15th December 2008: Under the stewardship of caretaker manager Phil Parkinson, it looked like the Addicks might secure a vital three points to give hope of survival. 2-1 up in the 4th minute of stoppage time, Derby had a throw which bounced away from one defender, was flicked on by another and bobbled its way straight to an unmarked Nathan Ellington in the box, who fired home an equaliser. The only feeling I can remember is one of utter dejection. Whilst yesterday's game was slightly different, it resulted in a similar low following the full-time whistle.
Saturday's game was always going to be a tough one. Derby arrived on the back of five straight victories, following a revival in fortunes brought about by the appointment of Steve McLaren. Charlton had failed to win in three, with a broader trend of 4 goals in 5 games suggesting reason for concern. Defeat was not a surprise, therefore, but the match left an unexpected feeling of misery and dejection - the pattern of the match again followed a similar trend to those of recent weeks, as the Addicks were competitive and full of energy, but again fell agonisingly short.
A shift in tactics saw Powell give another chance to Danny Green on the right-wing in place of the industrious Simon Church, whilst Pritchard returned centrally in the absence of Johnnie Jackson. It meant a 4-5-1 formation with Kermorgant on his own up front, and whilst the defensive approach is never completely welcome at home, it was understandable given Derby's strong recent form.
McLaren's impact on Derby was clear to see from the outset. Short goal kicks were taken to give the ball to the centre back, who worked with the full back to try and move the ball forward, shifting play to the other flank if the route was blocked. Charlton didn't press relentlessly, but they did their job sufficiently to force some long balls forward. The home side stole the ball in midfield and played it forward to Kermorgant on occasion, with the Frenchman distributing the ball to the wider areas.
Chances came. Morrison found himself in space 25 yards out, and whilst his powerful shot was on target, it was comfortably caught by Grant in goal. Stewart's cross found its way to Stephens in the area but his volleyed effort went over, with the timing made more difficult by the blustery wind. Green curled a free-kick towards the far post, and it ended up heading for the top corner, only to be tipped over the bar. Kermorgant was forced to improvise, given the absence of a strike partner, but Pritchard's advanced role meant he could collect a number of the knock-downs. Stewart was quiet, but Stephens and Green were positive, whilst Jordan Cousins was covering a lot of ground in an excellent defensive display.
Derby threatened too, but the game remained even. Chris Martin had a shot from outside the box delfected on its way wide, and Alnwick caught a header following the corner. Some neat play worked the ball forward outisde the area, where a clumsy Dervite intervention conceded a free-kick. Jamie Ward struck his effort towards Alnwick's left post, but as the keeper dived across, the shot flicked the head of Wiggins, deflecting it to the right of the keeper and into the back of the net. It was a sucker punch following positive Addicks play. Another example of luck deserting the Addicks.
Charlton didn't respond to the goal well, and Bryson found space among a number of red shirts who didn't close him down, striking his shot across goal towards the top corner. Alnwick was forced into a two-handed save high to his left to keep the score at 0-1 going into the break. A late half-chance fell to Kermorgant, 35 yards from goal following a headed clearance by the keeper, but he couldn't manage to reach the goal with his chipped effort and it was headed clear.
The response after half-time was much better, and almost immediately rewarded. Wilson broke down the right and crossed for Stephens, who couldn't connect cleanly and his shot bounced wide. Kermorgant had a chance to shoot through a clutch of players, but it bobbled towards goal, and Morrison failed to control on the turn to keep the chance alive.
Derby were attempting to control the game, taking time out whenever they could and making subtle fouls to kill any momentum the Addicks could build. The home side struggled to break down the well organised Rams but it wasn't down to a lack of effort. Dale Stephens was throwing himself about in midfield, riskily but bravely jumping into tackles in an attempt to win the ball. Cousins continued to mop up defensively alongside him. Green couldn't get into the game - a familiar tale - and was replaced by Simon Church, with Pritchard being hauled off to unfair sarcastic cheers, to be replaced by Callum Harriott.
Powell changed the formation to a rather lopsided one, with Harriott employed as an attacking midfielder just behind the strikers, whilst Stewart continued to play left wing. Initially, chances were hard to come by, but as Derby sat deeper and deeper, Charlton began to create. The best of them fell to Morrison, who found himself at the back post leaping to get on the end of an exquisite chipped cross from Kermorgant. His header went narrowly, agonisingly wide. A big miss.
Stewart threatened sporadically, whilst Harriott twisted and turned but couldn't beat enough players to get a clear shot on goal. The Addicks' attempts to score were summed up when Kermorgant struck a shot from a cross, which was blocked by Harriott standing just a couple of yards in front of him.
Charlton could have had a penalty if it weren't for weak, feeble refereeing. Kermorgant was marked from a corner by two players, both with arms around his chest. In attempting to free himself, the Frenchman went to ground, but was inexplicably penalised for an infringement, despite having been contained by the arms of the opponents. The decision was especially galling when Morrison was later deemed to have fouled Martin (who was backing into him) for putting his arms around his chest. It typified the inconsistent performance of the referee, and once again the Addicks didn't get the decisions. Kermorgant didn't get a decision all game, until late on when the referee finally gave him a free-kick. His sarcastic applause of the ref was thoroughly warranted, such was his incompetence, but out came the yellow card. Another jobsworth.
Derby continued to grind, wasting time and using their physicality to impose their defensive strength. The ref only waved his arm occasionally to encourage quicker play. They had to cope with spells of good pressure, but only one chance caused any great alarm. Kermorgant flicked on for Church, bursting through into the box alongside a defender, but his rushed effort from the angle was well saved. It was a tough chance.
In a late gamble, Powell hauled off Wilson and sent Sordell on up front, though all he managed was one overhit pass when a counter-attack beckoned. The gap at right-back allowed substitute Connor Sammon into space following a poor clearance, and he slid a through ball to Bryson who chipped Alnwick and put the game to bed. It was a sickening late blow but all too predictable given the recent run of luck endured by the Addicks.
All the passion and anger directed at the referee and the frustration at Charlton's lack of an equaliser was replaced solely by a feeling of deep resignation. The Valley fell flat. For all the fight they had showed, once again the Addicks had fallen short, and though the result had been predictable all week, the nature of the game meant that there was a lot of hurt.
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There weren't really any players who could be singled out as having poor games, but I am increasingly inclined to think that we are better off with Richard Wood at the back instead of Dervite. He looked a bit clumsy in defence today, and whilst he is assured on the ball, the organisation and conviction brought by Wood is something we really need at the minute. Wiggins didn't quite hit the heights of his performance at Yeovil last week, whilst Green again struggled to come up with that well executed cross.
Cousins and Stephens again played well, the former in particular impressing thanks to his defensive exploits. We aren't being outplayed in midfield, but that is largely as a consequence of fielding an extra player centrally so as not to be overrun. That in turn is having an impact on our goal-scoring ability. Kermorgant did his best in isolated circumstances, but he was missing a player ahead of him who he could link with and create chances for. When someone clicks with him, it'll be a hugely profitable partnership, but it is something still eluding us. Stewart was kept quiet, but he is always a threat when cutting inside off the left, and can make ground to put in crosses as well.
Derby were strong, and you can see why they have been winning games. It is a confidence thing. Powell can only instill a certain amount of that in his sides, but the rest is down to results, which continue to evade Charlton. That tiny absence of conviction when critical moments arise is what is costing us at the minute. With the resources available we don't have a large array of tactical options open to us, and Powell is trying to make the most of what he has available. Its not easy, hence the struggles, but criticism of effort and desire is definitely a long way wide of the mark. Faith in these players is needed, as we are unlikely to be able to bring many others in. These are the players who will have save this club from relegation. Full backing them is crucial if we want to avoid a repeat of the last time we were relegated, and ended up sinking without trace.
Powell tried a new system against a side which needed to be contained, and it was largely successful. The only breaches to the defence were caused by a deflected free-kick and an absent right-back late on when chasing an equaliser. The players once again played well, but the failure to seize upon those crucial moments in the match is what is frustrating at the moment. Had Morrison's headed chance found the net, it could well have acted as a catalyst enabling Charlton to go on and win the game. Instead, it went wide, and further chances could not be taken either. Whilst the absence of goals is one of the major reasons we find ourselves struggling, again you got the impression that fortune was not on our side. Our league position cannot be blamed simply on bad luck, but fortune has definitely not helped recently. Decisions are more often than not going against us. More decisive performances are needed on the pitch, but also you sometimes need that rub of the green to help you out.
A few words on the relegation battle, and reactions after defeat: Again there has been widespread criticism of the performance, brought about largely thanks to the result. Powell's suggestion that the players gave it their all has been met with scepticism by a number of fans, but this feeling is simply born out of a frustration at the result. When times are tough, there is obviously anger at the situation, but many choose to channel this in completely the wrong way by vehemently criticising the players and the manager, when ultimately they put up a good fight. It indicates that many fans feel that Charlton have an obligation to them to win games, and that failure to do so justifies any form of criticism. Whilst everyone has a right to complain, in the aftermath of a defeat it is rarely constructive in nature, and the direct attacks on players and individuals is more likely to have negative consequences than positive ones. The existence of social media means that instead of calming down over a pint, or in the car on the way home, the immediate feeling of frustration is encapsulated in a series of tweets, often directly attacking the club's players. The atmosphere between fans of differing views can become poisonous, and particularly so given that many take a perverse pleasure in moaning after defeat. The dissenters are a vocal minority, but one that can clearly have an impact on player morale.
The critical, negative reaction comes from an inability to be objective about things, and view the wider situation that the club, players and manager are in. The game frustrated, but it didn't tell us anything we didn't already know about the situation that Charlton Athletic Football Club is in. The squad is weaker than it was last year thanks to the dire financial situation, and we have a co-chairman who is gambling with the contract situation which is creating a huge amount of uncertainty off the field. You cannot suggest that this doesn't impact on the playing staff in any way. Whilst commitment is visibly there, contractual uncertainty breeds doubt, which is not something that helps keep a group strong and resolute. Powell has no money for additions, thus must make the most of what he has available. What he has achieved so far is remarkable, and thankfully the majority realise this.
Powell is undoubtedly the man we want in charge, as his fighting spirit and resolve has often been embodied by Charlton in some of the more unlikely victories during his tenure. We must stick together and keep the faith, as the season ahead will be full of difficult times. Supporting a football club is not a one way street - the players need us to back them. Their effort is there. All that is lacking is that little bit of quality, and that little bit of luck.
Objectivity after defeat is difficult. I had to avoid social media last night due to the outpouring of emotion following the result, as I knew it would further increase the pain. We all feel the pain of defeat, but we need to accept that times are tough. I have always been one to have faith in the people I support, and I see no reason why these players, and this manager, cannot turn the current run of form around. It will be hard, but it can be done.
Keep the faith.
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Saturday, 7 December 2013
Yeovil Town 2-2 Charlton: Luck Deserts Addicks Again
A huge game for Charlton was going perfectly, until a mad few minutes saw hopes of victory crushed. Luck has completely deserted us. The team put in a great shift but just a couple of errors and again things conspired against them. Times are tough but the team need to be backed, and certainly don't deserve much of the criticism being levelled at them.
Following a tricky run of games against QPR, Ipswich and Reading, the trip to fellow struggles Yeovil was one of huge importance. It represented a great chance for Charlton to distance themselves further from the relegation scrap.
Powell selected the same team that had beaten Doncaster and lost to Ipswich, but he added a slight tactical slant to the XI. Instead of playing Jackson out on the left, he was deployed as part of a central midfield trio. Cameron Stewart switched from right wing to left wing at will, meaning the formation was somewhat lopsided - but not in a bad way.
The first half an hour of the game saw both teams struggle to string together decent passages of play, but of the two sides Yeovil had marginally more success. Alnwick was forced into a couple of comfortable saves as Ishmael Miller made a nuisance of himself. One shot from outside the box looked destined for the top corner but it drifted over the bar.
Despite Yeovil having more attacks, Charlton had the best chance of the half. Cameron Stewart was given the ball out on the left and cut inside and aimed a shot at the far corner. Only a flying save by Dunn denied the Addicks an opener.
Soon after it was Yeovil again pressing, but Alnwick diffused the situation with a confident catch from a corner. He made a quick throw out to Stewart on the left wing, who only had a couple of defenders ahead of him. He carried the ball forward to the left corner of the box, once again cut inside and fired a shot from just inside the D. It curved away from Dunn, who was unable to divert the path of the ball with his despairing dive, and the ball buried itself in the bottom right hand corner.
