Charlton Athletic 3 v Watford 1

Home late after a few celebratory Stella's in the Royal Oak. Palpable relief that we don't have to sweat it out at Blackpool and maybe a little confidence that we may have turned the corner as a club, although there remains a lot of work and commitment from the new owner before I will be satisfied of that. Relegation would have tested my lifelong resolve.

Finally this evening we saw Jose Riga listen to the fans and play Wilson in front of Solly and that gave us the third and match-killing goal. Otherwise it was a predictable enough line-up and a side good enough to put Watford away under normal circumstances, let alone with them having finished their season. Having said that, Watford can't be accused of not trying this evening. They were physical and committed and could have had Belkalem sent off to join Riera who went for a high tackle on Diego Poyet in the second-half. 

Callum Harriott opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a low and hard shot after he had run out of passing options. It was ironic in many ways because he has been reluctant to shoot in recent weeks given his loss of confidence. The goal seemed to give him an extra jet and he was buzzing after that. Watford had stood up pretty well until the goal and they continued after that and can count themselves unfortunate not to have levelled before half-time. They were getting too much time in their defensive half of midfield and they were committing men forward in support of Troy Deeney who played like a man possessed. Their best chance saw Ben Hamer somehow touch an effort from the middle of the goal on the goal-line onto the post and bar before we scrambled it clear. 

After the break they pressed on and it was no great surpass when Deeney finally thundered home a dipping shot off the bar having flicked on for himself. It was a quality strike and it silenced the Valley. In the East we had already had to witness a fellow fan assisted to an ambulance after being taken ill following our goal. I can only guess but chest pains might have been the issue. It put the concourse, toilets and refreshments out of reach during half-time whilst an ambulance took care of him (hopefully he is fine). For a few minutes it looked like we might be about to throw in the towel, but we held our nerve and played football. Suddenly we were attacking down the left and a low pass into the centre found the stretching Jackson who took a lungeing touch to control it before flicking home with his second. It was a classic Johnnie Jackson goal and it changed the game. 

Eight minutes later and Wilson broke down the left. He moved infield and looked up to see two red shirts breaking into the box. He ignored the furthest forward and bent in a bouncing cross which reached the second player 15 yards out at the back of box. Brimming with confidence after his opener, Callum Harriott hammered home across goal to send the Valley into raptures.

After that it was just a matter of time, although Watford managed to earn a red card and were lucky to avoid a second. The pub talk was all about Yann Kermorgant and the possibilities of the last day.....

Final sigh of relief or skin of our teeth?

Lots of comment about tonight's important game-in-hand against Watford. The second-half of this season has all been about games-in-hand and tonight we finish those with a match that looks relatively straightforward against a team who have finished for the season and whose players will be on the plane with their families to more exotic locations on Sunday for a month or so.

However, this is Charlton and this is the Valley. We know what to expect. This has been a miserable season for season ticket holders and we have been saying throughout that it will come down to the last day and that it will be by the skin of our teeth. Our home form has been so poor that I fully expect Watford to open the scoring tonight and then test our resolve in front of what could become an increasingly disgruntled crowd. 

A draw would mean that Birmingham, Doncaster and Millwall will all need another result to catch us. That would leave it nicely balanced for the long-predicted skin-of-the-teeth finish at Blackpool. I can see us going down there too and someone else falling flat on their faces to spare Roland Duchatelet's blushes, although in my mind's eye I can see Roland opening a good bottle of wine in the event we were to go down and toasting his decision to negotiate a price reduction to soften the financial blow of relegation.

If we can score first this evening - how many times have we said that this season? - then we should have enough to get the job done. This is not a match for hot-heads and I hope Jose Riga will ram that message home ahead of the game. Marvin Sordell should start against the club where he made his name but please, can we save Harriott for a late entrance and can we have Wilson on the right ahead of Solly for once? And no Jose, this isn't a game in which to rest Morrison, Solly, Poyet and Cousins.

