Monday 28 November 2011

Charlton Athletic 2 v Huddersfield Town 0

What a night at the Valley this evening! The single best result, to my mind, since we were relegated from the Premiership. We weren't the best footballing side on the night but we went head-to-head with the best team League One can challenge us with and we beat them with a powerful display. I am not going to replay what you all saw but will comment on the game overall.

The back four were outstanding and deserved their clean sheet. Ben Hamer was a point behind in my mind but he did make one crucial save from Jon Parkin to prevent the Terriers from scoring. I believe Matt Tayler got the MOTM award, probably for keeping Jordan Rhodes completely silent throughout, but Morrison was as good and Wiggins and Solly were better. Not since Mark Reid, have I enjoyed watching a left back more and Rhoys Wiggins is better than Reidy across the half-way line (Chris Powell was up there but I credit him with Wiggins' signing). What a runner when he's on the burst! For me, the best display came, once again, from Chris Solly. He was unstoppable in the first-half and his recovery in the second to make up two yards to stop a Town break was absolutely superb and worthy of the standing ovation it drew in the East Stand. To think, there were those who didn't think him good enough?

Hogan Ephraim capped a solid debut with a goal and he looked genuinely moved to receive his ovation when he was substituted. Darel Russell enjoyed a less impressive debut but he looked off the pace to me and I know he is a better player than we saw this evening. Having said that, I think Chris Powell was brave to sub him at half-time (unless he was injured) and Hughes was just the man we needed at 2-0. That we didn't concede in the second period confirmed that decision. Ephraim was effective without any special wing-play and I thought Green had a decent game although he is lightweight and something of a luxury against a fast and competitive side like Huddersfield.

Upfront, BWP ran his socks off and made the second goal but he was eclipsed by Yann Kermorgant who was colossal in the air tonight and his opening header made me recant my immature comments when he joined us that we looked like we had signed another journeyman striker. I want to wake tomorrow to find that he has nothing more bruising and will be ready to face Walsall in eleven days time. Paul Hayes is an able deputy but we need Kermorgant in the same way we need Jackson to keep our side firing on all cylinders.

Nothing much more to say but we are threatening to run away with this league and arrive in the Championship with a momentum that could carry us in the steps of Norwich and maybe Southampton, clubs who we are as similar to as anyone else in the English Leagues.

6 comments:

  1. Immense performance tonight Dave against a very good team who finally met their match.

    Great atmosphere, proud to be an Addick.

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  2. Huddersfield really tried to power their way through to goal second half, but we just kept matching them blow for blow.

    You are right Dave, the back four were immense, and I thought Hamer was outstanding in the air given the pressure (and wind ups from the broad man with the beard - is he the same Beast as in The Chase?)

    We have this great knack of scoring early goals and seizing the initiative by half time/

    The Boys look like Champions at the moment - but all the verbals from them suggest they know there is a long way to go.

    Pembury Addick

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  3. Solly is fast becoming my player of the season. He has stepped up a couple of levels from last season. A great atmosphere and a great advert for League 1.

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  4. Nice resume, it's just how I saw it.
    I thought that Jan C looked a good buy the first couple of times I saw him.
    He has been colossal in the air in all but one game that I have seen him (Wycombe) but he has more than that, he is strong, plays the ball well on the ground, a free kick specialist and perhaps most of all seems a good team player with a will to succeed. Well done CP on seeing the potential and resurrecting his career.
    With a potential week off next week, I hope that the injury is not serious; it looked as if it was nowhere near as bad as I first thought when he came back onto the pitch to celebrate at the end.
    I agree with you and most other Blogs, the whole team played magnificently and got the result they deserved. What’s more it might just take the wind out of the sail of Huddersfield for a few games.
    The away game now promises to be (Hope this is not replicated: PC p[robs!)

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  5. Dave, watched game again on Sky plus when I got home. Huge praise from them all including Curbs as summeriser. Solly had great run on West stand side in first half, which eclipsed one on the other side. To think Wiggins is only 21. In flashes he reminded me of Gary Speed, which was a tribute to the great man. We did him proud with the tribute, which was mentioned.

    Question, is that you in Austria on CAFC picks with the Scottish flag?

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  6. CA - I knew it wasn't me because I have never been to Austria with Scotland. I had a look at the picture, however, and it's my good friends Ray (Oslo) and Lindsay (Aberdeen). Both are Dons fans and loyal followers of the national side. Lindsay makes the trip to the Valley at least once a year. He was here for the Carlisle game. Thanks for the tip-off.

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