Absolute joy in the away end. Before long there was even more cause for celebration. Again the ball was with Stewart on the left, but instead of cutting inside he shaped to beat the right back on the outside. His left footed chipped cross was too heavy for Church, but he knew Jackson was advancing towards the back post so cleared the way. The Addicks skipper headed the ball downward and past Dunn in the Yeovil goal. Double delight. Jackson was once again saluting the travelling support - he embodies the heart and the fighting spirit of this club more than anyone else.
For the first time in a while, we'd taken our chances, and the 2-0 scoreline was a reflection of the effectiveness of our counter-attacking play. Having watched Charlton for a number of years, though, we knew the job wasn't finished.
Yeovil made a double substitution but the impact on the pattern of play was minimal. Charlton were defending slightly deeper down the far end of the pitch, and that obviously causes nerves, but we actually enjoyed our best spell of the match as the hour mark approached. Some good passing football moved the ball up the pitch, and Cousins fired a shot narrowly wide from just outside the area.
Yeovil started to apply the pressure, and having worked an opportunity down the left. The cross from just outside the box was aimed across goal, deflecting off Morrison and into the net past the helpless Alnwick. The home crowd burst into life and and the momentum swung towards the home team.
Kermorgant challenged for a header but was harshly penalised due to the Yeovil player making a meal of it. Inexplicably, he was booked. It was a genuine challenge for the ball which Yann won, but as the defender went to ground he got the decision. From the long ball forward, Charlton failed to deal with a scramble outside the box, and with Miller having turned Dervite, he was brought down, and a penalty awarded. Difficult to tell from a distance but word is that the decision was indisputable. The incident that led up to it wasn't, however.
We never seem to save penalties, and there was no change here. Alnwick dived to right but Miller had drilled his spot-kick high down the middle into the back of the net. 2-2, Huish Park rocking.
Charlton hadn't defended the set piece well, but they still had a chance to win the game. That was until referee Dawson had his say. Hughes and Miller had collided going for a header, with the former lying injured on the floor as a result. The ball rebounded out to the left where Jackson made a strong challenge, winning the ball convincingly. However, the Yeovil player made a meal of it, and as there was a hint of aggression detected by the ref, it was deemed a foul. Whether it was two-footed was debatable. Pawson blew for the foul and gleefully reached for his back pocket, producing a red card. Tackling has increasingly been demonised in football, and Jackson certainly has reason to feel aggrieved.
Distraught. In the space of ten minutes a comfortable lead had vanished, replaced by a desperation to cling on to a point, and deny Yeovil a vital win. There was a sense of disbelief on the away terrace, with a combination of mistakes and misfortune conspiring to prevent victory.
Yeovil pressed for a winner. A quick break down the left almost saw the home side to break into the box, only for a superbly timed sliding challenge from Wiggins to deny them. Soon after, after a long ball and lots of headed contests, the ball fell to Miller, who seemed to have the goal at his mercy but placed his shot wide of the post.
Charlton held on, with Hughes having replaced Cousins after a knock, Church making way for Solly after the sending off, and Wood replacing Stewart in added time. Dawson added five minutes to try and allow his side to score a winner, but the game was drawn after a late but ultimately futile a track by the Addicks.
The players trudged over to thank the travelling support, who responded with their own applause. There was a feeling of defeat despite the point that had been secured. It took a while to shake off that feeling.
The refereeing performance was terrible. Dawson favoured the home side in the second half especially, with a couple of key decisions going against the Addicks. When will we finally get a good break...
Rhoys Wiggins had a fantastic game, with heroic defending and threatening attacking play down the left. Stephens played well centrally, whilst Church worked his socks off again without being created a clear cut chance. Kermorgant played really well in patches, particularly the early period of the second half, but he couldn't make enough clinical passes in the final third. Alnwick played well, particularly when he threw the ball for Stewart to score the opening goal, and claimed each cross with conviction. Stewart himself was the reason we took a two goal lead into half time.
Tactically, Powell's slant on 4-4-2 worked very well, largely down to the creative spark that Cameron Stewart gives us. He may not be the most consistent player but his importance to our side cannot be overstated. The liveliness of his play combined with the powerful right foot he has makes him a vital component of the side. We somehow need to keep hold of him beyond January.
The performance was once again valiant but the smallest of errors carried the dearest of consequences. Powell will undoubtedly take positives from the way we played, but in not closing out the game we displayed our vulnerability when our backs are against the wall.
It's undeniable that we are in a poor position in this league, but this bunch of players are trying so hard at the moment without getting any reward. Football is a results business, of course, but these players have proven capable of winning games, and with a bit more confidence and that rub of the green, our form will pick up. It's just a matter of sticking with the team through this tough spell and showing our full support for them. It's a two-way process, supporting a football club. Big tests lie ahead, and a lot of work needs to be done, but the players need us to keep backing them.
Following a tricky run of games against QPR, Ipswich and Reading, the trip to fellow struggles Yeovil was one of huge importance. It represented a great chance for Charlton to distance themselves further from the relegation scrap.
Powell selected the same team that had beaten Doncaster and lost to Ipswich, but he added a slight tactical slant to the XI. Instead of playing Jackson out on the left, he was deployed as part of a central midfield trio. Cameron Stewart switched from right wing to left wing at will, meaning the formation was somewhat lopsided - but not in a bad way.
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| The sun shone during a good first half for the away side |
The first half an hour of the game saw both teams struggle to string together decent passages of play, but of the two sides Yeovil had marginally more success. Alnwick was forced into a couple of comfortable saves as Ishmael Miller made a nuisance of himself. One shot from outside the box looked destined for the top corner but it drifted over the bar.
Despite Yeovil having more attacks, Charlton had the best chance of the half. Cameron Stewart was given the ball out on the left and cut inside and aimed a shot at the far corner. Only a flying save by Dunn denied the Addicks an opener.
Soon after it was Yeovil again pressing, but Alnwick diffused the situation with a confident catch from a corner. He made a quick throw out to Stewart on the left wing, who only had a couple of defenders ahead of him. He carried the ball forward to the left corner of the box, once again cut inside and fired a shot from just inside the D. It curved away from Dunn, who was unable to divert the path of the ball with his despairing dive, and the ball buried itself in the bottom right hand corner.
Absolute joy in the away end. Before long there was even more cause for celebration. Again the ball was with Stewart on the left, but instead of cutting inside he shaped to beat the right back on the outside. His left footed chipped cross was too heavy for Church, but he knew Jackson was advancing towards the back post so cleared the way. The Addicks skipper headed the ball downward and past Dunn in the Yeovil goal. Double delight. Jackson was once again saluting the travelling support - he embodies the heart and the fighting spirit of this club more than anyone else.
For the first time in a while, we'd taken our chances, and the 2-0 scoreline was a reflection of the effectiveness of our counter-attacking play. Having watched Charlton for a number of years, though, we knew the job wasn't finished.
Yeovil made a double substitution but the impact on the pattern of play was minimal. Charlton were defending slightly deeper down the far end of the pitch, and that obviously causes nerves, but we actually enjoyed our best spell of the match as the hour mark approached. Some good passing football moved the ball up the pitch, and Cousins fired a shot narrowly wide from just outside the area.
Yeovil started to apply the pressure, and having worked an opportunity down the left. The cross from just outside the box was aimed across goal, deflecting off Morrison and into the net past the helpless Alnwick. The home crowd burst into life and and the momentum swung towards the home team.
Kermorgant challenged for a header but was harshly penalised due to the Yeovil player making a meal of it. Inexplicably, he was booked. It was a genuine challenge for the ball which Yann won, but as the defender went to ground he got the decision. From the long ball forward, Charlton failed to deal with a scramble outside the box, and with Miller having turned Dervite, he was brought down, and a penalty awarded. Difficult to tell from a distance but word is that the decision was indisputable. The incident that led up to it wasn't, however.
We never seem to save penalties, and there was no change here. Alnwick dived to right but Miller had drilled his spot-kick high down the middle into the back of the net. 2-2, Huish Park rocking.
Charlton hadn't defended the set piece well, but they still had a chance to win the game. That was until referee Dawson had his say. Hughes and Miller had collided going for a header, with the former lying injured on the floor as a result. The ball rebounded out to the left where Jackson made a strong challenge, winning the ball convincingly. However, the Yeovil player made a meal of it, and as there was a hint of aggression detected by the ref, it was deemed a foul. Whether it was two-footed was debatable. Pawson blew for the foul and gleefully reached for his back pocket, producing a red card. Tackling has increasingly been demonised in football, and Jackson certainly has reason to feel aggrieved.
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| The change in weather reflected the change in fortunes for the Addicks |
Distraught. In the space of ten minutes a comfortable lead had vanished, replaced by a desperation to cling on to a point, and deny Yeovil a vital win. There was a sense of disbelief on the away terrace, with a combination of mistakes and misfortune conspiring to prevent victory.
Yeovil pressed for a winner. A quick break down the left almost saw the home side to break into the box, only for a superbly timed sliding challenge from Wiggins to deny them. Soon after, after a long ball and lots of headed contests, the ball fell to Miller, who seemed to have the goal at his mercy but placed his shot wide of the post.
Charlton held on, with Hughes having replaced Cousins after a knock, Church making way for Solly after the sending off, and Wood replacing Stewart in added time. Dawson added five minutes to try and allow his side to score a winner, but the game was drawn after a late but ultimately futile a track by the Addicks.
The players trudged over to thank the travelling support, who responded with their own applause. There was a feeling of defeat despite the point that had been secured. It took a while to shake off that feeling.
The refereeing performance was terrible. Dawson favoured the home side in the second half especially, with a couple of key decisions going against the Addicks. When will we finally get a good break...
Rhoys Wiggins had a fantastic game, with heroic defending and threatening attacking play down the left. Stephens played well centrally, whilst Church worked his socks off again without being created a clear cut chance. Kermorgant played really well in patches, particularly the early period of the second half, but he couldn't make enough clinical passes in the final third. Alnwick played well, particularly when he threw the ball for Stewart to score the opening goal, and claimed each cross with conviction. Stewart himself was the reason we took a two goal lead into half time.
Tactically, Powell's slant on 4-4-2 worked very well, largely down to the creative spark that Cameron Stewart gives us. He may not be the most consistent player but his importance to our side cannot be overstated. The liveliness of his play combined with the powerful right foot he has makes him a vital component of the side. We somehow need to keep hold of him beyond January.
The performance was once again valiant but the smallest of errors carried the dearest of consequences. Powell will undoubtedly take positives from the way we played, but in not closing out the game we displayed our vulnerability when our backs are against the wall.
It's undeniable that we are in a poor position in this league, but this bunch of players are trying so hard at the moment without getting any reward. Football is a results business, of course, but these players have proven capable of winning games, and with a bit more confidence and that rub of the green, our form will pick up. It's just a matter of sticking with the team through this tough spell and showing our full support for them. It's a two-way process, supporting a football club. Big tests lie ahead, and a lot of work needs to be done, but the players need us to keep backing them.
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Charlton 0-1 Ipswich Town: Addicks' Inconsistency Frustrates
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| The 21st anniversary of the great return to the Valley was not celebrated with on-field success. |
The main differences between today and Tuesday night's win against Doncaster were composure on the ball, accuracy of passing and success down the wings. Ipswich did their job after taking the lead, closing down each Charlton player with haste and forcing mistakes. Morrison and Dervite initially struggled to deal with the loose ball, and a good through ball released McGoldrick in on goal, only to be denied by a great Alnwick save, diving to his left. From the corner, the keeper was forced to make another save from a free header, and then reacted superbly to block a close-range shot. Clearly rattled, Charlton still struggled to settle. Another routine corner was not dealt with, and Smith headed Ipswich in front. From that moment on, it was an exercise in game management for Mick McCarthy's men. For all their efforts, Charlton were not playing much coherent football - a consequence of both Ipswich's high-tempo pressing game and a desertion of composure. The game saw few chances, as Charlton struggled to create down the flanks, whilst long balls forward were easily dealt with by the strong centre-back pairing of Smith and Berra. Frustration was compounded late on, when at last a chance was created, but the referee had failed to play advantage, having blown early to deny Stewart a clear chance on goal. It was not a game worth recounting in any great detail. Instead, it served to highlight a number of issues Charlton are going to have to deal with in order to avoid an unpleasant relegation scrap.
