Relief: Charlton beat Brighton amid a backdrop of uncertainity
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)A raucous home crowd bouncing to a penalty shoot-out giant killing of a Premier League club - what more could any potential Charlton investors ask for?
At least one party with interest in buying the struggling League One club were in attendance to see them beat Brighton 4-3 on penalties to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.
As the more than 11,000 Charlton fans crammed into The Valley bellowed out “It’s the Charlton boys making all the noise”, any parties interested in pumping money into the south east Londoners would have been hard pressed not to be seduced.
Owner Thomas Sandgaard has publicly insisted he is not intending to sell up but a series of leadership appointments this week cast doubt over the future of the club.
“This is a special place to play your football,” said caretaker manager Anthony Hayes.
“The supporters made a major difference for us, particularly in the second-half when Brighton started to turn the screw.
“The noise from the crowd, the players really responded to that.”
Charlton fans had been urged to get down to The Valley to paint the club in its best possible light, and a bumper crowd of 17,464 watched the Addicks stun Brighton.
The Premier League side buzzed about in busy patterns but failed to deliver any sting across a goalless 90 minutes. They flashed the ball right across the face of the Charlton goal at least three times, but on each occasion a finishing touch was conspicuous by its absence.
What poise there was evaporated for Brighton come the penalties, with Pascal Gross, Leandro Trossard, Solly March and Moises Caicedo all failing from the spot.
Jayden Stockley, George Dobson and Jes Rak-Sakyi endured equally gut-wrenching misses for Charlton, but then Sam Lavelle stepped up and buried the winner.
The appointment of Dean Holden as new manager means Hayes will switch back to first-team coaching duties.
Beating Brighton provided a welcome break from League One struggles though, with Hayes hoping Charlton fans cherish that Christmas cheer.
“We’re suffering a lot, but this win’s a breather from that,” said Hayes.
“We have to use this as a springboard now.”
