Best Wishes to Addicks everywhere

We head to Vicarage Road tomorrow for what is usually a tough game. Over the years I can't readily remember any easy games against the Hornets. In fact, it's been a long time since we last recorded a win against them - 17 years - and current form suggests we won't do it tomorrow either.

Dervite will most likely return to central defence for the suspended Morrison and I am guessing Danny Haynes won't make it either as he eases his hamstrings. A repeat of the battling display at Millwall in early December looks like as much as we might realistically hope for. I am spending my New Year's Eve with my wife's twin and her hubby down at Halling. I will probably be the first adult up tomorrow and, therefore, the tiredest as I look after the kids and their Staffie takes me for a walk. I have already decided that a trip around the M25 to the other side of London will be too much and instead I plan to get home in time to tune in to the battle.

I would like to wish all of my visitors and returning readers a very happy and prosperous New Year and would particularly like to thank those who regularly comment which makes blogging feel a bit more worthwhile. So, in no particular order, thanks and best wishes to Pedantic Peter, Bob Miller, Tony P, Chicago Addick, Pembury Addick, Mike Barry, Geoff, Hungry Ted, SM, Sciurus Carolinensis Nemesis, Daggs, NYA, Thamesmead Irons, Wynn Grant, Aido, Suze, KHA, Scoops, Algordon, Marco and Crowborough Addick.

Charlton Athletic 1 v Derby County 1

A big improvement in the performance from the dross we had served up on Boxing Day as Chris Powell made a host of changes and reverted to a more familiar side from last season.

Cedric Evina replaced Danny Seaborne at left-back and made the most of his opportunity with a battling display. Cort and Morrison anchored the defence until Morrison was again red-carded for a second yellow after 70 minutes. Cort was again in great form and is plainly fighting to hold on to his shirt from Dervite. Chris Solly had a much better game at right-back than of late.

In midfield we went with Jackson, Stephens, Pritchard and Wilson. Pritchard made the difference but Derby more than matched us for the duration and their edge here kept them in the game. Wilson had an unusually quiet game and Jackson was less involved than he might have been.

Kermorgant harried the Derby back-line but it was Danny Haynes who looked most threatening and who scored the Charlton goal, the best strike we have seen this season. It's a real shame that Haynes has  tight hamstrings and again had to limp off in tears, this time after just 35 minutes. He was replaced with Bradley Wright-Phillips who also made the best of his chance on the day and proved a thorn in the Derby side for the remainder of the game.

To the game then and Derby started brightly attacking the Covered End. They won several free-kick, one of which saw Morrison booked worryingly early for tackle on Hughes. Hamer was called upon to tip one of these over the bar and another whistled just wide. At the other end, Kermorgant was being shackled by two men but that gave a bit more space for Haynes and he capitalised after 30 minutes. Kermorgant knocked a ball down to him and ran out wide to the left in front of the East Stand, moving quickly, Haynes double-back and turned inside 30 yards out. With players again of him in the box and all taking up their defensive positions, Danny saw a shooting option. I was in-line with the shot and it was a goal all the way as it rose above those in the box and was high and wide enough to be beyond Legzdins reach. Crucially, it was also curling right to left which took it inside the far post - what a goal. It lifted the home side and minutes later, Ben Hamer was inspired to make a superb stop from Tyson who burst through clear on goal and who looked certain to score. His score was low and hard but Hamer managed to block it and hold on.

In the second-half Derby upped the ante and looked like they would score from open play but we responded by getting men forward whenever we could. BWP was particularly successful chasing balls down and we should have increased our lead when a four man move started by a galloping Solly carved Derby open and left Pritchard one-on-one with Legzdins. The Derby stopper made himself big as he rushed out but Pritchard's rushed shot hit the underside of the bar allowing Legzdins to catch in on the bounce.

The miss encouraged Derby to press even more strongly and from a melee in our box, Morrison was dismissed for a second yellow and a penalty was conceded. Jamie Ward, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, stroked it home and we had twenty minutes in which to hang on with ten men. That we did was a credit to the reds and we even managed to go close a couple of times ourselves as we reshuffled the pack to cope. Dervite was brought on to replace Stephens and Fuller got on for the last five for a tiring Kermorgant. Ben Hamer earned his man-of-the-match award from me with a further couple of important saves as he rallied our desperate defence.

On reflection this was as much a point won as two lost and I would hope Chris Powell starts with as close a line-up to this as possible - Morrison will be suspended and Haynes will most likely miss out. Other results were kinder to us and we remain in 18th place, still about as close to the play-offs as the drop zone on points. The problem is we haven't won in six and we need to break that cycle soon.

Home is where the heart aches

Close on the heels of Wednesday's Valley sickener, we have to remount the horse and face Derby County in SE7 tomorrow. After that we have the M25 visit to Watford and then return for two more testing home games - Huddersfield in the F A Cup and Blackpool. We must tackle the trouble in our back yard.

Like the vast majority of Charlton fans, the Valley is where I watch most of my football and it's what I see there that sets the tone of my relationship with the club. On that basis, what we have seen this season has not been encouraging. Personally, having missed the first home match of the season due to holiday, I have only seen two wins all season - the topsy-turvy 5-4 defeat of leaders Cardiff and the unconvincing 2-0 beating of Peterborough. If you add three winless away trips the two wins come from 15 matches most of which you would hope to have come close to winning courtesy of home advantage. Unfortunately, we simply haven't come anywhere close and it's doing untold damage.

Gates have undoubtedly suffered as a result. I accept that the attendance given is for paid for seats and includes a couple of thousand season ticket holders each home game who have found better things to do on a Saturday afternoon or midweek evening. In recent weeks we also appear to have been inflating gates with complimentary tickets, presumably to cook the books and make the club look more attractive to prospective buyers. Wednesday's gate typified that. It looked to me like no more than 14,000 home fans and around 1000 visitors and yet a gate of 18,830 was given.

For me, the midfield has been the cause of the problem. More often than not, we have failed to control it and have been unable to bring the home fans more into the match. The atmosphere has suffered as a result and away teams have been able to settle quickly. We have also conceded the opening goal on far too many occasions as we have failed to adequately protect the back four. Vicious circle.

Chris Powell doesn't seem to know what his best back four are and, judging by the threads on Charlton Life, neither do the fans. No great surprise when we have had very little consistency from any of those available. I would make an exception for Wilson since he was moved forward and possibly Pritchard but the rest of the options are a struggle. We have had precious little width on either side. Danny Green's contribution is usually defined in his opening three minutes. If he doesn't get past his man to deliver a telling cross almost immediately then you can be sure he's going to do next to nothing. Salim Kerkar has flattered to deceive on the other side in equal measure. Danny Haynes has done better playing out-of-position on the wing but he is just that. Johnnie Jackson has not looked anywhere near as convincing on the left as he did in League One, although to be fair he hasn't looked the same player since returning from injury.

The biggest problem has been in the middle where we don't appear to have one player good enough for the Championship let alone two. Stephens needs more time to play his game than he will get at this level. If you add his inability to tackle to his lack of pace and he looks vulnerable. Add the lack of a covering partner and he becomes a liability as demonstrated against the Tractor boys.

Frimpong has done ok since joining on loan but I expected more from a promising Arsenal youngster - we certainly got more from Alex Song in his day.  Jackson has tried hard when played in the centre and even Dervite looked a modest improvement when moved out of defence. 

With Hollands and Wagstaff already elsewhere on loan and seemingly surplus to requirements there haven't been too many options. Bover-Izquierdo, Harriet and Cook all appear to be considered too young or no better than what we have, so without money to spend in January we look ready to soldier on with the graft in midfield and long balls from the back. It doesn't look like a recipe for success. The home gate against Huddersfield when we have to pay for our tickets is looking like a potential embarrassment and record low home F A Cup gate for the 21st century.