One of the main issues facing this current Charlton side is the lack of goals being scored. 14 scored in 17 games this season shows why wins have been few and far between. Only Yeovil (13) have scored fewer. Ipswich hassled the Addicks well, but that does not entirely explain why the only shot on target was a mis-hit Wiggins cross. Pressed high up the pitch, decisions were rushed and too often we resorted to searching balls over the top for Church to chase on to. With Stewart more suited to cutting inside, and Jackson playing more centrally, we struggle for width - a price worth paying to be more defensively solid. The full-backs are important players given the way Powell sets the team up, but today they struggled for support, and the final ball was often blocked, or just poorly hit. Wiggins didn't have the best of games, whilst Wilson managed a couple of decent crosses without success. The other option available was the long ball - often decried for its predictability and lack of success. Kermorgant was winning the odd header, but was visibly annoyed at times when team-mates failed to make the correct run for the flick on. Similarly, Church struggled to get on the end of the hopeful balls aimed in his direction. The one save Gerken made was when Wiggins got into an advanced position in the box and skewed his cross towards the top corner. Not a prolific afternoon in front of goal.
How do we remedy the lack of goals? The suggestion that Kermorgant is more of a hindrance than a help is odd, given his creativity and strength in the air. Whilst we did resort to too many long balls, this was fuelled by a lack of success in other areas of the pitch. This is symptomatic of the style of play Powell is forced to adopt with the resources he has available. Counter-attacking play is the best method with which to have success, but as was seen last season, this was often to the detriment of home successes. By committing more players to attacking roles, he leaves the defence slightly more exposed, and we probably don't have the individual skill to deal with that imbalance. The game against Doncaster showed that success can be had at home with this style, but the high-tempo pressing game of Ipswich caused innumerable errors. Decision making was rushed, and thus poor. The accuracy of passing fell and the tight control of the ball required deserted Charlton. When usually they can break quickly up the pitch, Ipswich's defensive mentality for much of the game prevented significant counter-attacks. The consequence was a lacklustre performance which left many feeling dejected.
The one chance we did create was after an incompetent refereeing decision, late on when Kermorgant was cynically fouled (again) and an advantage was not played. Sordell's well-timed through ball had released Cameron Stewart clean through on goal for the first time, but to the utter dismay of every Charlton fan, play had been halted. It merely served to make the afternoon's experience an even more painful one.
The long-ball to Yann is an easy option, and rightly it has been pointed out that we resort to it too often. When used well, it is a deadly weapon, as Kermorgant has the ability to rise above defenders and create goal-scoring opportunities. However, when defences work out how to deal with it, which usually involves inhibiting Yann so that he can't leap as successfully, alternative routes to goal need to be used. Kermorgant dropping deep offers a good option as he is a skilled distributor, but the issue today was a lack of space as well as a lack of quality out wide. We struggled to get Stewart in good advanced positions. Jackson is better employed centrally. Without the full-backs charging forward we have little else to offer, especially when the midfield has little time on the ball. What all these deficiencies really point to is a lack of quality player able to change the game.
Our squad is thin, and after two seasons without investment, its lack of evolution is becoming clear. Powell continues to do a great job with the players available, but the lack of depth in quality means he is restricted in his tactical approach. Without the variety, there is no reliable formation set in stone that will guarantee success. The players work hard and often they are rewarded for their graft with victory, but when that extra bit of quality is required to get something from a game, we often fall down.
The potential takeover offers hope, along with fears of a relocation from the Valley. In the short term, though, it could provide the relief needed. There is no doubt that the uncertain contract situation will be affecting various players in different ways from others. Uncertainty breeds doubt, and confidence falls. Whilst today's performance is clearly not all down to the off-field situation, it certainly plays its part. If the purchase of the club does go through, the contract situation needs to be resolved quickly, as it will bring necessary stability. The potential to bring in a couple of quality players, especially in attack, would hopefully bring the impetus we need to increase our goals-per-game ratio. That said, without it we need a more balanced strategy. The searching balls for Church are too often uncusccessful, and without dominance in the air, long-balls to Yann become too much of a lottery. What is missing is composure, conviction and accuracy. When chances do come, we need to be far more clinical, but the lack of opportunities created must be remedied as well. To do that, the midfield needs to be stronger, and the defence must refrain from pumping long-balls forward all the time. Kermorgant and Church received poor service, with the former having to adjust to inaccurate long-balls too often, and the latter chasing numerous lost causes. With accuracy and composure we may have created an opening to level the game.
Credit must be given to Ipswich. It was a classic Mick McCarthy victory, which involved defending the lead from early on with high-tempo pressing up the pitch. His tactics played a massive part in the result. Charlton improved as the game went on, but failed to find the incision required. I never like to hear booing, but the crowd's reaction was one of frustration at full-time, understandable after a game with such limited success. Criticism of Powell overlooks the issue he has with squad depth - his options are extremely limited. He is confident in the eleven men he sends out onto the field, but is not always rewarded with success. He will be as gutted as anyone after the defeat, and will use the pain to motivate a return to form.
The whole afternoon was one that is best forgotten, mainly due to the crippling despair it inflicted on me. Looking ahead, we have the chance to repeat our successes away from home with trips to Reading and Yeovil. The latter is a huge fixture - potentially what pundits love to call a "six pointer". I will simply term it a must-win game. We are struggling - that much is clear to see. Faith in the manager and the squad is required. If investment does come, Powell is exactly the man to use it wisely. Now is not a time to panic. There is plenty of time left in the season, but still clearly a lot of work still to do.
Keep the faith.
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Charlton Athletic 2-0 Doncaster: Three Points, Job Done
Despite the catastrophic public transport failures trying to prevent fans getting to the game, nothing could stop the Addicks securing a vital victory over Doncaster.
Utter chaos at London Bridge made the journey to the ground an absolute nightmare. Instead of the train to Charlton, I was forced to get the DLR, a tube, two buses and then had to run to make kick off. It took about ten minutes for the stress to subside and to settle into watching the game.
The smaller crowd (caused by a combination of public transport incompetence and apathy towards the fixture) meant the Valley struggled to create the intense atmosphere synonymous with a floodlit midweek game. That said, the home side were dominant.
Church had an early chance, controlling a through ball on his chest with only the keeper to beat, but he couldn't repeat his fine finish from the Blackburn game, skewing his shot wide of the left post.
Charlton continued to threaten, largely brought about by the control that Stephens and Cousins were bringing in central midfield. The defence repelled Doncaster's long balls forward with ease, and stood firm when they countered on the floor.
Further chances came and went. Kermorgant found the ball at his feet twelve yards from goal after a good attack down the left and a dummy from Stephens, but his first-time side-footed effort wasn't hit cleanly, and bounced off the post despite many (including myself) thinking it was heading into the net. Soon after, Church tried an acrobatic volley from the edge of the area, which was well hit but soon blocked.
Doncaster struggled to get create chances despite often breaking forward with slick passing football. These forays were too infrequent. When they eventually got the ball to Macheda in the box, he spun and turned like a competent Artur Boruc, before firing over the bar from a tight angle.
As half time approached, Charlton found themselves on the attack once again. Cameron Stewart was playing on the right as Jackson was deployed on the left, but was still a constant threat to the Doncaster defence. His ball into the box rebounded out to Stephens, who twisted in the air to fire an outstanding shot across his body from outside the area. It was struck with such power and dipped viciously, which took it under the bar and into the top left corner. What a strike!
All those chances, yet we'd scored from by far the most difficult.
Only one nil up at half time, but that could easily have been more as Church had missed a couple of great opportunities. Doncaster weren't looking a particularly coherent threat, but there was still work to be done before the three points were secure.
The second half progressed much in the same way as the first, though an element of caution had crept into our play which prevented over-committing in attack. Powell kept with the same formation, but Kermorgant had a deeper role behind Church which added extra defensive protection.
Wilson found himself with the ball near the area on the right, with Stewart overlapping, but a slip from the defender allowed him a clear run into the box. His shot was well parried by Turnbull, and Cousins couldn't get his shot on target from outside the box.
Charlton broke forward again on sixty minutes, Jackson carrying the ball down the left. He slotted a beautiful diagonal pass between the two centre backs to the feet of Church. Clean through on goal, he took the ball into the box, waited for Turnbull to go down and slotted to his left. The ball clipped the post before going in, but the Addicks had doubled their lead! Church looked relieved more than anything, but a smile of delight was visible on his face. Instead of joining in with the celebrations in front of the North-East corner, Yann decided to go and give a short defensive lecture to the back four. What a hero.
Two more chances were created by Stewart, choosing to shoot on both occasions after a sharp cutback onto his right foot. The first was just outside the box, well tipped over the bar by Turnbull, but the second was outrageous. When it looked like he should've passed to set up a better opportunity, he unleashed a dipping thirty yard strike that crashed back of the crossbar. He really has got a fantastic right foot. And I still maintain he should've passed!
Another glorious opportunity to make it 3-0 went begging, as the ball bounced across goal towards Church, twelve yards from goal. His swivelled effort saw him mis-kick horribly, and he just lay on the turf in despair. Turnbull helped him to his feet, probably thinking him for keeping the score down to two nil.
Charlton controlled and the game well, but Macheda had a couple of half chances before the end. One shot was well saved by Alnwick, deputising for Hamer after an injury in the warm up, and another flew over the bar much in the same way his chance in the first half had done.
Church and Jackson were replaced after excellent shifts, although the former probably should've had a hat-trick. Andy Hughes came on to much joy, as did Sordell, who ran a bit before getting bored. Green replaced the excellent Stewart, and promptly fired a shot from wide into the post, though the whistle had gone for offside.
Doncaster had precious little to offer going forward, unable to utilise the assistance of a waterlogged pitch this time round. "3-1, and you f-cked it up" was the rather harsh but amusing view from the North Upper.
Full time was greeted with muted cheers, with the result hardly in doubt from the moment Charlton went two to the good. The players clapped the fans as they went off, with Andy Hughes looking paticularly enthusiastic and inspirational. Chris Powell did his usual and waited to be the last man down the tunnel. The crowd expectantly waited him to re-emerge for his celebratory jump, and he did so having gloriously donned his flat cap. A fine way to end the night.
It was a professional performance by the Addicks, and much needed after a couple of defeats which had checked our momentum. Doncaster were poor, and struggled to have any significant attempts on goal. The Addicks defence restricted them to just the one shot on target. Morrison and Dervite won most of the aerial balls aimed at them, with the two full backs as energetic as ever. Wiggins and Wilson bombing forward is vital to our attacking threat, but they also defended stoutly.
Cousins and Stephens provided the real foundation for the victory. They tackled well, played some excellent short passes between themselves and spread the play going forward. It's great to see a settled duo, especially as it allows Stephens to play in a more advanced position. His passing was particularly good, whilst his goal rivals Cameron Stewart's volley as one of the best we've seen all season.
Stewart was fantastic, a constant threat down the right hand side. He has a tendency to cut onto his right foot a little too often, but Doncaster failed to cope, and he came incredibly close to scoring. He also managed to put a couple of dangerous crosses in, which is more difficult to do when he plays on the left. Jackson's role on the left was more defensive, seeing him tucking inside to provide defensive assistance. His pass to set up Church was exceptional.
Church really must be on the verge of scoring a shed load of goals. He continues to get into great positions and his understanding with Kermorgant is developing nicely. Even though it wasn't his night, he still managed to score. A little too often the defence played long balls over the top to run onto, but again his work rate was outstanding.
Kermorgant showed flashes of his brilliance, with a couple of magnificent and perfectly accurate flick-ons. He was deployed in the deeper centre forward role, meaning he wasn't in the box as often as would be liked, but the defensive duties he carried out made up for that. It was great to see the big Breton back on the field.
Powell got his tactics right, and although the opposition performance was below par, it was a professional job to secure three points as comfortably as Charlton did. The defensive-minded 4-4-2 formation has its limitations in attack, but has provided the side with extremely solid foundations on which they can build on. Another clean sheet and a vital three points will certainly lift the squad after Saturday's narrow loss at QPR. It also shows a steely resilience, as there was no sign of lingering disappointment from the game three days earlier.
For those that could make it, the display was a very encouraging one from a side who've struggled for goals. Ipswich at home on Saturday provides another opportunity to move up the table and build some momentum. Once again Chris Powell has lifted his players to achieve a great result. Here's to more of the same with him at the helm. I doff my flat cap to him.