Finally, highly predictable news that we will be taking part in a network pre-season competition in Belgium. The only surprise is that the format won't be feeder clubs battling it out for the chance of a crack at apex club Standard Liege. Old Duchatelet has cunningly arranged for everyone else to compete for the right to play bottom-feeder and Roly favourite, Sint Truiden. I can't believe some Charlton fans are actually getting excited about the prospect of supporting this event by attending. You really don't have to go to Belgium just to taste Belgium beer.

Charlton Athletic 1 v Blackburn Rovers 3

This was a match Roland Duchatelet would have benefitted enormously from watching if he knows his footballing arse from his footballing elbow. Sadly, like every other week, I suspect he was being entertained elsewhere and he doesn't know his footballing arse from his footballing elbow.

Had he been present he might just have noticed the gulf in class and ambition between his team and the Venky opposition. The Venky's may have been caught with their pants down at Ewood Park but it was very clear that not all of the millions they have poured in to t'Rovers have been squandered. There was a gaping chasm in class between these sides.

Rovers may only have long outside odds at a play-off place but it was hard to tell as they ruled the roost in SE7 today. Rudy Gestede's peach of a header from a superb deep cross took the only line it could have to beat Hamer at his far post. Even then it wiped it's feet on the post on the way in and squeezed passed Ben's fingers. Gestede looked a threat throughout and Michael Morrison did a fine job keeping up with him. That gave Jordan Rhodes a bit more space but thankfully, he looked a yard off his game today. 

Morgan Fox belied his inexperience again today and was my man-of-the-match. He was up against a quality opponent in King and did very well to compete throughout the match. Solly was solid as were Morrison and Dervite. 

In midfield Poyet earned his stripes again although we looked disjointed with Cousins out wide right, Jackson in the middle and Harriott on the left. Astrit Adarevic started, possibly as a withdrawn striker but he couldn't help falling back and clogging the midfield. Jackson really didn't contribute and whilst Harriott looked better on the left, his contribution was once again sub-standard. Lawrie Wilson must have upset someone because there is no credible explanation for our failure to play him down the right flank today.

That left Marvin Sordell to look for the goal and I have to say that this was his best performance to date, certainly at the Valley. He played like you would expect him to every week. Hungry for the ball, precious of it when he got it and always angling for goal. His first touch was much better than I am used to and he looked like he would score. It's just a pity that after being up-ended for a penalty at 0-1 that he insisted on taking the kick. The spirit world heard 10,000 minds say "noooooooo, let Jackson level the game." Sure enough, his penalty lacked angle and Robinson blocked it. At least Marvin looked deeply hurt by his error and determined to atone.

Into the second-half and it was no great surprise when Blackburn finished off a set-piece with a downward header from Hanley to make the game safe. Sordell did manage a fine solo finish from a quickly taken throw-in by Fox but even at 2-1 our players didn't look convinced. We had a ten minute spell when an equaliser might have come but the inevitable happened ten minutes or so later when Cousins lost possession with a short pass that was dangerously casual and Blackburn stormed forward to make it three.

After that, frankly, we were lucky not to concede a fourth or even a fifth. The only good news was that Reading came back to beat Doncaster and that Birmingham lost at home to Leeds by the same scoreline as us. Blackpool's surprise win at Wigan effectively makes them safe (on goal difference) and leaves it between us, Millwall, Donny and Brum. A win on Tuesday against incentive-less Watford would see us safe but on current form, we could well be left sweating at Blackpool. Birmingham have Wigan on Tuesday at St. Andrews and if they can't get a result there they deserve to be relegated at Bolton on the last day. 

Millwall are not safe yet but their point at QPR today suggests they will see it through against Yann Kermorgant at the New Den on Saturday. That leaves Doncaster Rovers who have to get a result at Champions Leicester next week. The Foxes may be Demob happy but surely they will raise their game in their final home match of the season? Given Brentford's cruel loss in the play-offs last season to Doncaster Rovers after missing that last minute penalty and then seeing Donny streak away to net a winner, there would be a delicious sense of justice if Brentford swapped places with them for next season.

