: Bennett, Woods, Stead, Bunn.

Charlton Athletic: Alnwick, Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Evina (Lennon 35); Stephens, Jackson, Ajdarevic (Cousins 69), Harriott; Church, Sordell (Green 69). Unused substitutes: Thuram-Ulien, Wood, Cook, Pigott.

Referee: S Attwell (Nuneaton).

Man of the match: Ben Alnwick.