None of this is helping our away numbers either. Our travelling support has dwindled despite us having won more matches on the counter. News that Palace are seeking to extract the most they can from us when we visit - £32 is a liberty - I expect the 2300 allocation to hang around until the deadline. I find myself in two minds at this stage and only a real improvement in performances and results will change that. Bah humbug!

Charlton Athletic 1 v Ipswich Town 2

Heightened expectations come with the risk of heightened disappointment. Like a child who didn't get what they really wanted for Christmas, we limped away from the Valley this evening in a cold downpour which felt like Mother Nature herself was laughing at us.

For those of you who weren't there today, and that will be quite a few given the empty seats (there must have been 3000 less than the 18,380 gate and Ipswich only brought 1000), this was a thoroughly unacceptable performance by a side who don't look up for it at the moment. Three consecutive defeats and we are heaping the pressure on ourselves and, more importantly I suspect, Chris Powell.

Hard to say what's going wrong but today it wasn't player selection or the timing of substitutions. It was simply the underwhelming first-half and our complete failure to spark anything as a side. We started with what looked like an attacking formation and I wasn't displeased to see Stephens back in for Jackson or Kerkar dropped for Haynes. Hulse got the start with Fuller and I thought that would be enough firepower to see us take control of the match. Green also started although you could be forgiven for not noticing.

The back four were as at Sheffield, Seaborne, Morrison, Cort and Solly, which is our best choice (Wiggins when fit) but they didn't look settled and were given far too little protection from midfield. Solly was again below par and Lee Martin had something of a field day. Seaborne's distribution on the other side was poor. 

To the game then and we lost it in the first half. To their credit, Ipswich came at us and were prepared to commit men when they got forward. That was to secure them the points and they could have taken an earlier lead than they eventually did after Lee Martin won them a penalty. Seaborne cut out a cross-field ball but mishit it back across to Martin who cleaned-up quickly and cut inside Solly. He was then tripped by Frimpong inside the box. I must have been the only person in the stadium to think Frimpong touched the ball first but maybe not, the place was like a morgue and Frimpong looked to apologise to Martin after the spot-kick was awarded. DJ Campbell stepped up and knocked his shot wide of Hamer's right-hand post in front of the Covered End but he was to have his revenge. This should have provoked an immediate reaction in the Charlton side but it didn't.

The game moved on and Ipswich continued to come forward looking for a goal. On 34 minutes, Lee Martin again got down the Charlton right and managed to get a cross in that was overhit but rescued at the far side of the Charlton area by Darryl Murphy who drove it back into the box where it appeared to hit Campbell in plenty of space and rebound beyond Hamer. To be fair, it was probably a better goal from Campbell than I am giving him credit for. Still no change or response and the inevitable happened before half-time. This time, Darryl Murphy managed to get on the end of another Ipswich attack which we didn't cope with and beat Hamer with ease.

We started the second-half with two changes; Jackson came on for Frimpong and Pritchard replaced the anonymous Green. For fifteen minutes it looked like we might recover. We began to threaten from the right with Solly and Haynes getting good crosses in on the run but it wasn't falling for us in the midfield and we were squandering good chances by missing simple passes in advanced positions with men committed. Ricardo Fuller misplaced more than most and he was also guilty of being selfish on a couple of occasions when we had superior numbers and real openings.

Hulse worked his socks off but got nothing although we did finally manage a goal even if it did come from the spot after Chris Solly was taken down on 72 minutes by Lee Martin. Again, that should have sparked something but it didn't and the game was slowed by the inevitably slow Ipswich substitutions and we also lost several minutes when a corner flag was broken. Fuller then lay injured for a minute and took as long to vacate the field of play before the game restarted with Kermorgant eventually replacing him.

I was expecting six or seven minutes of added time but we got four. Even then we seemed to wait until the last 30 second to threaten with a routine corner at which all 11 of our players were in the box desperately hoping for an equaliser.

Perhaps it was my personal expectations but this felt like a defining defeat. If not, then I have to say that Saturday's game against Derby County could be if our players manage to deliver another unacceptable showing. The victory at Portman Road earlier in the season and the resurgence of November look well behind us. This was a poor result and a worse performance - something's got to change.

All I want for Christmas

It's Christmas Eve and the excitement is building in my household. Can we do the double over Ipswich Town on Boxing Day? Alright, the excitement is really from my girls who are at fever-pitch and doing everything we tell them for once, simply by looking up towards the sky. 

Obviously I am too long in the tooth for the excitement of Christmas but I have always looked forward to Boxing Day more, especially when we play at home. The Valley was traditionally swollen with a bumper gate although we don't seem to have benefitted nearly as much since the Premiership days as our star has waned. It was also the one day of the year when you could expect a completely different and lop-sided team to be announced without any apparent explanation although you always assumed it was down to players drinking too much or not having turned up for pre-Christmas training. Results were often bizarre for that reason too...

Defeat at Oxford United on Boxing Day in 1980 always sticks in my mind. We were on a six or seven match winning sequence and bossing the division but were undone by a flat and lack-lustre performance. Thumped 4-0 at Portsmouth in the early eighties. Going down 3-1 against Wimbledon under Lennie. Simon Webster sent off at Ipswich as we were beaten.Who can forget the 5-0 humping we got at West Ham in 2000? There have been some highs too, of course. Beating Palace at the Valley was one that immediately comes to mind but the humbling of Chelsea when Paolo di Canio orchestrated the match and we hit four.

I am expecting a proper performance from the Reds tomorrow and that first double of the season. The Tractor Boys may have recovered under Mick McCarthy but we should still send them packing if we get at them from the off and not wait until the second-half to start looking to win the match. I see Derby on Saturday as potentially more of the same. I will be disappointed with anything less than four points and we need them to right the ship.

Sheffield Wednesday 2 v Charlton Athletic 0

A good day out in Sheffield had the gloss taken off it somewhat by an unconvincing Charlton display against a side who, frankly, were there for the taking. In spite of the flooded landscape between London and Sheffield we made good time and were in a taxi just after midday and headed towards Hillsborough. A few pints in the hospitable Old Crown and we walked down with the locals to the ground.

The 500 visiting supporters were housed high in the Leppings Lane and we looked forward to a rip-roaring-goal-scoring victory. The signs were good. Leon "the Beast" Cort was back alongside Michael Morrison and he played an absolute blinder. Solly and Seaborne took the full-back berths although Chris was given an unusually hard time by Helan (I think - didn't get a programme).

I was pleased we had opted for a four man midfield of Wilson, Frimpong, Jackson and Kerkar with Haynes and Kermorgant doing the pressing. Frimpong and Jackson held their own and Wilson was especially lively early on and in the first half although he faded after a booking which he seemed very unhappy about. Salim Kerkar had another duff game and missed a gilt-edged opportunity in the opening few minutes when he appeared to get too far forward and missed a fine cross from Wilson which only needed a back-post touch. He also overhit half of the crosses he delivered as we wasted a number of promising positions.

Wednesday came back into the match and Hamer was called on to save and Leon Cort headed off the line before they opened the scoring. A corner was headed out and fell plumb centre for Rhys McCabe with no-one able to close the shot down. McCabe hit a venomous volley straight above Hamer's head but all big Ben could do was flap at it and it was one-nil. We saw little goal threat after that although Wednesday put a lot of balls into space on the flanks for Johnson and Helan to chase and the threat of a second was always there.

For our part we did manage to get the ball into their net just before half-time but I saw the flag go up as Haynes picked up a through ball from Frimpong and beat Kirkland. We should have then scored but Haynes fluffed his lines four yards out after Kermorgant finally won a far post header and steered it down passed Kirkland for Danny-Boy but he got his legs crossed and the chance was gone. Chris Powell was sent off I understand (didn't see it at the time) for complaining about this and an earlier failure to send Johnson off for his umpteenth crude block on Wilson.

