Yeovil highlighted

Usual please. Words I uttered to the chap in the off license as I bought my Polish lager for the train journey and words which embodied my hopes for the evening's footballing entertainment ahead of me; the now traditional one nil Tuesday night victory would suit me fine. As I sank deeper into the lager on a train which dragged its heels stopping at every outpost from Croydon to London Bridge, my nerves were starting to be replaced by frustration as kick off loomed closer. It would be skittish at best watching the edgy six pointer, but the not knowing what was happening as I waited for a connection would certainly chip away at me resolve. There was nothing for it, I was going to have to, more than once, hold onto my hat and break into a jog.

I ventured through the turnstile just a couple of minutes into the game, little did I know then that the sprint across platforms at London Bridge would be so worthwhile. Our goal was scored in the ninth minute, I'd have missed it. One nil with eighty to go, the usual and with plenty of time to spare.

It would appear a complete lottery as to who José Riga picks to start up front. Reza scored at Leeds then was dropped for Reading. Church was up front for Reading then absent last night. My guess is hat number one contains formations whilst hat number two accommodates the names, Riga then asks a couple of ball boys to pick at random. Last night it was formation 'two up front' and players Reza and Sodall. No bonus ball.

Charlton commenced battle against a Yeovil side whose kit was far more dazzling than their silky touch on the ball, and backed by a good few hundred that had made the midweek trip from Somerset. Possibly the most important game for both sides so far this season, it certainly started with a flourish. Astrit Ajdarević became the second member of 'the Duchâtelet six' to open his account with us as a superb strike from well outside the area beat everybody and surprised us all with the early goal. We just needed to hang on in there and show the visitors why we have such an impressive  'goals against' column next to our name. With Lawrie Wilson missing, Solly of course long term, it fell to Michael Morrison to play in the right back berth and allowing Wood to come into the middle to partner Dervite. Perhaps this accounted in some way for the shambolic defending that would ensue. Two minutes later Yeovil played the ball out of their area and passed it effortlessly up to our own culminating with the ball nestling in the back of the net. The most telling pass of the lot split the defence open on our right hand side between Morrison and his centre half...

The first half continued in much the same vein. We attacked without danger, so did Yeovil, but our defence made it appear more threatening. A half time beer was needed, this football lark wasn't at all as relaxing a pastime as some people would have you believe. We needed to sharpen up at the back if we were to hold onto this point, Yeovil were in the habit of two goals a game and we weren't due another one until Saturday at the earliest. Our surprise then, whilst releasing the pint we'd just supped was more bewilderment as the roof came off with whoops and cheers. We raced up the stairs (this running lark was becoming habitual) to discover Dorian Dervite had headed home from a corner. Did it matter I'd missed a goal? Not at all as, especially for the latecomers, Sodall of all people added a third two minutes later to send us into dreamland. A deft flick from Poyet released Reza down the right, his cross was parried by the keeper and Sodall was quickest to the rebound. In fact our Marvin would treat us to the best performance of his spell here, tricking his way past defenders. 'Same old Sordell, taking the p**s' sang I!

A fourth goal would have really killed them off but it wasn't to come, instead we dithered and reverted to suicidal defending to give Yeovil a lifeline with a gift of a goal. There was still fifteen nail biting minutes to go. It was all too much for one steward who endured the wrath of one Yeovil player as he kicked the ball away from him. This along with five substitutions (including a welcome return for Leon Cort) resulted in five agonizing minutes of stoppage time. When the referee finally called a halt to proceedings the relief was staggering, it felt like safety was assured but of course it isn't. For Yeovil though I think that could be that.

Two songs from the Covered End were poignant last night. Diego Poyet had another man of the match performance, he proved once again that he's head and shoulders above everyone else on the park and this on his nineteenth birthday too. Finally he was rewarded with a song, 'he's better than Gus' although we soon changed that to 'he's better than us'. The other song that echoed around The Valley hailed the management of José Riga. Now to upset the 'move on' brigade but I still refuse to verbally parade a man who I not only believe to be an interim manager, but who also encapsulates the Duchâtelet theory of maneuvering the club away from independence and into the 'fold'.