Up The Addicks!
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| The Addicks ready to defend a free-kick |
The smaller crowd (caused by a combination of public transport incompetence and apathy towards the fixture) meant the Valley struggled to create the intense atmosphere synonymous with a floodlit midweek game. That said, the home side were dominant.
Church had an early chance, controlling a through ball on his chest with only the keeper to beat, but he couldn't repeat his fine finish from the Blackburn game, skewing his shot wide of the left post.
Charlton continued to threaten, largely brought about by the control that Stephens and Cousins were bringing in central midfield. The defence repelled Doncaster's long balls forward with ease, and stood firm when they countered on the floor.
Further chances came and went. Kermorgant found the ball at his feet twelve yards from goal after a good attack down the left and a dummy from Stephens, but his first-time side-footed effort wasn't hit cleanly, and bounced off the post despite many (including myself) thinking it was heading into the net. Soon after, Church tried an acrobatic volley from the edge of the area, which was well hit but soon blocked.
Doncaster struggled to get create chances despite often breaking forward with slick passing football. These forays were too infrequent. When they eventually got the ball to Macheda in the box, he spun and turned like a competent Artur Boruc, before firing over the bar from a tight angle.
As half time approached, Charlton found themselves on the attack once again. Cameron Stewart was playing on the right as Jackson was deployed on the left, but was still a constant threat to the Doncaster defence. His ball into the box rebounded out to Stephens, who twisted in the air to fire an outstanding shot across his body from outside the area. It was struck with such power and dipped viciously, which took it under the bar and into the top left corner. What a strike!
All those chances, yet we'd scored from by far the most difficult.
Only one nil up at half time, but that could easily have been more as Church had missed a couple of great opportunities. Doncaster weren't looking a particularly coherent threat, but there was still work to be done before the three points were secure.
The second half progressed much in the same way as the first, though an element of caution had crept into our play which prevented over-committing in attack. Powell kept with the same formation, but Kermorgant had a deeper role behind Church which added extra defensive protection.
Wilson found himself with the ball near the area on the right, with Stewart overlapping, but a slip from the defender allowed him a clear run into the box. His shot was well parried by Turnbull, and Cousins couldn't get his shot on target from outside the box.
Charlton broke forward again on sixty minutes, Jackson carrying the ball down the left. He slotted a beautiful diagonal pass between the two centre backs to the feet of Church. Clean through on goal, he took the ball into the box, waited for Turnbull to go down and slotted to his left. The ball clipped the post before going in, but the Addicks had doubled their lead! Church looked relieved more than anything, but a smile of delight was visible on his face. Instead of joining in with the celebrations in front of the North-East corner, Yann decided to go and give a short defensive lecture to the back four. What a hero.
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| Church celebrates his goal with team-mates, while Yann offers some instruction to the defence in the background |
Another glorious opportunity to make it 3-0 went begging, as the ball bounced across goal towards Church, twelve yards from goal. His swivelled effort saw him mis-kick horribly, and he just lay on the turf in despair. Turnbull helped him to his feet, probably thinking him for keeping the score down to two nil.
Charlton controlled and the game well, but Macheda had a couple of half chances before the end. One shot was well saved by Alnwick, deputising for Hamer after an injury in the warm up, and another flew over the bar much in the same way his chance in the first half had done.
Church and Jackson were replaced after excellent shifts, although the former probably should've had a hat-trick. Andy Hughes came on to much joy, as did Sordell, who ran a bit before getting bored. Green replaced the excellent Stewart, and promptly fired a shot from wide into the post, though the whistle had gone for offside.
Doncaster had precious little to offer going forward, unable to utilise the assistance of a waterlogged pitch this time round. "3-1, and you f-cked it up" was the rather harsh but amusing view from the North Upper.
Full time was greeted with muted cheers, with the result hardly in doubt from the moment Charlton went two to the good. The players clapped the fans as they went off, with Andy Hughes looking paticularly enthusiastic and inspirational. Chris Powell did his usual and waited to be the last man down the tunnel. The crowd expectantly waited him to re-emerge for his celebratory jump, and he did so having gloriously donned his flat cap. A fine way to end the night.
It was a professional performance by the Addicks, and much needed after a couple of defeats which had checked our momentum. Doncaster were poor, and struggled to have any significant attempts on goal. The Addicks defence restricted them to just the one shot on target. Morrison and Dervite won most of the aerial balls aimed at them, with the two full backs as energetic as ever. Wiggins and Wilson bombing forward is vital to our attacking threat, but they also defended stoutly.
Cousins and Stephens provided the real foundation for the victory. They tackled well, played some excellent short passes between themselves and spread the play going forward. It's great to see a settled duo, especially as it allows Stephens to play in a more advanced position. His passing was particularly good, whilst his goal rivals Cameron Stewart's volley as one of the best we've seen all season.
Stewart was fantastic, a constant threat down the right hand side. He has a tendency to cut onto his right foot a little too often, but Doncaster failed to cope, and he came incredibly close to scoring. He also managed to put a couple of dangerous crosses in, which is more difficult to do when he plays on the left. Jackson's role on the left was more defensive, seeing him tucking inside to provide defensive assistance. His pass to set up Church was exceptional.
Church really must be on the verge of scoring a shed load of goals. He continues to get into great positions and his understanding with Kermorgant is developing nicely. Even though it wasn't his night, he still managed to score. A little too often the defence played long balls over the top to run onto, but again his work rate was outstanding.
Kermorgant showed flashes of his brilliance, with a couple of magnificent and perfectly accurate flick-ons. He was deployed in the deeper centre forward role, meaning he wasn't in the box as often as would be liked, but the defensive duties he carried out made up for that. It was great to see the big Breton back on the field.
Powell got his tactics right, and although the opposition performance was below par, it was a professional job to secure three points as comfortably as Charlton did. The defensive-minded 4-4-2 formation has its limitations in attack, but has provided the side with extremely solid foundations on which they can build on. Another clean sheet and a vital three points will certainly lift the squad after Saturday's narrow loss at QPR. It also shows a steely resilience, as there was no sign of lingering disappointment from the game three days earlier.
For those that could make it, the display was a very encouraging one from a side who've struggled for goals. Ipswich at home on Saturday provides another opportunity to move up the table and build some momentum. Once again Chris Powell has lifted his players to achieve a great result. Here's to more of the same with him at the helm. I doff my flat cap to him.
Up The Addicks!
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Birmingham City 0-1 Charlton Athletic: Addicks pull together to earn deserved win
Whilst the game won't go down in history as a classic, the Addicks produced a whole-hearted and determined team performance to overcome a lacklustre Birmingham. A memorable away day.
Pre-amble:
My trip to St Andrews was an eagerly anticipated one. Looking forward to visiting Birmingham is not a feeling many people in history have experienced,but it promised to be a competitive game. Not only that, but I'd managed to take advantage of having a friend at uni close by, so I could blag some accommodation for the night. Lovely stuff.
The lengthy early morning journey took me on a winding route across the Midlands. From Cambridge to Peterborough, Leicester and Nuneaton, before arriving into Birmingham at 10:40. Far too early. Fortunately though I'd planned on a quick detour to Leamington Spa to drop off my overnight bag and pick up the rented Charlton. Plenty of nostalgic away-day discussion,as is always required on your first trip to a new ground. Given the length of time that I'd been waiting for the day to arrive, I was getting a bit excited.
At Birmingham New Street we spotted a Palace scarf. Of course, West Brom away. They understandably didn't look thrilled at the prospect of watching their side. We ignored them and made for St Andrews.
Thanks to some dodgy initial map reading, we took a detour through what appeared to be an almost entirely abandoned area of Birmingham. The city is a very odd place. It doesn't quite seem to work properly. But after some calculated guesses we stumbled upon the steady stream of fans heading to the game.
As the ground finally came into view, I spotted an inspirational figure. Headphones Norm! He's got something of a cult status, with his skunk hat and attachment to a radio to listen to the scores. Surely this was a good sign...
St Andrews itself was quite a pleasant ground. We'd been allocated one half of the end stand, and were in good voice as kick-off approached. The only downside was that our drum seemed to have been denied entry. The Charlton squad got a rousing reception as they made their way down the tunnel after their warm-ups. Come On You Reds.
The Game:
Neither Richard Wood nor Yann Kermorgant had recovered from the injuries sustained six days earlier against Wigan, so Dorian Dervite and Johnnie Jackson came into the side as replacements. Jackson had been given the role of support striker playing behind Church, but ended up playing more as a midfielder. Cameron Stewart started on the left, with Pritchard retaining his position on the right despite some recent criticism. Cousins and Stephens remained as the central midfield duo, whilst Wilson, Wiggins, Morrison and Hamer completed the team-sheet. Three games without conceding a goal, but given the lack of a Kermorgant on the pitch, creating chances and playing incisive attacking football was going to prove tricky.
The first half began with numerous exchanges of possession, as both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball. Particularly problematic for the Addicks was the lack of an outlet to target up front. A number of hasty long balls were aimed at Church after the midfield struggled to advance up the pitch.
Birmingham were unfortunate not to go in front. Chris Burke had space on the right byline after Charlton failed to clear, and after what looked like a mis-hit cross, Hamer fumbled the catch under pressure from an attacker. The rebound was headed in, but the referee had awarded a free-kick for a foul on the keeper. Soft.
Neither side dominated, but Charlton improved as the half went on, stringing some nice passes together and advancing up the pitch. Most of the longer balls were ineffective and easily dealt with, but the Addicks did manage to fashion a few chances thanks to nervy defensive errors, as well as some good play. A defensive slip saw Church free in space, setting up Jackson who fired wide, and a deflected cross bounced kindly for Jackson again, but he couldn't get enough on his stabbed header and it was well saved by ex-Addick Darren Randolph. Church almost had room to fire a shot from inside the area but was challenged by Burn just before he could pull the trigger. Jackson had a free kick on the left side of the D but hit it comfortably over the bar. Stephens saw the ball aimed towards him inside the box, but he got underneath his volleyed effort and undercut the ball, which spun comfortably for Randolph to save.
Shortly before half time, the danger of the lanky Zigic was made clear. Charlton were having to make a lot of passes, patiently awaiting an opening - Birmingham hoofed a goal kick straight at Zigic, who won the ball and nodded it to Lee Novak. His shot was heading for the bottom right hand corner, but Hamer dived at full stretch to make an excellent save. It was a vital stop.
Few other notable events to report, apart from one magnificent utterance: Having only lost a header, one Addick just growled the words "Fuck off Zigic!" The randomness of it made me laugh, especially given the fairly tame crime committed by the big man. He's not actually that skillful in the air, but just an enormous lump. If Birmingham kept aiming at him, a chance was bound to fall their way. That said, Lee Clark's tactics had been questionable at best. Aside from releasing the dangerous Chris Burke down the right wing on a couple of occasions, there was no coherent game plan.
Charlton had been solid, creating the odd chance and winning most of the aerial balls aimed at Zigic. Pritchard struggled, his touch seeming a little heavy, the usual spark to his play missing. Some called for a sub, but Powell kept faith in his men and returned the same eleven to the pitch for the second half. Jackson and Church were having to work really hard, but their pressuring of the defenders was leading to regular errors.
When that golden opportunity to score presented itself, Charlton had to grab it.
Birmingham were caught high up the pitch, presenting Church with a chance to run at the lone remaining defender. He almost made it past, but was shepherded wide by Bartley after struggling to get the ball out from under his feet.
Charlton attacked again. The lively Cameron Stewart cut in off the left wing and looked to shot low towards the near post. Randolph saved the shot, but only managed to parry it back into the danger area, where Jackson was advancing. The close-range effort was blocked by Randolph, the ball rebounding off a defender across the face of goal towards a wide open Dale Stephens. He coolly side-footed home. GET IN THERE!
The away end erupted. The players flooded over to celebrate. Renditions of all the usual songs followed. The breakthrough was deserved based on the way Charlton had grown into the game.
Despite the goal I still felt that the sheer unpredictability of where the ball falls after a long hoof aimed at Zigic meant there was a chance Birmingham could score, no matter how poor their play had been up to this point. The fears almost became reality when Zigic almost got a shot off, only to be denied by a Morrison challenge. Soon after, Hamer was rounded but Adyemi's effort was cleared off the line. Morrison again the saviour.
