The goal was barely deserved although Charlton did show more poise than the home team who seemed anxious and unable to

The goal was barely deserved, although Charlton did show more poise than the home team, who seemed anxious and unable to rouse themselves. Jovan Kirovski, playing behind the front two, had a free-kick cleared off the line by Konchesky – but, in truth, it was weak effort.The game spilled over after 53 minutes when Birmingham striker Geoff Horsfield was sent off for a high challenge on Luke Young It was a straight red card. In the ensuing pushing match, which ended up in the Charlton dug-out, his fellow striker Clinton Morrison was booked for protesting.Manager Steve Bruce responded with a double substitution, bringing on wide players Paul Devlin and Stan Lazaridis, both returning from injury Devlin nearly had an immediate effect. But his right-footed cross shot was turned away for a corner by Dean Kiely.The sending-off drove Birmingham on and they equalised from the penalty spot after Aliou Ciss?ell under the challenge of Jensen on 65 minutes. It appeared a harsh decision, as did the earlier sending- off, but Devlin drove the spot-kick high to Kiely’s right.. Blackburn Rovers’ manager, Graeme Souness, has appealed to match officials for more understanding after his passion for the game again landed him in trouble with the authorities this week. He was also suspended last season after an outburst against officials during a match at Middlesbrough.The Scot said: “People on the touchline, the referees and fourth officials, have to understand that I have been doing this for 35 years, I’m passionate about football and nobody and nothing will change that.

Sometimes we get excited; I would ask referees, fourth officials and linesmen to understand that, and I’m not alone.”Souness will need to keep his passions in check when Manchester United visit today. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are seeking their ninth consecutive win having settled on a formation that involves Ruud van Nistelrooy playing as a single striker in front of three attacking midfielders.Souness has drawn up plans to deal with Ferguson’s system. “Whoever we play we always look at the way they play, but against top teams it’s like the boy who put his finger in the dyke to stop the leak – suddenly another hole appears and then another,” the Scot said “That’s what it’s like playing against a top team You stop one player and then someone else hurts you. Against Manchester United you might do something to stop their one striker but then you have to worry about Ryan Giggs, David Beckham or Paul Scholes. I always concentrate more on what we will do ourselves, that’s the way I was educated. We will do that first and then try to nullify what the other team are going to try to do.”Ferguson has his passion problems, too, with Roy Keane raring to go after his lengthy lay-off.

He believes that Keane would still be a vital player for United even if he toned down his on-field aggression.Keane has been ruled out since August with a hip injury and has also served bans for a red card against Sunderland this season and a retrospective suspension as a result of comments he made about his tackle on the Manchester City defender Alf Inge Haaland in April 2001.Ferguson, who has named the Irishman in his squad for today’s match against Blackburn, said: “It remains to be seen whether Roy’s aggression has gone away. But if he does not tackle, he still provides a great contribution to the team. I think, maybe, he should be using his experience in a different way Any side would miss Roy Keane no matter what. He has got great awareness.”Keane has been vocal about United’s shortcomings in Europe in the last two seasons, but Ferguson believes his return to fitness is just the spark the club need for their continuing Champions’ League campaign, which resumes in February “I think Roy knows that we can do well in Europe. We will be playing Juventus twice and he will definitely make a contribution.”But possibly not today. Ferguson will be loath to change a successful team and that could mean another start on the substitutes’ bench for Keane, David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand.. So, no top spot for Christmas but still plenty to cheer about at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea made easy work of a predictable Aston Villa side to consolidate their position in the leading trio.

Claudio Ranieri’s team are now unbeaten in 10 League games, a run stretching back to early October, and can justifiably regard themselves as title contenders. Then again, with two potential title-deciding away-days, at Leeds and Arsenal, coming up before the end of the festive period, perhaps resting the evergreen maestro made sense. No one was arguing with manager Ranieri’s decision when the man who stepped into the breach up front, Eidur Gudjohnsen, scored the opener.The knowledge that a win could take them to the top of the League must have distracted Chelsea, because they very nearly fell behind within a minute of kick-off. Moustapha Hadji, who has reinvented himself as a left-winger of late, caught the Chelsea defence a little cold before delivering a dangerous low cross into the area. Lee Hendrie was on hand to try to steer the ball home, but Graeme Le Saux reacted quickest to divert the goal-bound effort out of play. From the ensuing corner, the ball eventually found a way to the back post, where Olof Mellberg was lurking with intent. The Swedish central defender had no hesitation in rifling in a shot with the outside of his right foot, and might have scored had it not been for the width of the crossbar.Chelsea slowly took control of proceedings from then on, although they had to wait until the 19th minute to create their first real opening.