We are not there yet and if we go down there will be no complaints from me. I am left thinking like the Stranglers that "something better change..."

A draw could be a very good result tomorrow

A win tomorrow and we are probably home and dry. However, a draw looks like it would be a good enough result if Blackpool go down again at Wigan. That scenario would put us three points clear of the Seasiders and mean a draw with Watford on Tuesday would put us out of Blackpool's reach in the last match. 

Being greedy, it would be good to see Wigan score a few goals tomorrow and increase the goal deficit between us and Blackpool. Currently four, a 3-0 Wigan win would give us a decent lead assuming we were to lose by the odd goal to Watford and would enable us to stay up by losing the last game by a goal or two. It's not too much to hope for. Blackpool's have yielded a meagre 12 points from the last 81 possible. That's just two meagre home wins and six draws from 27 (twenty-seven) matches. Almost impossible in my opinion to arrest that with two games left.

Planning on scraping home is the typical Charlton view of things. With a glass half-full and still drunk on the comeback at Hillsborough, there's no reason why Jose Riga shouldn't go for the jugular tomorrow and three points. Even if it back-fired, we have another go on Tuesday.

Team selection may be the secret tomorrow, even if it didn't stop us at Sheffield  Wednesday. Hamer has to play in goal. I'd go with Fox, Dervite or Wood, Morrison and Solly in the back-line. It has to be Poyet and Cousins in centre-mid with Jackson out left and Wilson our right. On the evidence of his hat-trick alone, I would let Sordell start again looking to continue where he left off and I would probably play Obika alongside him for his aerial threat on the end of a Wilson cross.

I will take my trusty radio tomorrow so I get the news from the other matches. For once it might make watching Charlton slightly more comfortable.

Sheffield Wednesday 2 v Charlton Athletic 3

Jose Riga's team selection ahead of this awkward looking fixture caused understandable consternation amongst Addicks fans. The dreaded trio of Harriott, Church and Sordell returned whilst Wilson was again a substitute. 

As if to prove the point, we raced into a two-nill losing position after only eight minutes and we all began to fear the effective loss of four points as our goal difference looked like taking a battering. I was following the match on Charlton Life but with no Premier League distractions, Sky Sports News was the place to be as Neil Mellor provided frequent updates from Hillsborough and the goals faster than they could be relayed on Charlton Life.

News of a third goal after ten minutes had me momentarily heading for the top shelf for the hard stuff but Neil told us we had levelled and that a striker had scored. Marvin Sordell no less and from a Harriott cross! That eased the tension but I think we all expected Wednesday to score the next goal and soon. Half an hour passed with no more goals but Mellor was more reassuring with every update. None of our rivals were winning either and Birmingham were making a pigs ear of things at home to Blackburn having gone two-down. As I was praying to get in at half-time only one-down, we got the update from Mellor again of a goal and we were only level! Not only that but Sordell had seized on some defensive indecision to score the goal and Mellor said we deserved it.

Doncaster were down to ten men and facing an uphill second forty-five at Millwall. Yeovil were 0-0 at home to Huddersfield and Blackpool were drawing at Brighton. With Barnsley still to concede at Derby it was looking promising and after an hour it got better. Barnsley fell behind, Brighton took the lead we scored an unbelievable third at Hillsborough. Sky showed Marvin Sordell split the centre-backs and run on and beat the keeper. More compliments from Mellor and Addicks the world over were eating their words, rubbing their eyes, poking their ears and generally wondering what was happening.

We appear to have won with minimal fuss after that as Yeovil and Barnsley both lost. Blackpool took a point at Brighton and Millwall were held to a disappointing point for them against ten men.

Amazingly, we now find ourselves elevated to 18th in the table with only two games left for most of those below us. Yeovil and Barnsley need minor miracles now and it really is just a battle for the last place.

