First, after a dozen or so visits to Orient over 30 years, we managed to find a proper pub last night. Not only that, but the Birkbeck Tavern behind Leyton station was half-full of Charlton fans who have clearly been keeping this secret to themselves. A choice of real ale, a well kept garden that would be excellent on a better day and welcoming locals and O's fans.
A balti pie and choice of seats in the decrepid 50 year old East Stand meant we were well settled for the match which was, unusually, a pleasant viewing experience. I normally live on my nerves and fingernails away from home, because we are invariably under the cosh but I didn't really feel that last night. The opening goal kept the 1500 plus Charlton fans in good voice and it was only for a ten minute spell after Christian Dailly was unfortunately dismissed that Leyton Orient really looked like they might get back into the match. The fact that Waggy's winner was against the run of play mattered little because our reshuffled defence was holding firm and the O's were showing signs of desperation.
Like my fellow SE7 inhabitant, Charlton Casual, we too were back in Charlton by 10.10pm and able to join some of locals and compare match notes with what Sky viewers had seen.
Our back four looked very solid up until Dailly was sent off. I was fuming in the ground as I had assumed the bumbling idiot had shown him a straight red. For a split second I had traced my route down to the front of the stand and the leap I was going to take to enter the field of play. Chris in the Rose of Denmark filled us in on the fact that the ref had flashed the red twice when he meant to show a second yellow then a red. Just as well I sat still in my broken seat.
In any event, Llera came on and seemed intent on atoning for his poor showing at Shrewsbury, heading everything away that came near him. Doherty was solid, although I thought he may have been culpable for their goal by not cutting out the ball to McGleish. Again, the lads in the Rose said that was expecting a bit much from the television view.
The fact that Johnnie Jackson was hardly noticed again is another feather in his cap. Simon Francis is getting fitter and looked close to the mark last night. The pair also give us height across the back four and an imposing physicality I can't remember from a Charlton defence.
McCormack worked his socks off, which was just as well because Thierry Racon didn't do enough for me. He made a couple of key interceptions and tackles but he must do more if he expects to play regularly. Kyel Reid had another decent game but he does fade in the second half and we need to have a plan to better manage this. After a quiet game against Bournemouth, Wagstaff took his chance this evening creating two and scoring an excellent goal himself with his left foot which just nicked him the man of the match award for me.
Upfront, Pawel Abbott showed how it should be done and made Akpo look positively clumsy by comparison. Abbott will be very pleased that he has met Lee Martin. The bloke was everywhere last night and his intelligent movement is creating space and opportunities for those around him. It is extremely encouraging that we have managed this level of attacking football after only two league starts. One of my biggest frustrations in watching Charlton over the last couple of seasons has been our inability to really put sides under prolonged spells of pressure and dominate games to the extent that we are regularly scoring four or five. Watching Martin, Abbott, Reid and Wagstaff, I can see that those days might not be too far away if they can all stay fit. Martin is an exciting player and on the showing so far it's hard to understand why he hasn't made it elsewhere yet. Time will tell.
So today then and I can listen to the games this after and enjoy seeing how the rest fare in their attempts to catch the runway leaders. "Top of the league, top of the league, Charlton!"
Good resume and the pub tip, Orient has been notoriously difficult in the past.
ReplyDeleteAgree about Jackson (did someone say he can also cover at centre back?) and Francis, but not sure I agree that they give an 'imposing physicality' that you cannot remember from a CAFC defence.
Did not feel Francis had that good a game: does not mark tight enough or have physical presence he should have: but maybe it's just early days.
Francis may look like Herminator 2 but as a full back pairing he and Jackson have some way to go to catch up in the pysical sense to Young and Herman (though to be fair that's compairing them to a Premiership side)
Mike - probably not the best use of the word "physicality" on reflection. What I meant to say is that we have a very big back four. Can't think of us having a bigger one?
ReplyDeletePoint taken; just thought we were in danger of overlooking some past stalwarts in the current euphoria.
ReplyDeleteFair point Dave: just felt that old stalwarts may have been forgotten in current (hopefully to coninue) euphoria.
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