After the break we again persisted with an attack that was struggling against a huge Wednesday back line. Yann Kermorgant was getting no change in his vain aerial battles and resorted to trying to win free-kicks. Haynes persisted as he had the legs on Llera but nothing was falling. With Kerkar still posing out left and Wilson fading, we needed a change but it didn't come until 63 minutes when Fuller entered the fray for the ineffective Kerkar.

Chris then waited another 15 minutes before a belated double substitution as Hulse and Green replaced Frimpong and Haynes. We went for it again as the game closed out but Wednesday had a rare victory in their sights and they defended manfully as Hulse attempted to get one over the booing locals (always hard for an ex-Leeds player at Hillsborough). In the final minute of four added, Wednesday forced a corner and from the pressure down at our end, Helan raced along the goal line and fired through Hamer from an acute angle to give the scoreline an unfair reading.

Two successive two-nil defeats oop north and I think we have learnt that this season will be about consolidation. What I would like to see now is some bigger and bolder performances at the Valley as we rescue our home form and reward our season ticket holders ahead of what could be an improvement next year. It was good to see old face, Dave Nixon and his lad yesterday.

Twas the Wednesday before Christmas

I'm off to Sheffield tomorrow for only my third away game of the season (Forest and Millwall) which is a record low for me at this stage of a season and I am looking nervously at the incessant rain and worrying if our national railway network will let us down.

Sheffield was a favourite city of mine in my youth. There were always lively pubs in the centre of town  (eg The Stone House) and the locals were always inquisitively friendly. It was the venue for  'Blackheath Ramblers' weekend on one occasion ("why don't any of you wear rambling boots?"). One of my good mates even met a lovely lady on one visit which developed into a year-long attraction which helped me develop a convincing Sheffield accent. None of that tomorrow. The Gringo and I will hopefully be there by 12.30, enjoy a few pints in town and then catch a cab to Hillsborough.

I think it will be my fourth or fifth visit to Wednesday and I am still looking for my first victory and a chance to sing Jingle Bells. Wednesday may have claimed a scrappy win at neighbours Barnsley late on Saturday but they have been on an horrendous losing sequence and are in the drop zone. I am expecting another close and hard-fought game and will, once again, pray for a little more ambition from the manager. This match should tell us a lot about the depth of our sides playing conviction, coming three days before Christmas and with us safely in mid-table.

We must make better use of our substitutions later in the game. I don't know why Chris is so loathe to introduce them and why he is invariably too late to tactical match the opposition when they make theirs.
After the 1000-plus following we took there last year, we will likely be down to bare bones tomorrow in the Lepping Lanes end as the desperate go Christmas shopping, but I am looking forward to it nonetheless. Charlton forever!

Charlton at the London Soccerdome

I was invited down to the London Soccerdome by a fellow northern Scot to see his son playing for Cambridge United today. His lad is 9 years old and has been with Cambridge, their home town, for a couple of years. He regularly plays against the likes of Arsenal and Spurs as well as Walsall and Barnet, but until today never the mighty Addicks.

In the ten years or so that it's been there, I have never previously set foot in the London Soccerdome (formerly the David Beckham Academy) and I have to profess to thinking it was now closed. Anyhow, it was very much open this morning and I was very impressed with both the scale (two full size artificial pitches), the facilities and the quality of the football I got to see.

The Under 9's and Under 11's were at the Soccerdome whilst the Under 8's, Under 10's and Under 12's were playing at our Academy at Sparrows Lane. Whilst all were welcome at the Soccerdome, I understand visiting parents had to obtain tickets to attend at Sparrows Lane!

I was obviously there to support my mates son and to be encouraging to the other proud parents down from Cambridge but it was impossible for me to remain impartial. I was reminded that scorelines are unimportant at this age and that it's all about touch, positional play and movement. That's as maybe but Cambridge were beaten 3-2, 5-2, 6-2 and managed a 5-5 in the other game. It was really good to see some of these kids. Two-footed, quick, comfortable on the ball and real team players. They played to the whistle, didn't appeal decisions and were courteous to their opponents.

I have checked the programme since getting home but nothing below U17's registers. There were no team sheets available and I didn't get all the names but Jeremy and Richard were two I did hear and they were superb.

Bolton Wanderers 2 v Charlton Athletic 0

David Ngog came off the bench late in the second-half to score twice and break the Addicks resistance. It was tough to take because up until that point we had first matched Bolton through the first half and looked like we were going to take the lead ourselves. 

Lawrie Wilson had another impressive game down the right flank in front of Chris Solly and he was involved in creating several chances for Danny Haynes which went begging. Yann Kermorgant was preferred as the lone striker with Haynes playing behind him in a withdrawn role from the left and played his usual physical role in testing the Wanderers defence.

Dale Stephens sounded like he was keen to impress back up north and was unfortunate to be booked early on after Bolton players hammed it up to the referee. He will now miss Hillsborough next week through suspension but we are not short of options in midfield. Manny Frimpong and Johnny Jackson were alongside Stephens but it didn't sound like either made any telling contribution. 

The defence stood up pretty well until Ngog exploded onto the scene and Dervite and Morrison had little to deal with in the first half in particular. Seaborne was again at left back and Ben Hamer made one good save from Chris Eagles from a corner but could do little to stop Ngog.

The defeat disrupts our recent momentum but we get another chance to win next week at bottom-of-the-table Sheffield Wednesday who have lost seven in succession but are currently winning 1-0 at Oakwell in the late game. Still plenty left in that one and now's as good a time as any to get another result in Sheffield.

It was our first defeat in eight and we need to bounce back and establish ourselves in the top half of the table before New Year.

December whizzing by...

Another hectic working week. Maybe I should just accept that this is the new norm but it's hard not to hanker for a more balanced Monday to Friday so will carry on deluding myself that things will slow down.

After I finished last night I joined some old working comrades for our annual visit to Tayyabs and my current favourite world food, 'north-west Frontier' or Punjabi. I have been addicted to British Indian restaurant food (Bangladeshi) since my teens dating back to the 1970's. My old man was an early adopter of foreign foods and I was fluent with Indian and Chinese menus long before my generation got into Chicken Tikka Masala. I also spent a year in Singapore in '95 when I discovered what MSG was and how Chinese food I was used to should more accurately be named Hong Kong food. Anyway, if you haven't tried it, look for a Punjabi restaurant and fill your boots. They are occasionally run by Sikhs but are more often, like Tayyabs, Muslim owned which is why they are often unlicensed although they are quite happy for you to bring-your-own which means you get to drink exactly what you want and at off-licence prices. It was great to catch-up with friends whose level of working cynicism surpasses my own and have a good old moan about the state of the world. I always leave feeling slightly better about everything.

Hopefully things will slow down a bit tomorrow because I am off to the Mick Jagger Centre/Dartford Grammar School for a few pints and a dose of old favourites, the Buzzcocks.

I will be tuned in to the Bolton game on Saturday afternoon and praying for three points rather than the solitary one which looks nailed on. Bolton aren't exactly setting the heather alight at the moment but they have been hard to beat and have drawn eight games so far. Wild horses couldn't persuade me to travel to the frozen wastes of northern Manchester but Mexican Victor is back next week for his Christmas visit and I have agreed to accompany him on the similar trek to Hillsborough on 22nd - definitely no Christmas shopping for me. These games give us a real chance to prove any realistic play-off ambitions.

Fulham are being linked with January swoop for Ben Hamer which I suppose will be successful if they aren't deterred by Spanish Tone's valuation which should be about £4m if his valuation of Dale Stephens is anything to go by. I don't want any disruption to our current squad, at least, until the destiny of this season looks clearer but if Ben is to get the big money move then we will also need to move on and hopefully with a fee commensurate with the increase in his earnings. If it's not Fulham, Nottingham Forest should be rebuffed unless they are dangling equally stupid money.