Birmingham seemed to have an element of coherence about their approach following the goal, but even their long ball game was disorganised, with Zigic often isolated. Charlton managed to settle the game after the initial panic, and should have had a penalty. Wilson had broken towards the box after some good counter-attacking play, and he was clearly tripped by the defender. Once again the referee baffled us by giving nothing. He was hopeless all day.
The Addicks were able to take advantage of Clark committing more men forward, counter-attacking effectively. Church continued to charge around, even despite a brief injury worry when he was caught in the build up to the earlier goal. He had a chance to shoot after Stewart set him up 10 yards out, but didn't quite have the time to get his effort off cleanly. Church burst down the right, only to find he had insufficient support with him. Soon after, he chased down the ball near the byline, stealing the ball off Caddis and winning a corner. A vigorous and fully deserved rendition of "SIIIIIMON CHURCH! SIMON CHURCH!" followed.
Powell had kept the same men on the pitch, and as the last ten minutes approached, the home side were still struggling to create meaningful chances. However,that feared ricochet following a long ball materialised. Lovenkrands was free 10 yards out, the ball finding its way to him. All he could do was blaze over. Don't panic...
Jackson was withdrawn, but not before he'd been on a 50-yard lung-busting run to force the ball back to Randolph. The retuning skipper's efforts were heartily appreciated by the 855 travelling supporters. Jordan Cook came on to lead the line. Birmingham continued to hoof it long, but their further efforts were repelled.
The whistle went. Game over! A win for the mighty Addicks!
A glorious result, even if it was against a Birmingham side who were largely woeful. That doesn't matter when you've won away from home. The joy is there.
A chorus of "Since I Was Young" boomed out as the players drifted over to show their appreciation. Jackson led the applause, being the superb captain and clubman he is. The chorus kept going. Each and every player was heralded as a hero, and rightly so. The job was done, and everyone was thrilled with the result. Finally the song came to a close, but only because the players had cleared the way for Chris Powell to salute the fans. He really does love this club, and we all love him. He made for the tunnel looking extremely proud and thankful of the support. There was time for two of his tunnel jumps, too. The man is a god amongst men.
I love this club.
Analysis:
Charlton were excellent, but it needs to be pointed out just how poor the home side were. There was no coherent game plan. The midfield pair were largely absent in their influence. Particularly striking was just how badly they coped defensively. Under the high ball there was no conviction. Hopeful balls forward were put out for a throw, instead of being controlled, recycled or given to the keeper. They dithered on the ball occasionally, and lacked the composure to emulate the controlling display of the Addicks' centre back pairing. Morrison and Dervite won most of the aerial contests, controlled the pace of the game with some calm passing, and waited for the right moment to kick the ball long. Wiggins and Wilson were also excellent, contrasting with the Birmingham defence by keeping the ball in play and looking to go forward. Wilson should've had a penalty, whilst Wiggins assisted Stewart well down the left. I've been really impressed with Wilson lately,and he again demonstrated today why he's a valuable member of the side. Solly is missed, mainly because it prevents Wilson playing the more advanced midfield role.
Simon Church, My Lord. It was a heroic effort from him all day, as his isolated role required heart, stamina and bursts of energy. He had plenty of that. It was no accident that his name was chanted the most. He's really developing as a player this season. A fully deserved man-of-the-match reward is on its way in the post.
Jackson's return was long overdue, and his role today required him to be fully fit. He assisted Church in attack, but as the game went on, the bulk of his work was done in midfield. He showed real heart in chasing down the ball late on. It really was Johnnie Jackson running down the wing, at that point. The leadership value he brings to the side cannot be overstated. Well played skip.
Stephens and Cousins again had good games, the former passing the ball well and taking his chance to score, the latter tidying up in the deeper role. He might not play eye-catching football, but Cousins is another who has developed since coming into the side.
Pritchard was far better in the second half. His confidence was lacking in the first half, but Powell kept faith in him and was rewarded with a stronger performance. He's attracted much criticism lately, and whilst I admit he does make errors going forward, the defensive job he does is important. He showed his value in that regard after half time. The narrowness in defence is a reason we aren't often overrun centrally, and Pritchard is important in that regard.
Despite the absence of Kermorgant for both games, that's two away wins in a row. I can't help but think that Yann would've torn Birmingham apart today, such was the space available. He is definitely missed in attack, but the past run of results has been made possible by the defence. Around seven and a half hours without conceding is a phenomenal effort. Chris Powell deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround, but so do the defenders themselves, as well as Ben Hamer. Morrison is really leading the back line well, and although Wood was missing after some excellent performances, Dervite came in and did a fantastic job as well. The role of Cousins in front of the back four has also helped, as there's less exposure to onrushing midfielders thanks to the protection he offers.
17th in the table is by no means a relaxing position, but all the positive signs are there. With Yann back we will be a stronger side in attack, but no weaker in defence given his aerial ability. Powell has had to cope with a complete absence of investment, but he has stitched together a side and given them the confidence to win matches. Every time we suffer a bad run, he turns things around. Powell's value to this club is enormous. Each and every fan let him know as much after full time.
Any away win is special. Birmingham were poor, but Charlton were far better in the second half and deservedly took the three points.
Post-game:
Despite the driving rain and chilling wind, the walk back to the station was a happy one. I could've walked all the way home after a day like that. A Birmingham fan kindly offered us congratulations. Wolves fans provided interesting conversation on the train to Leamington. And I had to suppress a chuckle whenever I spotted a Palace fan.
A lovely portion of pie and chips (proper food) was consumed and we settled down at my night's accommodation to watch Match of the Day, and later the 20-seconds we were afforded on the Football League Show. We worked out that Steve Claridge had played for 23 different clubs in his lengthy career, and much laughter ensued when Manish introduced Birmingham as "One of your old clubs, Steve." Further laughter was had at the idea of Claridge not celebrating a goal against his former club - he'd never be able to celebrate at all.
It was a thoroughly entertaining trip. I always enjoy visiting a new ground. The sense of adventure, combined with seeing your beloved team play, makes it fantastic. A win makes it even better.
The lengthy Sunday return journey has allowed me to type all this up, and despite the near-four hour time I'm sitting on these bloody trains, I'm quite content. Reliving the game is a great way to pass the time. Dreaming of what the future holds is part of it too. The camaraderie, the loyalty through good times and bad, the anticipation, and of course the raw passion of the match itself - that's what football is all about. Enduring the bad times means enjoyment of the good is far more satisfying. A fantastic weekend.
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Looking back, this was the first time I'd seen us win (in the league) this season. I missed the Leicester home game and couldn't make Blackburn. Don't usually have to wait until November to witness that moment!
Pre-amble:
My trip to St Andrews was an eagerly anticipated one. Looking forward to visiting Birmingham is not a feeling many people in history have experienced,but it promised to be a competitive game. Not only that, but I'd managed to take advantage of having a friend at uni close by, so I could blag some accommodation for the night. Lovely stuff.
The lengthy early morning journey took me on a winding route across the Midlands. From Cambridge to Peterborough, Leicester and Nuneaton, before arriving into Birmingham at 10:40. Far too early. Fortunately though I'd planned on a quick detour to Leamington Spa to drop off my overnight bag and pick up the rented Charlton. Plenty of nostalgic away-day discussion,as is always required on your first trip to a new ground. Given the length of time that I'd been waiting for the day to arrive, I was getting a bit excited.
At Birmingham New Street we spotted a Palace scarf. Of course, West Brom away. They understandably didn't look thrilled at the prospect of watching their side. We ignored them and made for St Andrews.
Thanks to some dodgy initial map reading, we took a detour through what appeared to be an almost entirely abandoned area of Birmingham. The city is a very odd place. It doesn't quite seem to work properly. But after some calculated guesses we stumbled upon the steady stream of fans heading to the game.
As the ground finally came into view, I spotted an inspirational figure. Headphones Norm! He's got something of a cult status, with his skunk hat and attachment to a radio to listen to the scores. Surely this was a good sign...
St Andrews itself was quite a pleasant ground. We'd been allocated one half of the end stand, and were in good voice as kick-off approached. The only downside was that our drum seemed to have been denied entry. The Charlton squad got a rousing reception as they made their way down the tunnel after their warm-ups. Come On You Reds.
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| St Andrews at kick-off, before the rain arrived |
The Game:
Neither Richard Wood nor Yann Kermorgant had recovered from the injuries sustained six days earlier against Wigan, so Dorian Dervite and Johnnie Jackson came into the side as replacements. Jackson had been given the role of support striker playing behind Church, but ended up playing more as a midfielder. Cameron Stewart started on the left, with Pritchard retaining his position on the right despite some recent criticism. Cousins and Stephens remained as the central midfield duo, whilst Wilson, Wiggins, Morrison and Hamer completed the team-sheet. Three games without conceding a goal, but given the lack of a Kermorgant on the pitch, creating chances and playing incisive attacking football was going to prove tricky.
The first half began with numerous exchanges of possession, as both sides struggled to keep hold of the ball. Particularly problematic for the Addicks was the lack of an outlet to target up front. A number of hasty long balls were aimed at Church after the midfield struggled to advance up the pitch.
Birmingham were unfortunate not to go in front. Chris Burke had space on the right byline after Charlton failed to clear, and after what looked like a mis-hit cross, Hamer fumbled the catch under pressure from an attacker. The rebound was headed in, but the referee had awarded a free-kick for a foul on the keeper. Soft.
Neither side dominated, but Charlton improved as the half went on, stringing some nice passes together and advancing up the pitch. Most of the longer balls were ineffective and easily dealt with, but the Addicks did manage to fashion a few chances thanks to nervy defensive errors, as well as some good play. A defensive slip saw Church free in space, setting up Jackson who fired wide, and a deflected cross bounced kindly for Jackson again, but he couldn't get enough on his stabbed header and it was well saved by ex-Addick Darren Randolph. Church almost had room to fire a shot from inside the area but was challenged by Burn just before he could pull the trigger. Jackson had a free kick on the left side of the D but hit it comfortably over the bar. Stephens saw the ball aimed towards him inside the box, but he got underneath his volleyed effort and undercut the ball, which spun comfortably for Randolph to save.
Shortly before half time, the danger of the lanky Zigic was made clear. Charlton were having to make a lot of passes, patiently awaiting an opening - Birmingham hoofed a goal kick straight at Zigic, who won the ball and nodded it to Lee Novak. His shot was heading for the bottom right hand corner, but Hamer dived at full stretch to make an excellent save. It was a vital stop.
Few other notable events to report, apart from one magnificent utterance: Having only lost a header, one Addick just growled the words "Fuck off Zigic!" The randomness of it made me laugh, especially given the fairly tame crime committed by the big man. He's not actually that skillful in the air, but just an enormous lump. If Birmingham kept aiming at him, a chance was bound to fall their way. That said, Lee Clark's tactics had been questionable at best. Aside from releasing the dangerous Chris Burke down the right wing on a couple of occasions, there was no coherent game plan.
Charlton had been solid, creating the odd chance and winning most of the aerial balls aimed at Zigic. Pritchard struggled, his touch seeming a little heavy, the usual spark to his play missing. Some called for a sub, but Powell kept faith in his men and returned the same eleven to the pitch for the second half. Jackson and Church were having to work really hard, but their pressuring of the defenders was leading to regular errors.
When that golden opportunity to score presented itself, Charlton had to grab it.
Birmingham were caught high up the pitch, presenting Church with a chance to run at the lone remaining defender. He almost made it past, but was shepherded wide by Bartley after struggling to get the ball out from under his feet.
Charlton attacked again. The lively Cameron Stewart cut in off the left wing and looked to shot low towards the near post. Randolph saved the shot, but only managed to parry it back into the danger area, where Jackson was advancing. The close-range effort was blocked by Randolph, the ball rebounding off a defender across the face of goal towards a wide open Dale Stephens. He coolly side-footed home. GET IN THERE!
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| Stephens and Jackson celebrate |
The away end erupted. The players flooded over to celebrate. Renditions of all the usual songs followed. The breakthrough was deserved based on the way Charlton had grown into the game.
Despite the goal I still felt that the sheer unpredictability of where the ball falls after a long hoof aimed at Zigic meant there was a chance Birmingham could score, no matter how poor their play had been up to this point. The fears almost became reality when Zigic almost got a shot off, only to be denied by a Morrison challenge. Soon after, Hamer was rounded but Adyemi's effort was cleared off the line. Morrison again the saviour.