As we look for a final hurrah at home on Saturday, Birmingham face Leeds at St. Andrews, where they should be capable of securing three points. Blackpool travel to neighbours Wigan for a derby where the home side will be playing to secure their play-off spot. Millwall will be at QPR for what could be an explosive fixture as the R's look to build confidence ahead of the play-offs which they secured today. That leaves Donny who are at home to play-off chasing Reading. Blackpool, Millwall and Donny could well be as-you-were going into their last match.

On Tuesday, us and Birmingham play our home games in hand against Watford and Wigan respectively and anything from those should be about enough.

Last day then and there is a tantalising possibility that us and Birmingham could be safe and Blackpool, Millwall and Doncaster are left scrapping for the best result with only a point between them. With us able to lose at Blackpool, Millwall will need to get something at home to Bournemouth to overtake Doncaster who will be playing the Champions, Leicester. Squeaky bum-time but we can ensure we are out-of-it before Blackpool and could still play our part in Millwall's relegation, unlikely as it may sound after their recent revival.

I am left wondering how we scored three today and how Marvin Sordell got a hat-trick. I won't change my opinion of him - that he is nowhere near good enough for the Championship - and I hope he returns to Bolton in the close season. It may be that Wednesday were slack today at the back. They have conceded eight in the previous three games and they have nothing to play for. That may be harsh on Sordell but the alternative would be to suggest he is a better player than he has shown for us. He may also have been playing for his future but you think he might have tried a tad harder in the last few months if that was the case? I'd accept that supply hasn't been plentiful given our wing weaknesses and general inability to thread though-balls, but he's still fluffed most of the opportunities he has had. 

For today at least I am raising a glass to Marvin Sordell for a performance that will be remembered for keeping us up as long as we don't contrive to blow it from here.

Charlton Athletic 0 v Bolton Wanderers 0

A point that lifts us above Blackpool who were beaten in the 5pm kick-off at home to Burnley. We will all need to hold our breath tomorrow and hope that Middlesborough and Leeds can beat Millwall and Barnsley.

It was a much better performance than on Tuesday, but it would have been hard to imagine anything as bad. Marvin Sordell was an enforced absentee and Callum Harriott was finally given a day off. Morgan Fox came in for Rhoys Wiggins and was outstanding, a clear man-of-the-match. Michael Morrison ran him a close second as he returned to partner Dorian Dervite and Lawrie Wilson gave Chris Solly a rest at right-back. Asdarevic came into midfield and Reza joined Simon Church in a changed attack.

I thought we played pretty well against a solid and disciplined Wanderers side who threatened little but looked capable on the break of scoring. I haven't seen the stats but we must have edged possession and chances, although what was clear once again was our lack of cutting edge. We created more than on Tuesday night but were left with half-chances and what-might-have-beens. 

Simon Church caught Bogdan out dawdling on a kick-out in the second-half and he went down appealing for a penalty but it was never going to be given in the circumstances. We somehow kept Bolton's best effort out in the second-half with a goal-line clearance after Hamer was beaten but a Bolton victory would have been robbery.

We still need two victories as far as I am concerned and we may be under pressure at Sheffield Wednesday on Monday. It's crucial we stay out of the bottom four this weekend because we will have the best chance of escape with Blackburn and Watford at home to come become for final day at Bloomfield Road.

I am left, once again, reflecting on the folly of selling Yann Kermorgant in January when we needed to strengthen our striking options. If we go down this season there will be no hiding place for Roland Duchatelet.

What goes around....

I am not looking forward to this afternoon's Good Friday encounter with Bolton Wanderers. I am fearing a footballing repeat of Tuesday evening which hurt my eyes. I also have a long memory and have been thinking all week about the end of season match against the Trotters in 1983. 