Don't misjudge my loyalty. I was immensely proud of the team last night and delighted with the win. There was plenty of Charlton spirit on show from the players. However a club tie and a few wins does not instill that spirit into a man in just a calendar month. We may well go on to survive to play Championship football again next season, although there's still plenty of hard work on the pitch to be done, but in the long run there remains a far bigger and graver danger which ultimately could test that spirit in each and every one of us.

Kiss me quick!

It's been a funny old week, both for me and my football team. I've had a poor performance with results to match whilst Charlton have played superbly with mixed fortunes.

The dreaded misery that is man flu took it's ugly grip on me at the beginning of the week, assigning me to my bed for a couple of days. It would have been longer if my attendance at work hadn't been vital to the cause on Friday.

I therefore not only missed the action at The Valley on Tuesday evening in the flesh, but i also slept through the radio commentary too!
I took from the game that Charlton bossed the majority of the match, despite the 1-2 scoreline, Watford's Italian contingent did a fair impersonation of Tom Daley, and finally, we really need to take our chances at this level.

A trip to free scoring, high flying Blackpool was just what we needed then. In some respects, there was a little less pressure on us to get a result than there was on Tuesday, but two good performances at home still count for something. We would either get the reward these showings have been promising or we'd get a hiding.
I hate to admit it but i was expecting the latter.

Chris Powell decided it was time to shake things up a little, most notably by dropping Bradley Wright-Phillips to the bench and switching to a 4-5-1 formation. New boy Abdul Razak was his replacement coming into the centre of the midfield.

Charlton's solid performance was back and on display in the first half but once again the chances came and went. Fortunately Blackpool were wasteful with theirs too. Ricardo Fuller came the closest when his header came off the underside of the bar. That was the best moment of the first forty five.

The worst moment once again involved a players personal misery. We'll have to find space in an already crowded treatment room back in the capital as Danny Green came off after only around twenty minutes becoming the latest member of the Charlton cripple club.

It was the second period when things really came to life. Only three minutes in and Charlton were in front. Leon Cort once again found the net with his head from a Stephens corner. The Charlton traveling support were, for not the first time, coming through loud and clear on the radio (were there any home fans at the game? It sounded like Craven Cottage), and twitter was already full of tweets urging us to hang on! We really don't have too much faith in holding onto a lead.

We did hang on though, Fuller giving a professional display up front warranting a man of the match accolade. Charlton wrapped it up as Chris Solly scored the second with a sweet right foot drive from around twenty yards out.
As they quite correctly mentioned on the radio, it's a goal that ,with time, will be noted as being further and further out.

The emergence of both 1998 play off final veteran  Kevin Phillips and the very talented Tom Ince off the bench failed to inspire Blackpool to a comeback and Charlton clung on (as we do) to three very welcomed points on the road lifting us to a much more respectable fifteenth in the table as we go into an international break.

After a week of Chris Powell receiving criticism from a certain portion of the Charlton support he's shown that he's quite happy to drop a 'name', quite prepared to try a different approach and quite correct to tell us all to have patience.

I believe he knows what he's doing, i never doubted him for a moment. Honest.

Cort off guard

If you're honest with yourself, what would you say would be a good target for this season? I guess at least 75% of you would plump for mid table mediocrity, i know I'd be over the moon with that. Just consolidate our position back in the second tier, let this squad get used to their surroundings and build on what we have for a promotion push in the next couple of seasons.
Let's face it, there are enough Norwich's and Southampton's in this world. It's not cast in stone that you have to have back to back promotions.

Birmingham City however would consider anything less than promotion an under achievement. Last year after a strong campaign only losing the once at home in the league, they self destructed in the play off semi finals against Blackpool.

Chris Hughton's efforts were worthy of a call back to the top flight to replace Paul Lambert at Norwich so a familiar Charlton adversary from Huddersfield, Lee Clark, has taken over the reigns at the blues.
As i picked my three to go straight up for the CAFC picks website, i confess Birmingham City were amongst them. I really expected Charlton to get a big taster of what life will be like back in the Championship.

I was asked recently to describe in three words or less last season's overview and preview this one's expectations. You can see all 92 clubs verdicts here, but i put 'educational' down for this season.
I thought we'd be taught a lesson at St Andrews. We were, it just wasn't from the text book i was expecting.