Birmingham seemed to have an element of coherence about their approach following the goal, but even their long ball game was disorganised, with Zigic often isolated. Charlton managed to settle the game after the initial panic, and should have had a penalty. Wilson had broken towards the box after some good counter-attacking play, and he was clearly tripped by the defender. Once again the referee baffled us by giving nothing. He was hopeless all day.
The Addicks were able to take advantage of Clark committing more men forward, counter-attacking effectively. Church continued to charge around, even despite a brief injury worry when he was caught in the build up to the earlier goal. He had a chance to shoot after Stewart set him up 10 yards out, but didn't quite have the time to get his effort off cleanly. Church burst down the right, only to find he had insufficient support with him. Soon after, he chased down the ball near the byline, stealing the ball off Caddis and winning a corner. A vigorous and fully deserved rendition of "SIIIIIMON CHURCH! SIMON CHURCH!" followed.
Powell had kept the same men on the pitch, and as the last ten minutes approached, the home side were still struggling to create meaningful chances. However,that feared ricochet following a long ball materialised. Lovenkrands was free 10 yards out, the ball finding its way to him. All he could do was blaze over. Don't panic...
Jackson was withdrawn, but not before he'd been on a 50-yard lung-busting run to force the ball back to Randolph. The retuning skipper's efforts were heartily appreciated by the 855 travelling supporters. Jordan Cook came on to lead the line. Birmingham continued to hoof it long, but their further efforts were repelled.
The whistle went. Game over! A win for the mighty Addicks!
A glorious result, even if it was against a Birmingham side who were largely woeful. That doesn't matter when you've won away from home. The joy is there.
A chorus of "Since I Was Young" boomed out as the players drifted over to show their appreciation. Jackson led the applause, being the superb captain and clubman he is. The chorus kept going. Each and every player was heralded as a hero, and rightly so. The job was done, and everyone was thrilled with the result. Finally the song came to a close, but only because the players had cleared the way for Chris Powell to salute the fans. He really does love this club, and we all love him. He made for the tunnel looking extremely proud and thankful of the support. There was time for two of his tunnel jumps, too. The man is a god amongst men.
I love this club.
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| The players thank the jubilant away following |
Analysis:
Charlton were excellent, but it needs to be pointed out just how poor the home side were. There was no coherent game plan. The midfield pair were largely absent in their influence. Particularly striking was just how badly they coped defensively. Under the high ball there was no conviction. Hopeful balls forward were put out for a throw, instead of being controlled, recycled or given to the keeper. They dithered on the ball occasionally, and lacked the composure to emulate the controlling display of the Addicks' centre back pairing. Morrison and Dervite won most of the aerial contests, controlled the pace of the game with some calm passing, and waited for the right moment to kick the ball long. Wiggins and Wilson were also excellent, contrasting with the Birmingham defence by keeping the ball in play and looking to go forward. Wilson should've had a penalty, whilst Wiggins assisted Stewart well down the left. I've been really impressed with Wilson lately,and he again demonstrated today why he's a valuable member of the side. Solly is missed, mainly because it prevents Wilson playing the more advanced midfield role.
Simon Church, My Lord. It was a heroic effort from him all day, as his isolated role required heart, stamina and bursts of energy. He had plenty of that. It was no accident that his name was chanted the most. He's really developing as a player this season. A fully deserved man-of-the-match reward is on its way in the post.
Jackson's return was long overdue, and his role today required him to be fully fit. He assisted Church in attack, but as the game went on, the bulk of his work was done in midfield. He showed real heart in chasing down the ball late on. It really was Johnnie Jackson running down the wing, at that point. The leadership value he brings to the side cannot be overstated. Well played skip.
Stephens and Cousins again had good games, the former passing the ball well and taking his chance to score, the latter tidying up in the deeper role. He might not play eye-catching football, but Cousins is another who has developed since coming into the side.
Pritchard was far better in the second half. His confidence was lacking in the first half, but Powell kept faith in him and was rewarded with a stronger performance. He's attracted much criticism lately, and whilst I admit he does make errors going forward, the defensive job he does is important. He showed his value in that regard after half time. The narrowness in defence is a reason we aren't often overrun centrally, and Pritchard is important in that regard.
Despite the absence of Kermorgant for both games, that's two away wins in a row. I can't help but think that Yann would've torn Birmingham apart today, such was the space available. He is definitely missed in attack, but the past run of results has been made possible by the defence. Around seven and a half hours without conceding is a phenomenal effort. Chris Powell deserves a lot of credit for the turnaround, but so do the defenders themselves, as well as Ben Hamer. Morrison is really leading the back line well, and although Wood was missing after some excellent performances, Dervite came in and did a fantastic job as well. The role of Cousins in front of the back four has also helped, as there's less exposure to onrushing midfielders thanks to the protection he offers.
17th in the table is by no means a relaxing position, but all the positive signs are there. With Yann back we will be a stronger side in attack, but no weaker in defence given his aerial ability. Powell has had to cope with a complete absence of investment, but he has stitched together a side and given them the confidence to win matches. Every time we suffer a bad run, he turns things around. Powell's value to this club is enormous. Each and every fan let him know as much after full time.
Any away win is special. Birmingham were poor, but Charlton were far better in the second half and deservedly took the three points.
Post-game:
Despite the driving rain and chilling wind, the walk back to the station was a happy one. I could've walked all the way home after a day like that. A Birmingham fan kindly offered us congratulations. Wolves fans provided interesting conversation on the train to Leamington. And I had to suppress a chuckle whenever I spotted a Palace fan.
A lovely portion of pie and chips (proper food) was consumed and we settled down at my night's accommodation to watch Match of the Day, and later the 20-seconds we were afforded on the Football League Show. We worked out that Steve Claridge had played for 23 different clubs in his lengthy career, and much laughter ensued when Manish introduced Birmingham as "One of your old clubs, Steve." Further laughter was had at the idea of Claridge not celebrating a goal against his former club - he'd never be able to celebrate at all.
It was a thoroughly entertaining trip. I always enjoy visiting a new ground. The sense of adventure, combined with seeing your beloved team play, makes it fantastic. A win makes it even better.
The lengthy Sunday return journey has allowed me to type all this up, and despite the near-four hour time I'm sitting on these bloody trains, I'm quite content. Reliving the game is a great way to pass the time. Dreaming of what the future holds is part of it too. The camaraderie, the loyalty through good times and bad, the anticipation, and of course the raw passion of the match itself - that's what football is all about. Enduring the bad times means enjoyment of the good is far more satisfying. A fantastic weekend.
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Looking back, this was the first time I'd seen us win (in the league) this season. I missed the Leicester home game and couldn't make Blackburn. Don't usually have to wait until November to witness that moment!
Great video of the Charlton goal, and ensuing celebration of the players and the entire away end.
Also, this is a fantastic watch: The away end after the final whistle.
Saturday, 12 October 2013
League One Revisited: Stevenage 2-1 Brentford
There are a vast number of reasons that I'd rather Charlton were in the Championship as opposed to League One, but there is one particular drawback we have to endure.
The Preamble:
International weekends have always been difficult to cope with. Not only are fans of the top two leagues deprived of their three o'clock kick offs, but there's no Super Sunday to watch either. League One downwards does not suffer this inconvenience, and as a result, the flow of the season is not disrupted.
Waking up this morning I realised that I had an entire day of boredom at uni awaiting. No sport to watch, or play, and not even international fixtures to watch given the recent change which has moved games to Friday evenings. I decided to trawl through the BBC fixture list and find the closest game to Cambridge that I could find. The U's were away to Chester, so a trip to the Abbey had already been ruled out. There was little else given the second FA Cup qualifying round was taking place, but the Stevenage v Brentford fixture stood out. It was on the way to London, so not too far to travel. Entry to the ground was also quite reasonably priced. And so it was decided. Broadhall Way beckoned.
After a fairly lengthy walk from the station, Broadhall Way came into view, though it's called the Lamex Stadium these days. Quite a small and compact ground, it was fairly modern and smart. After a quick visit to the shop to buy a programme and a pin, I chose the East Terrace as my stand of choice. I took up a position close to the edge of the penalty area and waited for the start.
A quick glance at the programme revealed some interesting phraseology used by Graham Westley. He was apparently very pleased with his side's "attacking display of both football and defending." Attacking defending is one of his more interesting concepts.
The Match:
Stevenage were struggling at the foot of the table, with just one win all season and one point from five home games. François Zoko had been snapped up by Borough following his release by Notts County in August, and an impressive display in midweek had the terrace murmuring with slight optimism. Brentford, meanwhile, were stuttering in mid-table, hoping for a win to reinvigorate their playoff push. They had former Addick David Button in goal, as well as the one and only Alan McCormack, who somehow has managed to become captain. They also had former Birmingham defender Martin Taylor at the back - still a towering presence - in an attempt to disrupt Stevenage's long-ball style.
The mood on the terrace was a happy one, but that didn't halt the cries of many aimed at the linesman. His lack of offside decisions led many to turn on him, such that he was informed his next game would be in the Sunday league. Encouragement for the home side continued to be dealt out.
Tempers flared as half time approached, with what appeared to be a strong body check by Douglas going unpunished, a cynical challenge by Diagouraga receiving yellow. Donaldson had another chance from an angle after a through ball released him, but Day dived superbly to tip the effort past the far post.
The second half is not one that will go down in history for its quality. It quickly became evident that Westley would defend his side's lead, and sparingly commit players forward on the counter. Jones and Ashton at the heart of the Borough defence were immense, winning everything in the air. The intense pressure that the Stevenage midfield put Brentford under when they had the ball forced them to look for the long ball, with limited success.
A couple of times Stevenage felt it necessary to commit fouls to break up Brentford's attacks. Amidst the loud mutterings of discontent after the ref awarded one of these free kicks came a loud shout of "DON'T PANIC" from further down the terrace. A glorious line. As with most of the away side's efforts, the cross came to nothing.
One ball forward did find its way to Donaldson in a threatening area. He managed to round the keeper but the resulting angle was too acute, and the effort crashed into the side netting.
Donaldson had gone ground too easily on a couple of occasions earlier in the game. When back defending in front of our section of terrace, one inspired shout came from the stand - "Why are you still on your feet Donaldson! I can't do justice to the frequency and quality of the heckling, but I doubt I've witnessed a finer terrace display before.
The Preamble:
International weekends have always been difficult to cope with. Not only are fans of the top two leagues deprived of their three o'clock kick offs, but there's no Super Sunday to watch either. League One downwards does not suffer this inconvenience, and as a result, the flow of the season is not disrupted.
Waking up this morning I realised that I had an entire day of boredom at uni awaiting. No sport to watch, or play, and not even international fixtures to watch given the recent change which has moved games to Friday evenings. I decided to trawl through the BBC fixture list and find the closest game to Cambridge that I could find. The U's were away to Chester, so a trip to the Abbey had already been ruled out. There was little else given the second FA Cup qualifying round was taking place, but the Stevenage v Brentford fixture stood out. It was on the way to London, so not too far to travel. Entry to the ground was also quite reasonably priced. And so it was decided. Broadhall Way beckoned.
It's quite an interesting experience to plunge yourself into a completely different footballing environment for an afternoon. Non-league games at Bromley do have that element of familiarity to them, despite my rare attendances. Stevenage, however, was completely new.
It had only ever been a town that had flashed by whilst on the train back to London, as well as the place that Charlton lost their first game in the 2011/12 promotion season. Now I felt like I ought to develop some sort of attachment to its football club. That proved a tricky task, given the functional, long-ball nature of Graham Westley's side, but I decided to stand on the home terrace nonetheless. (Price was the determining factor...)
Not even the monumental shambles that First Capital Connect had managed to create could stop me making the journey. The somewhat irrational desire to watch whatever football I could find had taken hold. The train south was delayed by a calamitous signal failure at Finsbury Park, and everyone was packed in like sardines. But I was going to watch some football, so I didn't really care.
It's quite hard to explain why you have such an attachment to a sport. On the surface at least, football appears to be an incredibly simple game, yet there's something about how it manages to become such an important factor in people's lives. The loyalty, the highs and lows, the friendship and the banter all seem to play a part in creating an atmosphere. It's easy to pick teams you like by watching them on the tele, but by investing time into a side you discover far more. Behind the simple desire to watch a game of football and avoid a dull afternoon was a wish to experience a whole new footballing environment. Looking back, I'm glad I went.