There has been talk amongst Charlton fans of gaining revenge over Blackpool for the relegation thumping we suffered at their hands in the last match of 1972 which sent us into the Third Division for the first time since the War. As our fortunes have waned, there is a threat that the revenge could turn into a repeat performance. With that in mind, revenge may well be on the mind of the travelling Wanderers this afternoon. 

The older amongst them will remember their last match of the season in 1983 when they came to the Valley looking for the three points that would have kept them in the Second Division. Charlton also needed the points to avoid the drop and after 60 minute of nail-biting affair, Bolton took the lead. There was a terrible feeling of dread that day for seven minutes before the man, for whom it was always personal, levelled it up. Derek "Killer" Hales did what he always did and three minutes later Doyle brought him down in the box and he stepped up to send Bolton down. I remember the pitch invasion after the match and the taunting of the Wanderers fans behind the fence in the Jimmy Seed. They had been singing that we were going down after taking the lead and now we bellowed it at them. I remember seeing several of the younger ones in tears and  wonder whether they will be visiting today. If they are here they may well enjoy this match more than fans from a mid-table side ought to.

For our part, Jose Riga needs to ensure he sends out his best eleven today and we will need full commitment to get a result. Harriott has to be rested for the good of his sanity. I am pleased Marvin Sordell is match-tied. That may also work in our favour. I'd also proffer that a draw is almost worthless today and that we must go for the three points. There are a finite number of opportunities left and we have to win a number of games to ensure safety. Draws won't do it.

I am also wondering whether the folly of leaving so many players on expiring contracts may be about to bite. Professionals like Morrison and Wilson have battled on but they can't be blamed if in the final matches their heads are elsewhere. Their agents must be busy talking to other clubs to secure their employment beyond June. If you know you are on your way and you go a goal down, it's not going to affect you nearly as much as those Bolton fans with tears in their eyes for whom, like Killer, it was personal.

Charlton Athletic 1 v Barnsley 2

Well, we managed to do it again. No, not win to continue the W, L, W, L, W, L, W, L sequence, but to trip up monumentally in front of a relatively bumper home Valley crowd. I don't wish to sound alarmist or to get this defeat out of context but it was worrying in many ways and I have very little confidence for Friday.

Our failure to score goals appears to be morphing into an inability even to create chances. Sorry to say but it's hard to see who is going to change this. Jose Riga made a huge error tonight, in my opinion, with his team selection. Given the criticality of the match and the need to beat the bottom-placed side, we had to go with our strongest eleven. Either Jose doesn't know who they are or he thought of resting players with Friday in mind. Either way he picked the wrong team.

Callum Harriott burst on the scene and showed us plenty of promise a year ago or whenever it was. The problem is he has been struggling for a long time to make any impact and his performances of late have become extremely poor and confidence damaging. Tonight's was woeful and he was lucky to appear for even nine minutes of the second-half. 

Why-oh-why wasn't Wilson started on the right flank? The first opportunity for months to play him in front of Solly and he is on the bench? Not only that but when he is introduced with us chasing the game, it is as a left-back sub to give Solly more rest ahead of Friday. Riga threw the towel in there and then, although the match looked beyond us.

We have four very capable centre-halves, but Michael Morrison is the natural leader and yet Riga chose tonight to rest him too. Bizarre. I am almost certain I could see Morrison leaving his marker and heading out to clear the in-swinging corner that was left to allow M'Voto to charge in and bundle the opening goal.

Having said all this, Barnsley were absolutely dreadful in the first-half. They looked like the worst side in the division (bar us on today's form). Mis-placed passes, failure to control the ball near the touchlines and negative tactics across the side. But of course they took the lead courtesy of the softest of goals.

They didn't really improve much after the break but their confidence soared after a freak mishit cross wrong-footed Hamer (who was too far off his near post) and drifted in. Not the first time Ben has committed this error this season but it was fluke.

After that Barnsley looked more likely to get a third for most of what I stayed for. Sordell and Obika continued headless chicken mode and we really struggled to create anything. Johnnie Jackson looked focused during the first-half but he disappeared after they took the lead. Cousins was his usual frustrating self. Winning balls and making quick ground but telegraphing every pass to the extent that most were blocked or deflected. This will be his bete noir as a professional footballer.