Charlton Athletic 2 v Brighton & Hove Albion 2

Another point and Charlton extend their unbeaten run to seven matches. The point was more of one gained than two lost although I was pretty disappointed with our lack of ambition today. Brighton looked a shadow of the side that dismantled us a couple of years ago and, to my mind, they were there for the taking. Having said that, they played more like the home side and looked more likely to nick it at the end.

Michael Morrison returned to central defence but I was disappointed to see Leon Cort moving to the bench for Dervite. Dorian played very well at Millwall but he was over-shadowed by Cort. Lawrie Wilson returned to the right-back berth and was my man-of-the-match. Dale Stephens partnered Manny Frimpong in central midfield and we also managed to fit Jackson, Pritchard and Haynes in with Hulse alone up front. It was a bit of a mess if you ask me and Haynes, in particular, was wasted.

A game of very few chances saw Charlton take an early lead when Lawrie Wilson ghosted into the six yard box to meet a near-post corner and glanced a header past Kuszczhak. We looked comfortable enough after that but failed to push for a second and allowed Brighton to settle into the game. They play the ball around very well and support the man on the ball which is always dangerous against Charlton. Craig Mackail-Smith was lurking and before half-time he pounced. A long ball had Michael Morrison back-peddalling and he didn't get enough on the backward header. Mackail-Smith seized on the short-fall and stroked the ball beyond Hamer for the equaliser.

After the break and kicking towards the Covered End, I expected a sustained step up in gear but we didn't really get one. We simply weren't strong enough in midfield. Pritchard was too slow and Haynes was ineffectual. Frimpong flattered to deceive and Jackson didn't contribute nearly enough. In spite of that, we managed to take the lead. Our most urgent move of the half saw five players attack in unison  and the ball was eventually played in to Pritchard twelve yards out. For once he was alert and switched the ball smartly from left to right foot as he beat the on-rushing Kuszczhak.

We looked unlikely leaders at that stage and I feared an equaliser. Brighton stepped on the gas and Lua-Lua injected some pace and urgency from the bench. A free-kick 20-odd yards out was the opportunity Brighton needed and a wicked deflection beat Hamer for 2-2. Both sides huffed and puffed for a winner but 2-2 was probably as much as either side could really expect.

I can't help feeling we showed them too much respect today and that we have to be more ambitious in future matches. We were too slow with fresh legs and allowed Brighton to take the initiative with their substitutions. We will go again next week at Bolton and then at Sheffield Wednesday where our more cautious approach suits us away from home. I only hope Chris will up the ante significantly before we play Ipswich on Boxing Day.

I took a wander up to the White Swan pre-match where it was good to share a few pints with Addick fanatics, Mick Gebbitt, Mark Garvey and Steve Nelson (as well as Pete and Tony). Fitting really given the reflection on 20 years since our return to SE7.  Brighton filled their end but the home areas were again disappointing. The West looked half-full/empty and the Lower North was sparse. The 19,080 gate was hardly a surprise and put the Huddersfield gate into sharp focus. Assuming we had 15,400 there today, there were three thousand Charlton fans missing from the Huddersfield game. Personally I think we were probably only a thousand down but that would again suggest the Huddersfield gate was inflated.

4th October 1977

Still probably my most memorable league match occurred 35 years ago when tomorrows visitors came to the Valley on a Tuesday night. Both Charlton and Brighton were going well in the old Second Division and both had leading scorers in Mike Flanagan and Peter Ward respectively. Their names dominated the evenings' raucous singing.

My memory as a 14 year-old was that Brighton brought thousands of fans and that the Valley was swollen with a massive crowd. Interesting to read that the attendance was actually only 19,098, although those were the days when Charlton look liberties with the official gate as they avoiding tax by declaring lower numbers than were actually there. It was also a time when people could get into the game in a variety of ways without paying.

There was a fantastic atmosphere that night and the Covered was packed. It was a cold evening but we were kept warm by repeated surges down the Covered End terraces and by the fact there was so little room.

The Brighton side were delayed by traffic and arrived at the ground with only twenty minutes to spare which may account for their slow start. 

Midfield prompter, Dick Tydeman opened the scoring after 16 minutes. Just after the half-hour Hugh McAuley netted for the Charlton second and we believed we were home and dry. I leapt up in the air for the second-goal and was caught mid-air by the surge from above which carried me ten yards down the terracing before space opened up and my new Indian moccasins hit the concrete again.

Peter Ward pulled one back after 38 minutes but we went in at half-time with our noses in front. After the break the referee gave Brighton a lifeline when he awarded them a penalty after Mark Penfold, our exciting young left-back prospect was adjudged to have brought Ward down (I walked passed Mark the other day on his way to the Huddersfield match - he's a regular).

Brian Horton took the spot-kick but Jeff Wood saved it, only for the ref to rule that Jeff had moved before it was taken. Horton's second effort was slammed wide but again Wood was penalised for moving early and they were given a third bite at the cherry. The Covered End was livid and and we roared our disapproval. Horton wasn't trusted with the third effort and Peter Ward stepped up to make it 2-2. 

After that the game swayed towards the visitors and their comeback was completed after the hour when Winstanley scored to put the Seagulls ahead for the first time in the game. We couldn't believe it in the Covered End and I remember our players having words with one another across the pitch at that moment.

We tore back at them and within minutes little Keefy Peacock out-jumped the Brighton defence to meet a typically pinpoint Powell cross from the right wing and steered home our third. Cue another eruption in the home end and a mass surge down the terraces where the gaps were between the stanchions. We all  turned around and climbed back up the steps to regain out positions and continue the fevered singing. The ground was alive at that moment and every Charlton pass that found another red shirt increased the volume as the East terrace and West Stand thousands joined in. On 71 minutes, Colin "Paddy" Powell sped down the right flank in typical fashion veering infield and threatening a trademark obstruction by deliberately running into his opponent and throwing his hands up in despair. He shunned the opportunity for the free-kick this time, checking inside instead and strode on making a couple of yards odd space, the winner was on. 

I remember the movement of that shot vividly. It went left from Powell's right boot (his left was strictly for standing on) which set Eric Steele heading that way but the force of the shot had spun the ball violently and the night air caught the spin and sent it back right. What a goal! Chaos in the Covered End and Brighton were finished 4-3. I lost a moccasin in that surge and was lucky to have it handed back to me by a mate. It was great night which I have talked about on and off ever since. 

If Saturday's match is half as good I will be a satisfied Customer, especially if we collect the points again. The gate will be almost certainly be bigger but the atmosphere can't possibly match that evening in a sardine-packed standing Covered End. Oh how I miss it.

Udderwhelmed

The F A Cup draw was a tad disappointing. Yes we got a home tie in the 3rd Round Proper but Huddersfield Town won't set the tills ringing. Expect the club to run a Rick-style promotion. To be fair to Huddersfield, it's hardly a more attractive fixture for them having to return to SE7 a couple of months after their last visit. We live in hope, of course, but I am not anticipating a Cup run and by then we might all settle for a graceful exit if we genuinely have something else to focus on.

Our current form suggests that might just be the case. Unbeaten in six, with an improving defensive record and more players to return from injury, the signs are good. If we look at the forthcoming opposition, the average position of the sides we face over the next six games before the Terriers is 15th;

Brighton (8th) - well beaten in their big derby on Saturday and we should look to apply some salt at the Valley to an injury-hit Seagulls.

Bolton (18th) - potential banana-skin up there but not yet fully recovered from a difficult start.

Wednesday (23rd) - obviously struggling and will be under enormous pressure from their deluded fans at home.

Ipswich (20th) - looking for recovery under Mick McCarthy but we have already beaten them at their shop and a double should be achievable.

Derby (16th) - have not maintained their bright start and have been beaten six times away from home so far.