It had only ever been a town that had flashed by whilst on the train back to London, as well as the place that Charlton lost their first game in the 2011/12 promotion season. Now I felt like I ought to develop some sort of attachment to its football club. That proved a tricky task, given the functional, long-ball nature of Graham Westley's side, but I decided to stand on the home terrace nonetheless. (Price was the determining factor...)
Not even the monumental shambles that First Capital Connect had managed to create could stop me making the journey. The somewhat irrational desire to watch whatever football I could find had taken hold. The train south was delayed by a calamitous signal failure at Finsbury Park, and everyone was packed in like sardines. But I was going to watch some football, so I didn't really care.
It's quite hard to explain why you have such an attachment to a sport. On the surface at least, football appears to be an incredibly simple game, yet there's something about how it manages to become such an important factor in people's lives. The loyalty, the highs and lows, the friendship and the banter all seem to play a part in creating an atmosphere. It's easy to pick teams you like by watching them on the tele, but by investing time into a side you discover far more. Behind the simple desire to watch a game of football and avoid a dull afternoon was a wish to experience a whole new footballing environment. Looking back, I'm glad I went.
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| A moody backdrop as a fan tries to read the word 'Stevenage' |
After a fairly lengthy walk from the station, Broadhall Way came into view, though it's called the Lamex Stadium these days. Quite a small and compact ground, it was fairly modern and smart. After a quick visit to the shop to buy a programme and a pin, I chose the East Terrace as my stand of choice. I took up a position close to the edge of the penalty area and waited for the start.
A quick glance at the programme revealed some interesting phraseology used by Graham Westley. He was apparently very pleased with his side's "attacking display of both football and defending." Attacking defending is one of his more interesting concepts.
The Match:
Stevenage were struggling at the foot of the table, with just one win all season and one point from five home games. François Zoko had been snapped up by Borough following his release by Notts County in August, and an impressive display in midweek had the terrace murmuring with slight optimism. Brentford, meanwhile, were stuttering in mid-table, hoping for a win to reinvigorate their playoff push. They had former Addick David Button in goal, as well as the one and only Alan McCormack, who somehow has managed to become captain. They also had former Birmingham defender Martin Taylor at the back - still a towering presence - in an attempt to disrupt Stevenage's long-ball style.
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| Home fans await the start of the game, as Brentford warm-up |
Brentford started brightly, whilst the home side were struggling badly. Within two minutes Donaldson had been played in by a simple through ball, wrong footing the entire back four, but a good save from Day denied him. The rebound eventually fell to McCormack who shot tamely at the keeper.
Another half chance for the Bees was soon followed by a deserved opening goal. A simple through ball caught out the left back, and Douglas chipped niftily over the keeper towards the far post, where Donaldson bundled the ball home into an empty net.
Stevenage looked bereft of incision, with Burrow up front struggling to lay the ball off for Zoko. But out of nowhere the home side were level. A number of the crowd, including myself, had allowed their attention to drift from the ball, given it was with Button in the Brentford goal. The keeper realised he was under pressure, and tried to trick past the advancing Zoko. He tackled the keeper, with the ball going straight into the back of the net. Everyone was stunned! Just the eight goal that Stevenage have scored this season, and comfortably the strangest.
Westley's side grew into the game, hassling Brentford much more effectively, which broke up their passing game and forced them to aim down field for Donaldson. Soon came a third goal. A Stevenage corner was partially cleared, but the ensuing cross was poorly dealt with, and after a scuffed shot was saved, the ball fell again to Zoko, who hit his shot down into the turf so that it bounced up into the top of the net. Joy for Borough!
Another half chance for the Bees was soon followed by a deserved opening goal. A simple through ball caught out the left back, and Douglas chipped niftily over the keeper towards the far post, where Donaldson bundled the ball home into an empty net.
Stevenage looked bereft of incision, with Burrow up front struggling to lay the ball off for Zoko. But out of nowhere the home side were level. A number of the crowd, including myself, had allowed their attention to drift from the ball, given it was with Button in the Brentford goal. The keeper realised he was under pressure, and tried to trick past the advancing Zoko. He tackled the keeper, with the ball going straight into the back of the net. Everyone was stunned! Just the eight goal that Stevenage have scored this season, and comfortably the strangest.
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| A Brentford set-piece |
The mood on the terrace was a happy one, but that didn't halt the cries of many aimed at the linesman. His lack of offside decisions led many to turn on him, such that he was informed his next game would be in the Sunday league. Encouragement for the home side continued to be dealt out.
Tempers flared as half time approached, with what appeared to be a strong body check by Douglas going unpunished, a cynical challenge by Diagouraga receiving yellow. Donaldson had another chance from an angle after a through ball released him, but Day dived superbly to tip the effort past the far post.
The second half is not one that will go down in history for its quality. It quickly became evident that Westley would defend his side's lead, and sparingly commit players forward on the counter. Jones and Ashton at the heart of the Borough defence were immense, winning everything in the air. The intense pressure that the Stevenage midfield put Brentford under when they had the ball forced them to look for the long ball, with limited success.
A couple of times Stevenage felt it necessary to commit fouls to break up Brentford's attacks. Amidst the loud mutterings of discontent after the ref awarded one of these free kicks came a loud shout of "DON'T PANIC" from further down the terrace. A glorious line. As with most of the away side's efforts, the cross came to nothing.
One ball forward did find its way to Donaldson in a threatening area. He managed to round the keeper but the resulting angle was too acute, and the effort crashed into the side netting.
Donaldson had gone ground too easily on a couple of occasions earlier in the game. When back defending in front of our section of terrace, one inspired shout came from the stand - "Why are you still on your feet Donaldson! I can't do justice to the frequency and quality of the heckling, but I doubt I've witnessed a finer terrace display before.
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| McCormack challenged |
My personal highlight of the half came when a good shooting chance fell to Alan McCormack. He got under the ball and cleared the stadium's roof. It was one of eight balls lost during the game, and led to some amusingly rude chants aimed in his direction. I rather enjoyed that.
Westley's men closed out the game successfully. The result seemed fairly inevitable, but clearly that's not the case when you consider their home form this season. That said, Stevenage were imperious when dealing with the long ball, and also time-wasted relentlessly. Whilst I can never really accept this practice, it was clear why Westley felt it useful.
Westley's men closed out the game successfully. The result seemed fairly inevitable, but clearly that's not the case when you consider their home form this season. That said, Stevenage were imperious when dealing with the long ball, and also time-wasted relentlessly. Whilst I can never really accept this practice, it was clear why Westley felt it useful.
The crowd erupted when the final whistle went - the referee never really got to grips with the time-wasting, and the frustration of the away fans had turned to apathy, with many filing out before the end. A first home win of the season for Westley's men, who came over to the core support of the East Terrace to show there appreciation. It was a big mutual love-in, with Westley looking pumped up and overjoyed. He might come across as a bit of a clown, but it was evident that he had built a very good team spirit. He creates a siege mentality which has found success at Borough. The players did a warm-down, which appeared to be a lap of honour, but the crowd were heading home happy by that stage.
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| Stevenage applaud the home support after the full-time whistle |
Uwe Rosler spoke afterwards of individual errors costing Brentford dearly, and he was right. They had the chances to win the game, and without the alarming error from Button at 0-1, they would have been good value for a draw. He is said to have locked his side in the dressing room for an hour and a half post-match to undergo a frank review of where they are at as a team. Understandable, given the way the game went for them. But as a few years in League One demonstrated to me, its not about what you deserve, but what you achieve. Its a physical league where results have to be ground out, however ugly. This was what Charlton did so well towards the back end of their promotion season, when teams were less willing to attack them. Broadhall Way is a very tough place to get a result, given the way Stevenage play their football, and it proved especially frustrating for Brentford today, who instead of taking three points home with them, had to endure long-ball tactics and time-wasting before eventually falling to defeat.
The Summary:
The addiction to football may seem tragic from a distance, but my trip into the unknown today was one I would thoroughly recommend. Stevenage is by no means the nicest town you'll ever see, but its more the unearthing of a new footballing environment that provides the value. You find yourself far less cynical than you would watching your own side, as you aren't as consumed by the desire for victory. You also discover a new set of players, as well as legends of the terraces.
Most importantly, though, you get your fix of football for the weekend. It might not be the most high-quality 90 minutes you'll witness all season, but the whole package is one that most would find enjoyable. Even with the style of play employed by Stevenage, I'd happily return for more. But not instead of seeing the Addicks, of course...
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Revitalised Addicks Desperately Close to a Deserved Win
Charlton Athletic 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Following a difficult start to the season, and particular hardship in the last two games, Charlton rallied to produce a sensational performance which fell agonisingly short of victory.
Forced into more changes to his team, the initial feeling was one of worry. It was going to take a spirited effort to get a result against what looked like a strong visiting Forest side. Bradley Pritchard was out following concussion on Saturday. Kermorgant wasn't deemed fit enough to make the squad, and neither was Jackson. With Cort and Solly still absent, Powell was once again forced to experiment tactically with the players available. Hamer remained in goal, whilst Richard Wood was preferred to Dorian Dervite at the heart of defence. Powell went with a central midfield trio of Cousins, Stephens and Gower, with Callum Harriott deployed behind the strike pairing of Church and Sordell.
Following a difficult start to the season, and particular hardship in the last two games, Charlton rallied to produce a sensational performance which fell agonisingly short of victory.
Forced into more changes to his team, the initial feeling was one of worry. It was going to take a spirited effort to get a result against what looked like a strong visiting Forest side. Bradley Pritchard was out following concussion on Saturday. Kermorgant wasn't deemed fit enough to make the squad, and neither was Jackson. With Cort and Solly still absent, Powell was once again forced to experiment tactically with the players available. Hamer remained in goal, whilst Richard Wood was preferred to Dorian Dervite at the heart of defence. Powell went with a central midfield trio of Cousins, Stephens and Gower, with Callum Harriott deployed behind the strike pairing of Church and Sordell.
The Match
The atmosphere built superbly, with a chorus of 'Chrissy Powell's Red Army' ringing around the ground. But the game got off to the worst possible start. Cousins was deemed to have made a very soft foul wide on the right, level with the 18 yard line. Andy Reid swung the kick in towards the far post, lobbing Hamer, kissing the post and landing in the back of the net. It was typical of our lack of fortune of late.
The atmosphere built superbly, with a chorus of 'Chrissy Powell's Red Army' ringing around the ground. But the game got off to the worst possible start. Cousins was deemed to have made a very soft foul wide on the right, level with the 18 yard line. Andy Reid swung the kick in towards the far post, lobbing Hamer, kissing the post and landing in the back of the net. It was typical of our lack of fortune of late.
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| Ben Hamer stares aghast as Reid's free-kick goes in off the post |
Despite the setback, the home crowd remained positive and noisy, continuing to back the team and refuse to give in to the negative minority that has been vocal recently. And despite the goal, the Addicks looked hungry, their spirit unwavering. They created a number of chances, many of which could (and probably should) have been taken: Wiggins crossed for Church, a deflection making the flight of the ball more favourable, but his header was weak and the ball cleared. Similarly, Sordell was on the end of a Harriott cross but couldn't score. Then followed an agonising quadruple-chance: Stephens shot from range but the keeper could only parry. A couple of scuffed Sordell efforts were blocked before the ball fell perfectly to Stephens at an angle about 10 yards out. He went for power but blazed the shot well over the bar.
Forest were clinging on, but almost doubled their lead following some very fortunate ricochets that almost took the ball into the net. Wood headed clear but only to Mackie, who stumbled into the box and had his low shot well saved. The ball bounced up into Wilson's chest and was heading in, but he managed to chase it and avert the danger with a clinical left footed clearance.
Half-time arrived, with the Addicks applauded off the field. The home side had been by far the superior team, but when you're struggling for points things don't always fall your way. The early goal could well have punctured the spirit and belief of Charlton, but they had admirably fought back, and were unlucky not to have at least been level.
Little changed after half time, with Charlton still creating chances and the home crowd continuing to be very vocal in their support.
After some clever interplay, Harriott was released into the area with a chance to shoot. The defender just got a boot to it, forcing the ball across the face of goal. Sordell slid but couldn't reach it. The ball ran towards Wilson in acres of space near the byline. Sordell was quick to his feet and free. Wilson swept in a low cross, and the striker turned the ball into the net with a clinical and powerful side footed strike.