My final grumph will be another display of too much cynical professionalism from some of our players, borne pretty obviously from sheer desperation. Harriott was so ineffective he hit the deck more often than not looking for sympathy or for a consolation foul. Sordell did the same, even managing to sacrifice the best scoring position of the game for a hopeful penalty which he waited for contact to take. Absolutely pathetic.

I wasn't there to see the scrambled consolation goal from Asdarevic but that too was almost inevitable. It's the hope that kills you.

We are still a point clear of the Lions with a game in hand but tonight has demonstrated perfectly what games in hand are worth compared to points in the bag and we have put ourselves in the corner. If this season goes to the last match, I decided this evening I won't be going to Blackpool. Not only could I not bear it but performances like this evening's make it unjustifiable.

Roland Duchatelet's negotiation skills in agreeing a £4m price reduction in the event of a relegation begin to reflect rather well on him. Sad to say but if we go down I will be pleased that Jiminez, Slater & Co feel the pain too. They have fashioned this situation even if Roland failed to tackle it adequately having had the opportunity to when taking over fully three months ago. 

Final thought this evening for my mate Chicago Addick who flew back from Bermuda just for this game....

Brighton & Hove Albion 3 v Charlton Athletic 0

No great surprise at the Amex this afternoon as Brighton moved into the play-off places with a routine home win. The stats of 16 shots for the home side versus two for the visitors (both off target) says it all really. It took the home side just eleven minutes to climb into the driving seat and a second before half-time killed the contest.

It was good to see Chris Solly return as a second-half substitute.That at least quashes the rumours that "he'll never play again." Wilson too was back, albeit in a mask, and we should be able to line-up with our best back four if you perm one from Wood, Dervite and Cort. Personally I think that's a tough call between them. Poyet and Cousins both played again and I assume in a central pairing. Poyet was at fault for the first goal but he's well overdue a learning mistake and this was not the worst game in which to make one. Jackson and Asdarevic completed the midfield with Sordell and Reza completing the side. 

Almost as important for us today was the fact that Millwall could only scrape another late equaliser at home against Watford and remain a point below us in the table. With Barnsley losing at Bolton and Yeovil only managing a home draw with Bournemouth, they both looked doomed, especially if Barnsley get nothing from their game in hand at the Valley on Tuesday. Indeed, another Tuesday night win for the Addicks and it becomes a straight fight between us, Millwall, Blackpool, Doncaster and Birmingham for the final relegation spot. 

A win on Tuesday puts us top of that lot, a point clear of Birmingham and Doncaster, two clear of Blackpool and, crucially, four clear of Millwall. Blackpool managed to lose to a rudderless Leeds United outfit today and their next two are home to Burnley and away at Brighton. Millwall go to Boro on Good Friday but then play a six pointer on Easter Monday against Doncaster at the New Den. There's a lot left in this but four points for us this week should give us line of sight to the safety mark and exert massive pressure on a couple of the others around us.

Barnsley will have very few fans down on Tuesday evening and we have a golden opportunity to hobble them but we will need to be wary because they will know their chances are running out and a loss to us will put them on the edge with only four games left. Doncaster aren't looking too clever either. Apart from their game at the New Den they have to play Top, Third and Eighth.

I can sense survival….

Tall order on the South Coast

Back from five tiring days at Centerparcs with the kids (well it is half-term). I missed the Yeovil match and the lack of stable wifi or mobile signal meant all I could do was find the result after the match finished. Obviously three vital points and a repeat on Tuesday against Barnsley would keep us on course to stay up.