Watford (6th) - probably the toughest of the lot away from home but it's New Year and with a bumper noisy Charlton following, we could capitalise.

I may have the rose-tinted glasses on here but I don't think it unreasonable to expect to pick up more points than those around us through these games which should lift us into the top ten and position us nicely for a second-half charge. We have undoubtedly learnt lessons in this division through the first-half and if we can apply those we can expect a better second-half return which would make things very interesting indeed.

We have a better squad than I think most realise and we have a couple of key players yet to return. Wiggins is the obvious one who would give us one of the best defences in the league. It would also strengthen our attacking left side. With Lawrie Wilson restored on the right we would carry more direct threat and could expect more high quality supply - we have the front men to score the goals if they are given sufficient opportunity.

In the circumstances, I am looking forward to slipping quietly out of the Cup once again.

Millwall 0 v Charlton Athletic 0

I said before the game I would take a draw and we duly got one.

It was a very decent Charlton performance without our Captain although, typically, he was behind the goal with our fans doing his bit to support the side. First thing first then, I thought Dervite had a very solid game and Leon Cort was counted alongside him as he shackled Chris Wood. Chris Solly was the man-of-the-match by a country mile and that included both sides. Danny Seaborne was better than he has been of late, but he needed to be and that gave us the foundation for the clean sheet. 

Our midfield worked tirelessly against a determined Millwall centre although they got the upper hand and did more damage, especially in the second-half when they stretched the game. Upfront Yan Kermorgant and Rob Hulse fed on scraps and Hulse looked like a man trying to knock a wardrobe over against Danny Shittu. It looked to me like we were crying out for Danny Haynes or Bradley Wright-Phillips much earlier but supply was limited to be fair. Kerkar had a poor game down the left and Pritchard wasn't much more effective in getting down the right. Jackson and Stephens were much busier in the middle.

Millwall have a very definate style coming forward. They play in set patterns and they look to do a lot of juggling and flicking, as they bring more players into the attack. They created a number of opportunities but only came really close once in the first-half when Warren Feeney connected six yards out but slid his shot across the face of goal when anything on target would probably have beaten Hamer. In the second-half and attacking the Cold Blow Lane, the Lions had us back-pedalling and defending a lot of corners but there was no sign of the panic displayed in the Posh match and they were limited to long range pot shots, several of which scared the goal-frame and one of which Ben Hamer had to help over the bar. Chris Solly made a goal line clearance towards the end which represented Millwall's best chance to break the deadlock. I am sure one would have lead to two but it wasn't to be for Millwall.

The draw maintains both sides unbeaten runs but was obviously a better result for Chris Powell.

I thought our support was fantastic yesterday. We filled our end and made a lot of noise, things we haven't always done in this, our most local of derbies. I don't think we need to apologise or to be embarrassed about that. Millwall fans have made it very uncomfortable for visiting supporters to attend games and they have bullied and abused us on every visit. We are very used to the throat-slitting gestures of the eegits who choose to sit as close as they can to the visiting supporters and who contort their faces in rage and posture throughout the game. Personally, ignoring these saddo's is the best response because it's the one they can't handle. However, I do know how tempting it is to respond and they can hardly complain if they get some back.

The "Jeremy Kyle....he's coming for you" line was a cutting observation of the differences between more of our fans than theirs and it was probably what wound them up more than the smoke bomb and flare which was thrown onto the pitch at the end by Charlton fans.

Personally I left at the whistle with my two mates and we made our way home as quietly as possible. I chose to avoid New Cross or South Bermondsey so can't comment on the argy-bargy that went on. Millwall fans should do well to think about their behaviour in these games over the years and Charlton fans should also remember that we are not Millwall and for that reason, getting too lairy when we play them is pretty short-sighted. 

I'll take the draw

In my youth 1-1 was a smart correct score bet for any London derby. Local pride, stubbornness, bloody-mindedness and added vocal support often evened things out on the day. Form tended to go out of the window and any class gap between sides was invariably small enough to be overcome.

Over the last twenty years I think we have seen far less draws, particularly against the money-clubs, where passion, commitment and all of the afore-mentioned only get you so far. As far as Charlton-Millwall encounters go, history tells us a draw is a good result for us. I remember my first in 1977 when Mickey Flanagan put us one-up at half-time only for the Lions to level through local legend Terry Brisley who was to join us later that season (although he never looked the same player in red).

We managed a bore-draw at the Valley during our promotion campaign in 1981 and a 2-2 when we next played there in 1986 when Jim Melrose and George Shipley put us 2-1 in front before the break. It was 2-2 again at the Den in '89 although that was the cruellest of all for me. For once we matched them throughout the game and deserved our two goal lead when 'Willo' Williams slipped home five minutes before the end. It was too much for Millwall to bear and they tore back at us. Teddy Sherringham, who used to drink in my local at the time, scored within a minute and in squeaky bum time Millwall forced the equaliser. It was a long walk home that night.

We had that high 4-4 (?) Valley match a few seasons ago when Nicky Bailey scored a fine goal to silence the visitors momentarily but we managed to piss on our chips that day too. 

So to tomorrow then and I would take a draw now although Kenny Jackett won't be offering one. With Morrison in the side and Wiggins fit again, I would be confident of us taking something from the game. Fact is, Wiggins is still out and Morrison is suspended. Chris Powell will probably still be fretting who to put in alongside Leon Cort. Taylor or Dervite are the obvious and likely choices but neither is blessed with Morrison's pace or positioning and that's what allows Leon to concentrate on winning all the aerial battles. 

I can see Millwall scoring and probably a couple, so we will need to score a couple ourselves to get anything and without Ricardo Fuller, I am certain we will play with a lone striker which will make it much harder. I am encouraged by the togetherness of our squad and the game plan will be to slow it down and quieten the crowd although that's difficult at the Den, especially when we are the opposition. The schadenfreude of a Millwall crowd when they are beating us is stronger than any other side we ever face, even those muppets from Croydon.

I will be there in hope tomorrow but suspect it may be a long walk home once again. Maybe I will be more confident about the return fixture in March but I won't see it as I will be in Paris watching an equally historically challenged 6 Nations fixture.

Charlton Athletic 2 v Peterborough United 0

Hungry Ted reminded me that we should have expected an uncomfortable evening against rock-bottom Posh, and he was proven correct. We were slightly fortunate to emerge with the three points and very lucky to have kept a clean sheet. For all that that we are up to 13th and are within five points of fifth placed Millwall who won again this evening at Wolves. Saturday is going to be a huge test for our side.

It was great to see Yann Kermorgant starting this evening in the striking berth alongside Ricardo Fuller although Fuller looks highly doubtful for the New Den having limped off after cracking the opening goal after 75 minutes. Manny Frimpong started again in central midfield alongside Johnny Jackson and it was Kerkar and Pritchard on the wings. Seaborne returned at left back to join Cort, Morrison and Solly in front of Hamer.

The game got off to a lively start and Yann Kermorgant was inches away from a wonder goal on his full return within the opening minutes when he seized a long ball, turned and launched a long range cross-shot which just didn't have enough height to beat Olejnik in the Peterborough goal. We were much more positive going forward in the first-half than against Huddersfield but we also looked more susceptible at the back. Gayle found space in a good position and it took a decent stop from Hamer to deny him. We weren't making enough progress on either flank and Seaborne looked uneasy at the back. With half-time approaching, Posh should have taken the lead when they got one on one with Hamer but Big Ben stood up and pulled off a great diving save to deny them.

After the break and kicking towards the Covered End, we upped our game and Solly began to get much further forward. Peterborough were struggling and we began to create chances. However, they were always happy to break and George Boyd played a stormer on the break ably supported by Lee Tomlin. I kept expecting us to go one down in order to provoke a response but Lady Luck was with us and we survived a few scares, most notably when Hamer dived low to his right to get a hand on a low shot and see it around the post. 

