Mr Cool settles shootout

WEST Bromwich Albion squeezed through to the fourth round of the FA Cup on a night of high drama at The Hawthorns.

Six minutes into the second half Albion were 2-0 to the good in their third round replay against Charlton Athletic, thanks to a 14th minute goal from Roman Bednar and James Morrison`s 51st minute strike.

But all the old defensive jitters emerged in the last half hour as first Darren Ambrose netted in the 61st minute to give the Addicks a lifeline and then Chris Dickson completed a brave fightback by the Londoners with an injury-time equaliser.

There were no further goals in extra time and the game went to penalties.

Albion nerves were settled by the first kick as Charlton`s Luke Varney blasted his effort against the crossbar.

Chris Brunt put the home side`s noses in front but after Dickson had levelled things up Jonathan Greening spoiled an otherwise excellent night`s work when his spot kick was saved by Charlton keeper Luke Weaver.

Jerome Thomas and Robert Koren coverted their respective efforts before Dean Kiely made the decisive save of the night to deny Charlton`s Zheng Zhi.

Morrison thumped home Albion`s fourth penalty to make it 3-2 before Majid Bougherra restored parity once again with the last of his side`s five kicks.

Czech international Bednar was given the responsibility of securing Albion`s passage to the next round and he was Mr Cool personified as he arrowed his 12-yarder into the top right-hand corner of the net.

While Charlton field the side that beat Blackpool 4-1 at The Valley at the weekend, Tony Mowbray chose to make four changes to his winning line-up at Hull, with Martin Albrechtsen replacing the suspended Paul Robinson at left back, Zoltan Gera and Andrade Filipe Teixeira replacing Robert Koren and Chris Brunt in midfield and Bednar partnering Ishmael Miller up front instead of Kevin Phillips.

Recalling Filipe Teixeira proved to be a master stroke as the Portuguese midfielder set up both Albion goals, getting on the end of a Greening cross to head the ball down for Bednar to open the scoring and then laying on the pass that allowed Morrison to notch his second goal in two games.

West Bromwich Albion (4-4-2): Kiely; Hoefkens, Barnett, Pele, Albrechtsen; Gera (Koren 73), Greening, Morrison, Filipe Teixeira (Brunt 73); Miller (MacDonald 83), Bednar. Subs not used: Steele, Hodgkiss.

Booking: Gera.

Goals: Bednar 14, Morrison 51.

Charlton Athletic (4-4-2): Weaver; Moutaouakil, McCarthy, Bougherra, Youga; Sam, Holland (Dickson 82), Zhi; Ambrose (Thomas 71), Varney, McLeod (Iwelumo 63). Subs not used: Randolph, Semedo.

Booking: Moutaouakil.

Goals: Ambrose 64, Dickson 90

West Brom win 4-3 on penalties

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).

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