Charlton Athletic 5 v MK Dons 1

After three successive defeats away from the Valley, including the humiliating loss to Northwich Victoria, Phil Parkinson's men had to face the music today. It couldn't really have gone any better as the Addicks hammered out a five goal warning to the challengers.

The news that we had signed Akpo Sodje on loan from Sheffield Wednesday set the tone for the day as we attacked the Dons. Fraser Richardson was back on the right so the back four was at full strength with Sam Sodje restored and Youga back on the left.

I was pleased to see Nicky Bailey back in central midfield with Semedo and he played a blinder. Lloyd Sam stepped out of the shadows too and had as good a game as he has had all season. Therry Racon looked uncomfortable on the left wing but played his part nonetheless in supporting Burton and Mooney. I should say straightaway that Burton was outstanding today and looked like he had just returned from a six week break.

The only negative for me on team selection was that Darren Randolph was again ignored in favour of Wolves' third choice, inexperienced keeper. The story here will unwind in future but Randolph looks finished at the Valley and I have some sympathy with him.

The game started brightly and MK Dons set about us in the first ten minutes and looked like a side breathing down our neck in the table. When Aaron Wilbraham volleyed home from long range after nine minutes it looked like it might be a long afternoon. Ikeme was nowhere for the shot and I feared the worst in terms of his personal performance.

Three minutes later, however, and we levelled. Mooney was fouled outside the box and Nicky Bailey's free-kick was knocked down to Mooney who drilled a low shot past Willy Gueret. Ten minutes on and we were in front following a quick counter attack down the right as Lloyd Sam broke and surged to the line, cutting back into the box and delivering a cross that was touched on to the far post where Nicky Bailey appeared to nod home. Bailey managed to hit the corner of the bar and post before the break as the wind took a curling free-kick and almost did for the Dons.

After the restart, the game still looked delicately poised for twenty minutes. Fraser Richardson went off with what looked a recurrence of his hamstring and Grant Basey came on with Youga switching to right-back. Within a couple of minutes Charlton had killed the game; a ball up to the edge of the area was headed down to Sam inside and he danced past the last man and smacked a quick shot beyond Gueret to end the match as a contest.

MK heads dropped and Charlton upped the ante. Within five minutes Nicky Bailey drove a corner into the box and onto the head of the leaping Sam Sodje and he powered home in familiar style. Three minutes later and with the home fans demanding "we want five," Lloyd Sam headed on for Deon Burton to beat Gueret from close range. It was Burton's last touch as he made way for Leon McKenzie. Mooney went off for Akpo Sodje as Charlton pressed for a sixth and Sam Sodje missed from a great chance with a header that somehow went wide.

So, all-in-all, an excellent day and a real morale booster for the side, not to mention the supporters. We will expect more at Yeovil next week and my confidence has been restored. Wyn, I suspect you can begin posting again!