Then, almost from nowhere Ricardo Fuller conjured a goal. He collected a hopeful looking ball 20 yards out running across goal and launched a shot from an awkward angle to his body. It didn't look like he could have got much purchase on it but the ball accelerated away and scorched beyond Olejnik. The contortion required left Fuller in a crumpled heap and he left the field clutching his hamstring. It was probably what we had to do in order to break the deadlock. 

After that we looked much more comfortable and the second goal wasn't long in coming. An overlapping cross from Green (I think) was under-hit goal-ward by Hulse and it stopped at the foot of the post with Olejnik stranded. The French Assassin didn't wait for an invitation to pounce and finish it off. 

The crowd looked very similar to some of our earlier season midweek games where it was posted at 15-odd thousand and with a paltry Posh turn-out of 300 or so, the 17,377 official gate failed my credibility test. I am now firmly in the "they are spoofing it" camp but won't complain if new investment is ultimately forthcoming.

On to Millwall then where we will need to be far better than this and at our away-day best if we are to get anything. We will also have to do it without our inspirational skipper - Michael Morrison picked up his fifth booking of the season and will be suspended.

Three points and the gate

This evening we get to play the side currently propping up the league. Darren Ferguson's Peterborough have had a miserable start to the season. Their home and away form has been equally poor and we must view this as a three pointer.

The BBC are saying they are likely to be without new striker Saido Berahino and they come on the back of four defeats and a draw at lowly Ipswich. Tonight we must be more positive and be confident we can outscore Posh. Caution to the wind and all that. We are also looking for our fifth consecutive victory over them, so all the signs are positive. 

Chris Powell has said we "must go again" and he is right, although Saturday's draw against tenth placed Huddersfield was hardly a major set-back. A win tonight and we are unbeaten in five going to the New Den which will help against a Lions side who are unbeaten in the last dozen.

I will be listening out for the gate this evening. Interesting observations about the 20,012 gate for the Huddersfield game. There is a strong view that we may have inflated that number to impress potential investors. Steve Waggott is said to have done that in 08-09 by giving out excessive complimentary tickets for matches, fifty per cent of which are typically not used. The Huddersfield gate was certainly a big step up on what have been very consistent and slightly disappointing Championship home crowds following promotion. Where I sat in the East was certainly a lot busier than of late and probably indicative of a 20,000 attendance but the rest of the ground looked the same as it has been this season. Huddersfield brought 1000 which would not have supported a bigger gate and the weather certainly wasn't helping. 

I would expect less than 1000 Posh this evening and a 15-16,000 crowd. If they are spoofing it, anything above 17,000 will look suspicious to me. If you are going to inflate your gate, you would be inclined to post a number just over the thousand mark - the reverse psychology of the £X.99 trick. Hhhmmmmmm.

Ode to Millwall

A hundred years of history,
Eleven wins from sixty-three?
Derby games, rare of late,
Very few since New Cross Gate.

Local neighbours we have been,
but those days we've long since seen.
The docks are shut and you've moved out,
It's in our Boroughs you now shout.

You've no time for us, you say,
But still sell out when'er we play.
We've both got our share of spotters,
Ours are trains and yours are Coppers.

South-east cousins we may be,
But not so different, you and me.
We work together, joke in boozers,
Far more often double losers.

So then, on to Saturday,
The New Den, what more to say?
A hundred years of history,
Eleven wins in sixty-three?

Time for us to start anew,
To go and get one over you.
Far too often we couldn't hack it
But now it's Powell and Kenny Jackett.

In '09 we took a mauling
Dailly's boys were 'kin appalling.
Expect to win? We can't pretend,
But we'll come and fill our End.

Morro's boys will have a go
We'll pray for a winning show.
A hundred years of folk-lore,
It's eleven wins from sixty-four!

Charlton Athletic 1 v Huddersfield Town 1

As we drifted away from the Valley yesterday, the talk was largely of another two home points lost, although I thought Huddersfield did enough to warrant their point. Once again we failed to beat a side who had to play with only ten men for most of the match and once again we fell pray to a late equaliser which had a touch of misfortune about it in terms of the award of the penalty.

On reflection, Huddersfield looked a better side than they did last year when they visited with Jordan Rhodes in their ranks. If you accept that they were also missing four first-teamers, they did very well to take the game to us in the first half and to stand up to what we threw at them in the second. We could have been more adventurous after taking the lead, especially considering they were a man down but with three minutes left of normal time I was convinced we would see it out. 

The penalty was a surprise to me but then again so were many of Lee Collins' other decisions on the day, starting with the sending off which was extremely harsh on Keith Southern. He clattered Michael Morrison alright but Morrison went in fully committed as well and it was only the angle of Southern's tackle that meant Morrison came off second-best. The ref may say both of Southern's feet were off the ground but he was clearly going for the ball and Morrison didn't appeal. The decision rightly angered the visiting fans but Collins then proceeded to make a number of iffy calls which all went went against Town. 

Late on I was thinking that we were seeing more of our earlier season bad luck ironed out when Collins levelled things up with the penalty for Town. Solly appeared to believe it had been given for handball in the collision with Peter Clarke as he gesticulated to his head but the replay suggests it was the fact that Clarke was cleaned out in the challenge. Good too to see Manny Frimpong get a debut, one I particularly enjoyed. Frimpong has a low centre-of-gravity, turns quickly left or right and can spot and thread a pass, something we struggle to do. Bradley Wright-Phillips might be grateful for that when he gets his next start. 

The first-half was pretty uneventful but the game livened up after the break and we scored a very polished goal on the hour after a sweeping five-man move from left to right was stroked home by Rob Hulse after Bradley Pritchard had been fed-in on the right side of the box to pick his cross.

As I have already said, we were more content to pass the ball back and forth across the midfield after that and use the defence for an out ball instead of going for the Huddersfield jugular. There was certainly a second goal in us but we encouraged Town to come out and go for it and they were spurred by a succession of late corners which eventually lead to the penalty. Even after that we managed to carve them open again but Rob Hulse could only head at Smithies in the centre of goal and despite there being plenty on the header, Smithies somehow managed to beat it out.

As long as we beat Peterborough on Tuesday evening, this result won't look so bad. Fail on Tuesday and the conclusion drawn will inevitably be that we are genuinely struggling at home.

Huddersfield Town

Simon Grayson brings his promoted Huddersfield side to the Valley this afternoon and gives the Addicks a chance of a fourth successive Championship league win for the first time in five years. Victory would move Charlton to within a point of Town and nicely into the top half of the table.

First we must see them off and I am very hopeful. Grayson is struggling with injuries. Sean Scannell and Jermaine Beckford are both likely to miss out as does James Vaughan and Jimmy Spencer. I am sure their squad is strong enough for us to face a competitive team but we have Dale Stephens back, Ricardo Fuller ready and Manny Frimpong poised. As long as we don't suffer any misfortune in terms of sending offs or penalties etc, I am backing us to have too much for the Terriers and to be bouyant for Tuesday's encounter with struggling Peterborough. It will be interesting to see who Chris Powell starts with up front. Haynes n Hulse have been doing the business in recent weeks and may hold on to their starting spots with Ricardo Fuller used as an impact sub on his 350th professional appearance. I was assured yesterday that Frimpong will start, although I would be surprised given the Stole Solebakken excuse that he's not fit enough to play.

It's my wife's birthday today and after the game we are heading down to Rochester for a meal and overnight with her sister. That will taste a fraction better if we can also celebrate with three more points.

We should sell out for the New Den today. I bought an extra ticket yesterday and there weren't many left of the additional 600 provided. That would mean 3600 of us there next week to urge the side on and pray for a rare derby victory on foreign soil.

Ping-Pong Frimpong

Well, well, well, Tony Jiminez has only done it again and found the cash to further support Chris Powell's ambitions this season by bringing in Arsenal squad player and young hopeful, Emmanuel Frimpong.