Making do with a radio commentary on a stifling hot day at work whilst melting in my overalls and hob nail boots, i realised i really hadn't forgotten at all how nervy and at times quite uncomfortable listening to the football can be.
Charlton seemed to miss chance after chance, yet from all accounts stroked the ball around like the team giving the masterclass.

Borrowed from Barnsley, "it's just like watching Brazil" could be heard from the sixteen hundred travelling addicks. At times i think just sixteen could have been heard as the notorious Birmingham fans failed miserably in creating any kind of atmosphere.
From seeing the amount of empty seats on the television, almost 12,000 of them, i was surprised to discover a club of this size only averaged a thousand more per game last season than were in attendance yesterday.

Leon Cort's first goal for the club at the far post, after a little headed combination from a corner, was only what the visitors deserved with seven minutes of the ninety remaining.
I threw my spanner so far in the air it almost came back down on the bike i was working on, I'd have gone crazy for an opening day point.
Three? Well that's just dreamland. It's almost like last season was just continuing rather than Chris Powell's team starting afresh.
Other than Jordan Cook coming on for Wright-Phillips, we even had the same players on the pitch.

Wilson and Kerkar were also on the bench but there was no place for our fourth new signing of the season, Dorian  Dervite-Vaussoue. The Frenchman will provide great cover at the back if his performance at Crawley is anything to go by.

Birmingham, deep in stoppage time, played a long ball out of defence. Their midfield won it and played it straight through ours for substitute Nicola Zigic to strike the ball home with the visiting back four practically looking on as spectators.

Last season we could afford the odd lapse of concentration, often without getting punished. This term moments like that can and will cost us dearly.
Hopefully a lesson learnt, every minute of every match needs one hundred percent focus, not just ninety but ninety three, four and five as well.

A point away from home is still a good return, and we entertain Leicester and Hull over the next few days. After these the table will start to take a little shape.
It'll be nice to still be above Palace and Millwall then.

Come on you reds!

Easter Message

The Easter message. There's the big one, we all know that. Then there's everybody else's message. Trenton Oldfield had one in the Thames at Hammersmith Bridge although nobody is quite sure exactly what that message really was, other than one of plain stupidity.
Steve Evans obviously had one leaving Crawley Town for Rotherham weeks before the end of the season. His was ( I could be wrong and have misjudged the man of course) the same as always, money over loyalty. This is a career that is always going to be one of controversy wherever he plies his trade.

Both of these messages are more self centered than the all important one, but are at the same time guaranteed far more publicity.
Then there's the message from Sheffield. Both clubs have won their last four and are finishing the season on fine form. One of them will go into the play offs all guns blazing. It is of little consequence to Charlton though how well, or by how many, the steel city sides obliterate their opponents. Not as long as we hold it together until the finishing tape.
Manchester City could do with taking note here. Roberto Mancini, if you want an Easter message just ask Chrissy Powell.

The message from south east London this Easter is one of hard work gets results, although at times it could of been translated as hard work to get results. Even that would suffice right now for the Italian and his team of highly paid superstars.

Two 1-0 victories in the space of three days is all that matters. I really don't care if we finish first with banners and fireworks, or if we finish first quietly without anybody even noticing. As long as we finish first. We've been top since early September, i want to see that trophy paraded on May 5th at the Hartlepool game.

Saturday's game at Oldham saw the Addicks once again do things the hard way finishing with nine men after, first Hollands, then Wagstaff enjoying the delights of an early warm bath in those perfectly British bank holiday weekend conditions.
An early second half goal for Yann Kermorgant was the winner, but it was the three red cards and the numerous amount of yellows that will stand in the memory. The referee, Trevor Kettle, the latest in a long line of officials this season to look, at best, incompetent once again writing himself into Charlton Athletic folklore.

Six hundred Addicks watched as Charlton dug deep and hung on for a very needy three points. This was admirable stuff but physically could go on to haunt us two days later against Walsall at The Valley.