By all accounts it wasn't a particularly good game with mistakes all over the shop and Yeovil looking worryingly potent in parts. Whatever, we scored more than a single goal for the sixth time this season and actually managed to get three, which tells you Yeovil will be heading out of the Championship. The reports I have read all focus on the fact that Lawrie Wilson was absent with a knock and that we look unbalanced with Morro at right-back. Not surprising really but he has been reasonably effective when he has played out of position  even if he has looked like a duck out-of-water. It does also question why Loic Nego or Morgan Fox weren't given a game. It would also suggest that Riga is under no pressure to play the loanees as this would have been a perfectly reasonable opportunity for Nego.

It was good to learn that Astrit Asdarevic scored his first goal for the club and that Reza set-up Sordell for a tap-in. That should give us a fraction more confidence if we feature those players at Brighton as I expect. Simon Church may have been "rested" for Brighton today but my guess is he will get a further  break as Riga looks for more goals. Even with Millwall managing an unlikely second away win in-a-row at Wigan (who fielded 8 changes with an eye on their Cup semi this weekend), today's match is a "free hit" in my view. We still have games in hand and can't be expected to get anything at a side pushing for the play-offs. We rode our luck last season to grind out a 0-0 and expect our recent W-L-W-L-W-L-W to continue. 

Unfortunately, I won't be enjoying myself if the sunshine down in East Sussex as it's my Mum's birthday and family and close friends will be having lunch at a pub down in Weald. I hope the mobile signal there is better than Centerparcs.

There will be as much focus on the result of Blackpool this afternoon as they are in free-fall and look increasingly like being caught by one or two of the desperadoes below them. They are at Leeds today who look completely lame, so failure there would set the alarm bells ringing for the Seasiders. We do look favourites for Tuesday's match at home to Barnsley but will need another committed performance. Not only would it effectively relegate the Tykes but it could put distance between as and Millwall again if the Lions see off Watford at the New Den today and climb a point clear of us. 

As I said, today is a "free hit" and it would be great to get something from it although I think that would be expecting too much...

Charlton Athletic 0 v Reading 1

After the euphoria of our 1-0 win at Elland Road in the week it was back to earth with a predictable bump yesterday. Play-off favourites, Reading, just about deserved their single goal win from what was the best and possibly only attacking move of the match.

Having said that, it wasn't a poor spectacle but it was all huff and no puff. Charlton shaded the first half and it was hard to tell these sides were at opposite ends of the table. After the break, however, Reading stepped up field and control shifted to them as they went in search of a winner. It was a Charlton substitution that precipitated the goal. Johnnie Jackson was replaced around the hour mark and David Petrucci made his debut. He looked to be carrying a bit of weight for a 22 year professional footballer and he lost possession on the edge of the Reading box that lead to their breakaway which Danny Williams finished in style. I don't wish to rush to judge Petrucci but he was clearly not fit enough to be playing in a Championship match yesterday and I suspect we won't see him for a couple of weeks at least.

Our big problem, once again, was our inability to create any real openings, let alone score a goal. Our goals for record is beginning to look like binary code for "we can't score" - 1,1,0,0,1,0,1,0,0,0,1,1,1,0. If you need more convincing, we have only managed to score more than a single goal in 5 of the 38 league matches played so far this season. That is relegation form.

What made it more uncomfortable yesterday was news that Millwall, Yeovil and Birmingham all won. The gap we had has been cut and Yeovil on Tuesday now assumes more importance than ever. Tuesday is not one of our games in hand and there is a full programme. Millwall go to Wigan and Barnsley entertain Burnley. It would be another great evening if we can score a goal and keep a clean sheet. I thought Dorian Dervite was outstanding yesterday amongst another solid defensive display.

Jose Riga has to be bolder in our remaining games and be prepared to throw Wilson forward in an effort to create more. Perhaps he plays full back for an hour and is then switched as we go for it? Simon Church got a full 90 minutes yesterday against his former club but he hardly touched the ball. I don't understand why Obika isn't getting more game time. 