The goal had been a very long time coming, and was nothing less than the home side deserved. Sordell was joyous, running over towards a leaping Wilson and sliding toward the North-East corner. The crowd had erupted - each chance had built the pressure and it was finally released in one explosion of ecstasy. For five full minutes the Covered End was so loud that you couldn't hear yourself think. The spirit of Cardiff rekindled.
Spurred on by the phenomenal home support, Charlton almost stole a second. Church applied the pressure out wide left, forcing a hasty clearance which bounced off Mark Gower into the path of Sordell in the area. Stephens was making the perfect run into the 18 yard box to be fed the ball, but Sordell - now brimming with confidence - turned and shot with his left foot, but couldn't beat the keeper.
Billy Davies was forced into a double change, and ordered his side to calm the game down, as they had been startled by the tempo and noise in the early stages of the second half. He succeeded to an extent, as Andy Reid had an opening but stabbed his shot over.
The home crowd began to waver, suddenly filled with nerves. But still Charlton created chances. A Harriott cross was almost turned in at the back post by Richard Wood, who stretched but couldn't reach the ball. Forest hit back, with Mackie's back heeled effort at the other end soon after was well saved by Ben Hamer.
Sordell was clearly on a high following his goal, as he turned to fire a 30-yard strike just wide of goal. Powell made his first change fairly late in the game, with Andy Hughes replacing Gower in midfield.
Charlton once again came agonisingly close to winning it. The ball was bouncing around in the Forest area, until Cousins flicked it goalwards with a technical left footed effort. It curved and crashed into the bar, and the ensuing scramble saw two more half chances blocked and cleared.
A Wiggins free kick was angled towards the far post, where Andy Hughes was in space. He scuffed his cross, which was chested back by Morrison at the front post towards Harriott, who fired his shot gloriously over the bar and into the upper tier.
For all the enterprise of Stephens, and the industry of Hughes, it was Jordan Cousins who continued to star; the ball broke loose in the Charlton box and it looked like Forest might have stolen a winner, but Cousins flung himself to ground and made a spectacular, vital block.
Despite a nervy string of corners for Forest, the game finished all square.
The Addicks were applauded from the pitch, and deservedly so. It had been a fantastic performance, one which would have seen us score about four or five goals if on a good run of form. But whenever things look bleak, Chris Powell manages to motivate his side to produce performances like that. He was cheered as he left the pitch. The way the game had gone, especially following the past two weeks, it felt like a victory. Powell showed huge appreciation to the Valley faithful, whose support had been flawless all night.
Few Addicks fans were able to agree on a man of the match, simply because so many had played out of their skins. For me, two players deserve particular praise, given what they were tasked with and what they produced.
Jordan Cousins: After impressing during his home debut in that infamous abandoned game, Cousins again showed his class with a clinical, all-round performance. He was strong in the tackle, precise in his passing and positive going forward. His block was crucial and he was ultimately unfortunate not to score. Not only was he technically very good, but also he was composed on and off the ball. A 90-minute showing that promises a lot to come from him in future.
Sordell had a game of two halves. The first largely passed him by, as frustratingly he didn't quite appear to be on the same wavelength as the midfielders looking to play him the ball. But after his superbly taken goal, he was a man transformed. His confidence rocketed, which is what you want from a striker. He kept looking for goal, although he may have been better off looking for Stephens on the occasion that he was better positioned. However, his renewed self belief will give the whole squad a boost, as at last he's given them a reason to be confident in him.
Andy Hughes came on and orchestrated the midfield. He made one exceptional interception that enabled a counter attack, and was often seen motivating his team-mates. Whenever he takes to the field, he always proves his worth both as a footballer and a leader.
Forest were clinging on, but almost doubled their lead following some very fortunate ricochets that almost took the ball into the net. Wood headed clear but only to Mackie, who stumbled into the box and had his low shot well saved. The ball bounced up into Wilson's chest and was heading in, but he managed to chase it and avert the danger with a clinical left footed clearance.
Half-time arrived, with the Addicks applauded off the field. The home side had been by far the superior team, but when you're struggling for points things don't always fall your way. The early goal could well have punctured the spirit and belief of Charlton, but they had admirably fought back, and were unlucky not to have at least been level.
Little changed after half time, with Charlton still creating chances and the home crowd continuing to be very vocal in their support.
After some clever interplay, Harriott was released into the area with a chance to shoot. The defender just got a boot to it, forcing the ball across the face of goal. Sordell slid but couldn't reach it. The ball ran towards Wilson in acres of space near the byline. Sordell was quick to his feet and free. Wilson swept in a low cross, and the striker turned the ball into the net with a clinical and powerful side footed strike.
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| GET IN THERE! |
The goal had been a very long time coming, and was nothing less than the home side deserved. Sordell was joyous, running over towards a leaping Wilson and sliding toward the North-East corner. The crowd had erupted - each chance had built the pressure and it was finally released in one explosion of ecstasy. For five full minutes the Covered End was so loud that you couldn't hear yourself think. The spirit of Cardiff rekindled.
Spurred on by the phenomenal home support, Charlton almost stole a second. Church applied the pressure out wide left, forcing a hasty clearance which bounced off Mark Gower into the path of Sordell in the area. Stephens was making the perfect run into the 18 yard box to be fed the ball, but Sordell - now brimming with confidence - turned and shot with his left foot, but couldn't beat the keeper.
Billy Davies was forced into a double change, and ordered his side to calm the game down, as they had been startled by the tempo and noise in the early stages of the second half. He succeeded to an extent, as Andy Reid had an opening but stabbed his shot over.
The home crowd began to waver, suddenly filled with nerves. But still Charlton created chances. A Harriott cross was almost turned in at the back post by Richard Wood, who stretched but couldn't reach the ball. Forest hit back, with Mackie's back heeled effort at the other end soon after was well saved by Ben Hamer.
Sordell was clearly on a high following his goal, as he turned to fire a 30-yard strike just wide of goal. Powell made his first change fairly late in the game, with Andy Hughes replacing Gower in midfield.
Charlton once again came agonisingly close to winning it. The ball was bouncing around in the Forest area, until Cousins flicked it goalwards with a technical left footed effort. It curved and crashed into the bar, and the ensuing scramble saw two more half chances blocked and cleared.
A Wiggins free kick was angled towards the far post, where Andy Hughes was in space. He scuffed his cross, which was chested back by Morrison at the front post towards Harriott, who fired his shot gloriously over the bar and into the upper tier.
For all the enterprise of Stephens, and the industry of Hughes, it was Jordan Cousins who continued to star; the ball broke loose in the Charlton box and it looked like Forest might have stolen a winner, but Cousins flung himself to ground and made a spectacular, vital block.
Despite a nervy string of corners for Forest, the game finished all square.
The Addicks were applauded from the pitch, and deservedly so. It had been a fantastic performance, one which would have seen us score about four or five goals if on a good run of form. But whenever things look bleak, Chris Powell manages to motivate his side to produce performances like that. He was cheered as he left the pitch. The way the game had gone, especially following the past two weeks, it felt like a victory. Powell showed huge appreciation to the Valley faithful, whose support had been flawless all night.
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Player Performances
Player Performances
Few Addicks fans were able to agree on a man of the match, simply because so many had played out of their skins. For me, two players deserve particular praise, given what they were tasked with and what they produced.
Richard Wood: One of the less heralded signings, but definitely one of the most shrewd. Wood won everything in the air, timing his leaps to perfection. He was strong in the air, composed on the ball, and robust in the tackle. He even stretched to try and score at the far post. Before the game, you wondered why Dervite had been dropped, but Wood showed why Powell had put his faith in the former Coventry skipper. A classic centre-half performance.
It wasn't just the two above who deserved praise. Wiggins and Wilson were magnificent, especially given the absence of wide midfielders to work with. They always looked to burst forward on the counter, with Wilson creating the equaliser. Wiggins, criticised recently for his performances, emphatically proved his worth. Morrison was again steady at the heart of defence, leading the side well.
Stephens benefitted from the formation Powell had chosen, as it meant he had options open to him in the middle of the pitch. A few times he was able to instigate incisive fast-flowing passing moves, with the help of Mark Gower. He also played well, passing and hassling with energy.
Harriott was once again a live-wire, able to provide the link between the midfield and the forwards. Whilst he's someone that doesn't always offer an end product, the fact that be is constantly looking to create chances is a real positive, and with time he can become a quality attacking threat.
It wasn't just the two above who deserved praise. Wiggins and Wilson were magnificent, especially given the absence of wide midfielders to work with. They always looked to burst forward on the counter, with Wilson creating the equaliser. Wiggins, criticised recently for his performances, emphatically proved his worth. Morrison was again steady at the heart of defence, leading the side well.
Stephens benefitted from the formation Powell had chosen, as it meant he had options open to him in the middle of the pitch. A few times he was able to instigate incisive fast-flowing passing moves, with the help of Mark Gower. He also played well, passing and hassling with energy.
Simon Church will probably be wondering how he didn't score tonight, but he put in a valiant and important effort up front. He was industrious, and was rewarded in his regular chasing down of the Forest defence by forcing the error that almost allowed Sordell to score. Church was forced off due to a leg injury, his absence allowing Forest more time at the back.
Sordell had a game of two halves. The first largely passed him by, as frustratingly he didn't quite appear to be on the same wavelength as the midfielders looking to play him the ball. But after his superbly taken goal, he was a man transformed. His confidence rocketed, which is what you want from a striker. He kept looking for goal, although he may have been better off looking for Stephens on the occasion that he was better positioned. However, his renewed self belief will give the whole squad a boost, as at last he's given them a reason to be confident in him.
Andy Hughes came on and orchestrated the midfield. He made one exceptional interception that enabled a counter attack, and was often seen motivating his team-mates. Whenever he takes to the field, he always proves his worth both as a footballer and a leader.
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A word on Andy Reid. Forest as a side struggled to produce the quality they are capable of, but Reid definitely stood out as a professional tonight. His technique is superb, and he looked in better shape than ever. Whilst his goal was probably a fluke, he was unlucky not to score another in the second half. One of the few players who warrants applause on return to the Valley, and deservedly so.
Forest manager Billy Davies was full of praise for the Addicks, recognising that his side had been lucky to pick up a point. His assertion that Forest scored too early, however, was one of the weirder excuses I've heard from opposition managers. It was a fortunate goal, which meant that the Addicks had to rebound quickly and not let their heads drop. They did so magnificently.
Chris Powell is such a hero. Once again he's lifted his squad when morale hit rock bottom, to the extent that even though depleted by injury, his side made one of the promotion candidates look the weaker team. The performance was a testament to his continued belief in his players, and hard work on the training ground shaping them into a strong side.
You'd be a fool to want this club to be rid of Chris Powell. He has taken plenty of stick for recent results, and whilst some of it is justified, we are far stronger as a club with him at the helm than we would be without him.
Hopefully a similarly inspiring performance will be produced on Saturday for the visit of Blackpool. If we can maintain that level of quality, with the addition of players like Kermorgant returning from injury, then we have every reason to be confident of producing results.
Tonight, the passion was most definitely there, both on and off the pitch. It renewed the faith of many, and rekindled the spirit of others. If only we'd grabbed all three points...
A word on Andy Reid. Forest as a side struggled to produce the quality they are capable of, but Reid definitely stood out as a professional tonight. His technique is superb, and he looked in better shape than ever. Whilst his goal was probably a fluke, he was unlucky not to score another in the second half. One of the few players who warrants applause on return to the Valley, and deservedly so.
Forest manager Billy Davies was full of praise for the Addicks, recognising that his side had been lucky to pick up a point. His assertion that Forest scored too early, however, was one of the weirder excuses I've heard from opposition managers. It was a fortunate goal, which meant that the Addicks had to rebound quickly and not let their heads drop. They did so magnificently.
Chris Powell is such a hero. Once again he's lifted his squad when morale hit rock bottom, to the extent that even though depleted by injury, his side made one of the promotion candidates look the weaker team. The performance was a testament to his continued belief in his players, and hard work on the training ground shaping them into a strong side.
You'd be a fool to want this club to be rid of Chris Powell. He has taken plenty of stick for recent results, and whilst some of it is justified, we are far stronger as a club with him at the helm than we would be without him.
Hopefully a similarly inspiring performance will be produced on Saturday for the visit of Blackpool. If we can maintain that level of quality, with the addition of players like Kermorgant returning from injury, then we have every reason to be confident of producing results.
Tonight, the passion was most definitely there, both on and off the pitch. It renewed the faith of many, and rekindled the spirit of others. If only we'd grabbed all three points...
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