Jiminez may be struggling in his PR battle with the clubs most ardent supporters  (it must be said that he's not making any direct effort in the fight to curry favour) but his actions continue to speak louder than words. Frimpong is only here until January but there must be hope for more if he impresses and is not required in the short-term by the Arse. Spanish Tone is obviously finding the cash from somewhere because Arsenal had options and Frimpong sounded keen to go back to Wolves, whose fans are furious that we have pinched him from under their noses. 

The official line from Molineux is that Frimpong is "only 75-80 fit." That sounds like an excuse to me as a professional can improve that level of fitness in a couple of weeks and the obvious thing to do is limit their game time initially. Stale Solebakken has also said he "didn't want to upset" existing midfielder Dave Davis, so perhaps fitness isn't the reason, although the Wanderers fans seem mightily peeved and are doing an admirable impression of Massive fans.

Frimpong himself, it must be said, has very limited first team experience having made only six appearances in Arsenal red and five loan showings in Old Gold before being crocked last season. On the injury front, I was told yesterday by a old Gooner mate formerly of SE18 that we can expect to see Frimpong get sent off given his ferocious tackling and midfield competitiveness. I like the sound of this, just what we have been missing and the comparisons with Alex Song when we lured him the Valley as a Premiership club ourselves is tempting.

Those lusting to see the young Arsenal hopeful may have to wait until next month as Frimpong beds in, improves his fitness and competes with the existing squad members.

Burnley 0 v Charlton Athletic 1

Just as I had hoped in the week, the Addicks made the long trip to Turf Moor today and are returning south with three points following a smash and grab raid. Danny Haynes headed the winner in the second-half after a fine Charlton move which Solly started and Rob Hulse teed-up (Sky reported it as Ricardo Fuller, but I'll go with the BBC London commentator).

The match story started early in the first half, however, when Charlton hit the bar in a goalmouth scramble and Kieran Trippier was sent off for a handball which the locals strongly disagreed with. After a long delay, Johnnie Jackson missed his second penalty in succession and we all had that "up against 10 men" concern. Burnley certainly took the game to us for the remainder of the first-half and Ben Hamer pulled off a couple of first-class saves to keep the scores level after forty-five. It sounded like we got the breaks from the referee as Rob Hulse went unpunished for a heavy challenge and several other big decisions went in our favour. We have had more than our fair share of bad luck so far this season, so things have been due to even up. Second-half we heard far less from the hosts as Charlton used the extra man and when Haynes finished after 70 minutes we were home and dry.

It was our third successive Championship victory and we look to be finding our feet. This win was achieved in spite of another disruption to midfield. Dale Stephens was a late change due to illness and Eggert Jonsson got a start. With two home games up next against weaker opposition (I include Hudders in that bracket), we have every chance to consolidate our first half-season and possible push on and take position for an exciting 2013.

COME ON YOU REDS!

Maybe, just maybe...

A long and awkward journey north to Burnley in prospect for the faithful. I have been to Turf Moor a couple of times in the 80's when it wasn't much fun but when I thought nothing of taking a day or two off work and travelling by coach or minibus for five or six hours each way for a night game. 

I gave up coach travel when they had their speed governed to that of the horse and were banned from the outside lane of the motorway. It also doesn't appear possible by train there and back in a day, which puts it off my list. Unless of course, we were flying higher than we are. No surprise then to learn that we are likely to be down to the bare bones in terms of support on Saturday - 300 to 400 diehards.

Burnley are only three points above us and they lost at lowly Ipswich last week. However, their home form has been impressive winning five, drawing two and losing only once to Huddersfield. Their home wins have been over Bolton, Peterborough, Blackpool, Wolves and Leeds which isn't the most daunting list given respective starts to the season. If you add that Millwall and The Massives both got draws there, I am beginning to believe.

They have also been beaten six times away from home conceding 20 goals in the process. Our old foe, Charlie Austin, appears to be he main threat but if Super Michael Morrison and Point-to-Prove Leon Cort can marshall our defence again and stay tight with the former Brickie, I reckon we have an evens chance of giving Sean Dyche his second successive bloody nose. Our odds with the Bookie will be better than that.

If we can get a result at Turf Moor, we can expect to move properly into mid-table and we could be on the verge of a virtuous circle. I fancy us to collect points at home to Peterborough and Huddersfield which would cushion us against the weight of history under the arches of the London to Kent railway line. Here's hoping.

Bristol City 0 v Charlton Athletic 2

As predicted, we beat hapless Bristol City this afternoon to make it two wins in-a-row and haul ourselves up to 16th. I was watching Scotland square up to the All Blacks but had the sound off so I could listen to the commentary from Ashton Gate.

To be honest, it sounded to me like a case of when, not if we would score, so when Stephens rattled both posts and Haynes pounced it felt like we were home and dry. We were invited to meet friends at the O2 for a meal in between their tennis event and much as I didn't want to miss the commentary or the rugby, they had travelled down from Cambridge so I sacrificed the second-half of our game.

It sounds like we were very good value for the victory and I was pleased to learn that Michael Morrison thrust the dagger to put us in control for the last 40 minutes.

We now face a tough trip to a Burnley side who are very good at home before two very winnable games at the Valley where we will entertain Huddersfield and Peterborough. Ricardo Fuller returned before the final whistle today as a sub and with other injuries clearing up, we might just find ourselves winning more games before New Year than we lose. 

There is every chance we can fight our way into the top ten and then it's all to play for in 2013. The first back-to-back wins in the Championship for five years has put the doom-mongers back in their boxes. I only wish there was genuinely more encouraging news from behind the scenes. Still, I reminded myself that we returned to the top flight in 1985 after an absence of 28 years with absolute chaos at the club and playing at Sellout Park. Anything is possible as we proved on Tuesday evening.

Charlton forever!

Blackheath 15 v Rosslyn Park 20

A free Saturday and an opportunity to see Blackheath take on top-of-the-table Rosslyn Park in the rugby National League One. There was a decent crowd of c 1,000 and the weather was kind.

Club made a good start and opened the scoring with a try from Dave Allen (sp) but they missed an easy conversion. After that Rosslyn Park got into gear and showed their quality through superior kicking from hand, a faster tempo as well as an excellent full-back display from Edward Lewis-Pratt. Blackheath's main advantage was upfront where they rolled their maul really well and drove time and again. It was from one of these that the bearded beastie, Des Brett (outdoes Killer) burrowed his way across the line on the stroke of half-time to give Club a precious 12-11 lead.

After the break Rosslyn Park stepped up and Blackheath (Club!) were pegged back for long periods. but they maintained their lead in spite of this and were tantalisingly ahead at 15-14 with ten minutes to go. They couldn't hold on and Park's pressure paid off with two slotted pens to win the game.

Once again I left Rectory Field wondering why they don't promote rugby and their lovely set-up more. I used to know a few of the key movers at Blackheath and, in our Premiership days, suggested they should do a deal with Charlton to offer a "free" pass to Club home games for season ticket holders.  I am sure they would have attracted several hundred new customers to home games. The non-ticket revenue would have made it worthwhile and they could have increased their fanbase in the process. If you do fancy it, it's £12 to get in which includes a decent colour programme. The bar welcomes all and Club's sponsors, Green King IPA, is available in abundant draft.

I took this picture using Pete's phone (forgot mine) and despite the gloom, the match was in full progress in a reasonable light.

It's all happening

Several surprising news items on the CAFC front today, one of which is a revisit and two of which have since been confirmed.

First, Sky Sports ran a virtual repeat of the "Paul Elliott to become Chairman" story which first appeared in The Mirror and managed to accompany it with a quote from 'Tek' confirming ongoing negotiations which he expected to be concluded soon. This really will surprise me if true and I can only believe it will be part of a wider announcement, hopefully involving new and broader based funding and control of the club. On it's own I can't see what it brings; someone with no experience and no real investment money. I certainly can't see him matching the contribution of Peter Varney or Rick Everitt, although he shouldn't have much trouble out-working Martin Protheroe.