And to large degrees it did. An unbalanced midfield without Danny Hollands at the heart, Charlton made hard work of keeping a spirited but rather poor Walsall side at bay. If they'd had a little more class up front we could have been punished.
The communication between Morrison and Hamer at the back, or more to the point the lack of it, gave rise to that horrid feeling of the old ticker skipping a beat or two.
Morrison had been one of my contenders for player of the season so I'm granting him an off day. I've said before how he reminds me a little of former favourite Eddie Youds, well, his current partner has a little touch of the Richard Rufus about him.
Leon Cort has looked a tower of strength after coming in for Matt Taylor recently. Again he had a wonderful ninety minutes yesterday. His achievements have been more than capable in the Championship before and i reckon he's definitely got another season in him at that level.

Dany N'Guessan scored the games only goal, his third for Charlton in five outings. His arrival does seem to give us another attacking dimension and his connection from Jackson's free kick was delightful, a real high in a game deprived of much excitement or flair.

Again the standard of refereeing was, and I'll try to be kind, a little rough round the edges. I really pray we'll see better as we move up a division. In retrospect, the football was rough round the edges too so I'll say no more on the subject.

Post match in The Kings Head at London Bridge we watched West Ham struggle to find form against Birmingham with a group of Southampton supporters. It dawned on me that they'll be joining Norwich in the top flight of the English game next season. The two sides we got relegated with into the dark depths of third division football. It really sank home how important getting promoted this season is!

In closing then we are still completely in control of our own destiny and now with only twelve points remaining. No matter what the others do, time to catch us is running out. I'll quite happily take four more rather boring one goal victories.

Come on you reds!

The revolving door never stops.

Saturday was one of those days you were proud to support Charlton Athletic. Yesterday was one of those days you are proud to have a soft spot for AFC Wimbledon in your heart. Everybody's favourite second team (except possibly Sutton and Crawley fans) have, as Chicago Addick said so wonderfully, their own Thierry Henry moment.

Jason Euell has signed on loan with the south London club for five weeks and is expected to be in the squad to face Port Vale on Saturday.
Unlike the supporters of everybody's least favourite neutral club up in Buckinghamshire, these fans will remember seeing him turn out for the Dons first time around.  How lovely would it be to see him do what the Frenchman did on Monday night and wear his scoring boots to mark his homecoming.
It's fair to say those die hard Wimbledon supporters will see a different footballer than they did last time he wore the blue shirt. He is a shadow of his former self in match day performance although he still has a fantastic footballing brain. Similar in some ways to the great John Barnes during his stint in SE7.

As the season progresses for Wimbledon it has become obvious to us all that their honeymoon period has finished. Financially worse off than many of their opponents, it is this gritty part of the season where his experience will benefit the young players in the dressing room and give their fans a renewed sense of hope. With the rich kids down the road in West Sussex blossoming it would be an absolute delight to see their poorer compatriots doing the same.

Speaking of AFC Wimbledon a local paper, the Wimbledon Guardian, is running an on-line petition to get Milton Keynes to drop the 'Dons' from their name. Whether any good will come from it i don't know, but it's got my support. Football heritage is important and hard earned. The real Dons work harder than most!

We've seen the Paul Benson, Leon Clarke deal go through recently, today it was announced Leon Cort had signed permanently.
With six appearances for the addicks so far this season on loan, the defender has made it permanent after being let go by Burnley earlier in the week.
Cort has proved he is great cover at the heart of the defense, especially in Charlton's last outing at The Valley against Brentford and is a welcomed addition by all except perhaps the ginger Pele, Gary Doherty!

Charlton's official twitter page stated today that there hadn't been any breaking news for a while. Of course with transfer windows these days players all seem to move at once but the backroom staff keep that door spinning all year round. Look at Tony Jimenez.
I think we could see more 'breaking' news this week if the rumours are to be believed.  Jeffrey Schlupp's name has once again been on people's lips as it was pre season but it's Danny Haynes that seems the more likely.
Haynes is currently with Barnsley and word is the Yorkshire club have agreed a fee with Charlton. Others were interested in the former Ipswich striker including Millwall, but they just wanted the player on a short term loan deal.
Nothing is cemented until the club announce it and these days we've all read it on twitter and the like a long time before it's 'official', but it shows Chris Powell is still keen to add to his forward options during this window.
Onwards and upwards, I'm not sure but i think he'll be number twenty four?