A thoroughly professional night's work and a third successive league win. Top of the league with a home game to come against a Scunthorpe side who slumped to a home defeat to hitherto pointless Oldham. Everything's looking rosy.
Charlton started like a team possessed this evening and roared on by what must have been closer to 2000 fans than the 1500 I expected, we made short work of Colchester. They couldn't cope with our pace and movement and it took only 13 minutes to unlock the U's defence. Bradley Wright-Phillips careered through the Colchester backline with a 1-2, 1-2 with Scott Wagstaff which sent him clear on goal and he buried his chance. Fifteen minutes later and it was goodnight Colchester. A cross into the box was headed on by Paul Hayes and there was Wright-Phillips again lurking at the back post to beat Colchester's Man-of-the-Match from close range.
We played some really neat and quick football up to half-time and there was a confidence in our game which surpassed anything seen so far. A third would not have been too much and we really could have been out-of-sight. Colchester were strangely lack-lustre and it took them almost 45 minutes to create their first opening when Odejayi got a foot up to a high back-post ball but could not keep his effort under the bar.
After the break it was apparent that our game-plan had changed. We were sitting back and content to defend and await for opportunities to breakout. Still the better goal-scoring chances came our way and Johnnie Jackson was unlucky with a curled effort after an excellent five-man move. For all Colchester's possession, they were unable to create any clear-cut chance as they were repeatedly foiled by a hard-working rear-guard. It was no-nonsense stuff again from Morrison and Taylor who launched everything that came near them. Chris Solly had a stonker at right-back and Elliott was assured behind him. It was a quieter day for Rhoys Wiggins than at Notts County.
We saw less of Wagstaff after the break but he and Jackson knew what to do when we did breakout as Bradley Wright-Phillips looked desperately for his hat-trick. Paul Hayes worked his socks off again and eventually made way for Jason Euell, who was himself unlucky to see an effort go narrowly wide. Andy Hughes came on for Dale Stephens and Danny Green provided fresh legs at the end for BWP.
The travelling fans were in great voice and the thumping drum that was present at Notts County was back and being beaten with even more vigour. On this form, we are going to take some stopping. I also think we will score goals and some very good ones at that along the way.
There should be a bumper crowd at the Valley on Saturday and this would normally be the point at which to predict we fall flat on our faces but we have been so much better than all three of our opponents so far, that I am expecting another convincing win. Dale Stephens and Danny Hollands did nothing wrong tonight but in comparison with those around them in red shirts, probably contributed slightly less if I am being critical and I expect a stronger performance from both at home.
If you haven't been to a game so far, get yourself down to the Valley on Saturday. This could just be the real deal and the start of something far better than we have experienced for the best part of ten years. Too early for me to blow the horn for Powell, Slater and Jiminez just yet, but like the Addicks present, there is a building cacophony each week of "Chrissie Powell's Red Army!"
Charlton started like a team possessed this evening and roared on by what must have been closer to 2000 fans than the 1500 I expected, we made short work of Colchester. They couldn't cope with our pace and movement and it took only 13 minutes to unlock the U's defence. Bradley Wright-Phillips careered through the Colchester backline with a 1-2, 1-2 with Scott Wagstaff which sent him clear on goal and he buried his chance. Fifteen minutes later and it was goodnight Colchester. A cross into the box was headed on by Paul Hayes and there was Wright-Phillips again lurking at the back post to beat Colchester's Man-of-the-Match from close range.
We played some really neat and quick football up to half-time and there was a confidence in our game which surpassed anything seen so far. A third would not have been too much and we really could have been out-of-sight. Colchester were strangely lack-lustre and it took them almost 45 minutes to create their first opening when Odejayi got a foot up to a high back-post ball but could not keep his effort under the bar.
After the break it was apparent that our game-plan had changed. We were sitting back and content to defend and await for opportunities to breakout. Still the better goal-scoring chances came our way and Johnnie Jackson was unlucky with a curled effort after an excellent five-man move. For all Colchester's possession, they were unable to create any clear-cut chance as they were repeatedly foiled by a hard-working rear-guard. It was no-nonsense stuff again from Morrison and Taylor who launched everything that came near them. Chris Solly had a stonker at right-back and Elliott was assured behind him. It was a quieter day for Rhoys Wiggins than at Notts County.
We saw less of Wagstaff after the break but he and Jackson knew what to do when we did breakout as Bradley Wright-Phillips looked desperately for his hat-trick. Paul Hayes worked his socks off again and eventually made way for Jason Euell, who was himself unlucky to see an effort go narrowly wide. Andy Hughes came on for Dale Stephens and Danny Green provided fresh legs at the end for BWP.
The travelling fans were in great voice and the thumping drum that was present at Notts County was back and being beaten with even more vigour. On this form, we are going to take some stopping. I also think we will score goals and some very good ones at that along the way.
There should be a bumper crowd at the Valley on Saturday and this would normally be the point at which to predict we fall flat on our faces but we have been so much better than all three of our opponents so far, that I am expecting another convincing win. Dale Stephens and Danny Hollands did nothing wrong tonight but in comparison with those around them in red shirts, probably contributed slightly less if I am being critical and I expect a stronger performance from both at home.
If you haven't been to a game so far, get yourself down to the Valley on Saturday. This could just be the real deal and the start of something far better than we have experienced for the best part of ten years. Too early for me to blow the horn for Powell, Slater and Jiminez just yet, but like the Addicks present, there is a building cacophony each week of "Chrissie Powell's Red Army!"
Brilliant, thanks Dave.
ReplyDeleteI was able to get to Notts County but not Colchester.
ReplyDeleteMy daily paper did not even get as far as a League One summary, let alone a match report.
Yours is an excellent report, keep 'em coming.
It's great to see such a turnout at both games.
It's probably sacrilege but I could do without the drums I think the fans make enough spontaneous noise without them. If you are unfortunate enough to be within a couple of rows of them, it’s difficult to focus on the game an d talk to your mates, let alone the damage its doing to your ear drums.