Secondly, we announced the loan signing of Southampton centre-back Danny Seaborne. It's only a month and presumably to support Michael Morrison's return to central defence (he can play left-back), although we would appear to have enough with Dorian Dervite, unless Dervite is being blamed for the goals against Cardiff in the week, which personally I would find harsh. Still, it shows a real focus on ensuring we aren't caught short and it feels like we may be desperate to ensure we don't miss any opportunity this season for a play-off finish (renewed optimism from the Cardiff Miracle).

Thirdly, another one month loan of Eggert Jonsson, a tall utility player who can play central midfield as well as defensive positions. He is largely an unknown having played most of his football at Hearts and the initial Wolves fans views, from where he joins, have not been entirely complimentary. My guess is he may only play if we encounter any further injuries.

In spite of the injury crisis I think we are great odds at close to 2-1 to inflict Bristol City's seventh successive defeat. Derek McInnes, their manager, will surely know it's shit-or-bust but presumably he doesn't know our record for forcing busts! If you double that with Middlesbrough to win against Sheffield Wednesday, you are looking at around 5-1.....

Ten things we learnt from last night?

1. Making some positive noise in support of your team can actually inspire your players to achieve more than they might have thought possible.
2. We don't have to sit at home games trying to hear what the players are saying.
3. We should fear no-one at the Valley.
4. We can afford to be much bolder tactically at home, even when fielding a weakened side
5. We have a more capable squad of players than I think we give ourselves credit for.
6. We can come from two goals down to win, although it's not compulsory.
7. We are in a false league position.
8. The vast majority of our fans are perfectly happy with the manager and would be provoked by any premature decision to change that.
9. We may be attractive odds for a win on Sunday at Bristol City.
10. Yet again, Cardiff don't look like automatic promotion contenders to me.

Charlton Athletic 5 v Cardiff City 4

The Fifteen thousand, three hundred Charlton fans went home happy this evening after seeing Chrissy Powell's Red Army beat the league leaders. It was an eventful match with nine goals and (I think) eight bookings. It was also a match in which some sloppy Charlton defending at the start and the end of the game gave a misleading scoreline which does not do justice to our five goal blitz.

Our make-shift side was patched again for this one with Morrison going to right-back, Chris Solly to left and Dorian Dervite drafted into the middle with Leon Cort. I think it more accurate to say we had a fluid midfield this evening with only Salim Kerkar playing in his position on the left wing whilst Stephens, Pritchard and Jackson swapped places throughout, with Pritchard also swapping on occasions with Haynes upfront who was partnering Rob Hulse.

I prefer a more attacking game-plan at the Valley. It's home advantage and we pay to see us winning at matches in SE7. It suits an attacking game-plan and we got that tonight despite going two-nil down to two very soft goals that made Cardiff look like Inter Milan. In a strange way that might have helped the course of the rest of the match.

The home fans played their part tonight as well. A non-stop chorus of Chrissy Powell's Red Army from the Covered End was a powerful show of faith in the manager but was intended, I like to think anyway, as a warning signal to Spanish Tone and the Fickle that we will not support any premature change of management.

To the game then, and it was a disastrous start. Cardiff scored from their first corner as Helguson ran in to glance a header beyond a flat-footed Ben Hamer. Our challenges were no-where and it was weak. It got worse after 25 minutes when we were out-jumped three times in our six yard box as the ball bobbed about before being rammed home from ten yards. It looked like a second-successive trouncing at home but the Covered End continued it's beat for the manager and we continued to plug away. Ten minutes before the break we got a slice of good fortune when Marshall looked impeded from getting to a ball and flapped it down to Jackson who steadied himself before curling his shot high into the unguarded net. A consolation for half-time then but it got unexpectedly better as Jackson met a deep corner to head powerfully home for the equaliser before tea. 

The Bluebirds looked deflated and we came out looking for the lead. Within ten minutes we won a free-kick not far from Chris Powell's stomping ground and Dale Stephens fired in from what must have been forty-plus yards. He did at least have the good grace not to overly celebrate his over-hit delivery which caught Marshall unawares and sailed in to the top corner over his despairing dive.

Three sides of the stadium were buzzing at this point and we were roaring them on for more. Cardiff were all over the place and Bradley Pritchard's deep play saw him win a back-post ball, bring it down for himself and manage to flick it back across goal under pressure to the lurking pocket dynamo that is Danny Haynes and he headed home the fourth. We were now rampant and the best finish was left to Rob Hulse who sped into the box unmarked to meet a Salim Kerkar cross with a thumping header that had goal written all over it once the trajectory of Salim's cross was clear. Cardiff were beaten then with five goals having been scored in twenty-six glorious minutes.

We continued to look to get forward and the inevitable substitutions came for both sides for weary legs. There were a flood of cards too for lazy challenges and dissent as both sides threw balls away after being penalised for free-kicks. To their credit, the league leaders didn't give up and were finding holes in our back line, especially between Morrison and Dervite. Almost inevitably they struck a third as six minutes of added time was announced and we knew they would find another for squeaky bum time.We held on for what we deserved. Three points and my first win of the season!

Bristol City doesn't look half as daunting as it did before this evening and the win lifts us up a couple of places and puts us within a win of mid-table. Suddenly the gloom looks like lifting and some order should be restored. The whiners and lightweights can go back to supporting their team and not knocking it and perhaps the manager and players have learnt a tactical lesson in this division where margins are slim and draws aplenty.

What with Numpty Levein having been rewarded for his failings, it's been a good week for a change. Roll on Sunday.

Bravehearts

A hectic 24 hours which included a boozy evening at the Music Industry Trust Awards last night where Gary Barlow was honoured. A glowing tribute from Sir Elton John was topped off when Gary and the Take That boys climbed on to the stage to be joined by Robbie for an impromptu gig. Enjoyable though it was, the main event is this evening when we remount the horse that threw us on Saturday.

The "this is Charlton, this is the Valley" refrain is certainly sounding tired and unconvincing at the moment but we must all be strong here and continue to do everything we can to win some football matches and find our just level in this division. Probably not the right time to be facing the table-toppers but why not a reassuring home win against them tonight? Injuries aren't helping the cause but we should give it a good go and we need to get behind the team.

This is not the time to be questioning our side or our manager. The fickle amongst us are beginning to show their hypocrisy and cowardice by declaring that our team aren't good enough and calling for a change of manager. I thought we had all learnt that lesson? We didn't spend enough in the close season and all that guff. Sorry but I'm not buying it. This side was good enough to romp League One last year and it's good enough to stay in the Championship. The squad was improved with a number of key additions even if we didn't really nail the central midfield question. Solly was retained and we even hung onto Dale Stephens when we had a better offer. We are good enough and I think the players know it and sooner or later results will improve even if it's not this evening. 

As far as Chris Powell is concerned, there are continuing rumours that he doesn't see eye-to-eye with Jiminez and that Spanish Tone would like to see him replaced. The laughable notion that Alan Shearer has been lined-up must surely be just that. Chris Powell knows his job is with the players and that getting on with the owners is not a requisite for success even if it might help. Jiminez may not give a toss about Charlton beyond his investment and he may be arrogant enough to believe he doesn't have to communicate with us at all, but he won't ignore declining gate receipts. Prematurely sacking a Charlton "legend" after a tricky spell would cost him significantly in terms of compensation, a replacement, presumably more spending money not to mention the damage to his plummeting relationship with the supporters. It would inevitably lead to a decline in attendances, not something we are well equipped to deal with given the lack of qualified staff at the club to manage it.

So, it's back on the charger tonight and roar for the Reds!