Poyet and Cousins both had good games yesterday and I thought Cousins handled Danny Williams very well for an hour although he tired after that. I couldn't see why Jackson was taken off - maybe a knock - but we won a free-kick in good range shortly after he left the field which seemed to highlight the folly of removing him if it was just tactical. This was especially surprising given Calum Harriott did nothing once again. He must have been surprised still to be on the field at the final whistle when three others had been subbed.

I won't be able to make the Yeovil game this week nor Brighton on Saturday, so Barnsley at home a week on Tuesday is looking like it could be the most important game of the season.

I've joined the Moonies and have been amazed

Back in September I had to have a grumble about Apple's lack of innovation and product diversity. It may have taken me fully six months but I have this upgraded to 4G network capability and changed my handset in the process. 

News that Apple's i-Phone 6 won't be out until September (in the US) and that a larger version - that I want and need - may not follow until later was the final straw. Earlier this week I acquired a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and have switched my i-Phone off.

I have spent a couple of hours each night this week getting accustomed to my new device and, frankly, am astonished by it. It isn't the robust glass and steel of Apple but that would appear to be it's only loss of points to the West Coast giant. So far I have managed to replicate everything I could do with my i-Phone but there is masses more I have yet to look at on the Note 3. Practically everything on it is hugely more capable and powerful than the i-Phone. The camera will get tested this weekend but it looks to do nearly as much as my SLR.

I haven't started with the S-Pen yet (picture) but that looks like it adds a whole new layer of capability and is where the device gets it's name from. Some people aren't keen on the size of it but I have to say it already looks and feels normal after five days. I do have big hands which probably helps but the Note 3 also includes a function that will reduce the size of the layout on the phone and shift it left or right for people with smaller hands so they can continue to operate it one-handed! They really do appear to have thought of everything and packed it in. Given the range of devices Samsung produce, let alone the range of products, it really is amazing what they are able to do. Apple really need a giant technology leap with the i-Phone 6 or they may find themselves falling to Earth as quickly as they took off.

Leeds United 0 v Charlton Athletic 1

Well, well, well. Another night game and another Charlton victory. Three in as many weeks and we again have a 3 point cushion over third-bottom Barnsley and five over Millwall who appear to have thrown in the towel. Not long for "Scrubs" I fear.

I had to make do with following the game via Charlton Life but it was as good as trying to follow it on CAFC Player. Leeds are in turmoil at the moment and sounded very much like we took full advantage. We limited their chances although Ben Hamer was called on to keep us level before Reza Goochannjhad struck mid-way through the second-half with a superb curling finish which nestled in the far side netting. 

After that it was a case of seeing it out although we should have had a penalty when substitute Jonathan Obika was bundle over in the box. Nothing given and we then had to endure an added time penalty for dirty Leeds to add insult to injury. They had been taken swipes at Poyet all night and had suffered a spate of late bookings but the ref still saw fit to hand them a lifeline. As if fired by the injustice of it all, Ben Hamer jigged right and left on his line as McCormack ran in to score and showed him the left side of the goal just as he flung himself low and wide, getting a hand down to the shot and brilliantly pushing it out for a corner.

Jose Riga has to take a lot of credit for this result. He has managed to keep the squad focused and battling. No mean feat on the heels of a manager the players obviously cared a huge amount for and whom they did not want to see go. Reza Goochannejhad has looked a little lost since coming into the Championship but he clearly has an eye for goal and if he can find a way to stay on his feet and pose stronger defenders problems like he did this evening, then he certainly has the ability to find the net. His goal this evening showed superb technique and no lack of confidence.

The boys will be buzzing for Saturday and a rare opportunity this season to record back-to-back wins and just what we need to nail the Millwall coffin shut and to put Barnsley under bigger pressure. Tonight's win also brings Birmingham into reach and puts them in real danger. 

Finally a word got the 251 who made the long journey this evening. A handful short of probably the same crowd who were at Forest the other week too. Some will scoff at the small numbers but I prefer to think of the quality of the individuals concerned and there we win hands down. Charlton forever!