Line-up:
One enforced change as Talal El Karkouri starts owing to Perry’s illness. Chris Powell returns to occupy vacancy on the bench.Both sides gave the ball away too often and neither created a real chance until Dunne's opener midway through a first half that was just a battle, and not a very good one at that. If the opening period was dull the second was a thrill a minute. Charlton would have snatched a draw had David James not denied El Karkouri in stoppage time as City were able to hold on. THE SUN
David McDonnel: A laboured first half in which Charlton were totally anonymous was lifted only by Richard Dunne's opener for City. DAILY MIRROR
James Ducker: Joey Barton provided the central axis on which City attacked against Charlton, but while the visiting team made a decent fist of trying to claw a draw in a mesmerising second period, they could find no riposte. THE TIMES
Mark Ogden: After a shaky start, Manchester City were bright in the early stages and Darius Vassell ought to have scored inside five minutes. City were finding Charlton's left-flank a profitable route, with Sinclair too clever and experienced for Jonathan Spector who was constantly beaten. After an anaemic first-half performance, Charlton emerged with more purpose in the second half. DAILY TELEGRAPH
Louise Taylor: Both sides displayed a commendable commitment to attack. Charlton were struggling to live with City's relentlessly high tempo and their wide players. Radostin Kishishev and Jerome Thomas, were making scant impact, rarely unleashing the sort of crosses which the Bents, Darren and Marcus, needed. City's early control extended to central midfield where Alexei Smertin and Bryan Hughes largely lost their duel with Barton and Kiki Musampa, whose new boundless energy could have done with being complemented by a few more penetrative passes. Although dominant, City's play lacked a necessary element of surprise. City relaxed from 3-1 as Charlton very nearly earned a scarcely deserved equaliser. THE GUARDIAN
David Instone: It was a rousing contest. The bespectacled Curbishley was much more reserved and appeared studious in comparison to Pearce. Arms folded and notebook and pen in hand, he was more Sven than Psycho. Not that his players did much to stir any stronger an emotion from him than exasperation for long spells. The first half was another North-west no-show by them. But Charlton didn't go down without a fight. THE INDEPENDENT