Charlton Athletic 2 v Cambridge United 0

Two successive home wins inside a week, up to 11th and within eight points of sixth placed Plymouth who we face next. Johnnie Jackson is also enjoying the club's best ever start to a managerial career with 70% win rate from his opening 12 games - he has to be given the job this week or else you will have to think there is a problem. The game could have been so much better but few were complaining as singing Addicks streamed out of the ground at full-time.

Expectations were understandably high after Tuesday evening's demolition of fancied Ipswich. We got the result but the match was a disappointment as we failed to get close to the tempo we achieved on Tuesday which blew Ipswich away. 

Cambridge arrived on the back of an impressive 5-0 away win at Cheltenham and whilst they played with ambition, they looked second-best all day to a Charlton side that never got out of third gear. The game was also spoilt by a rash of yellow cards (nine or ten) from Referee Ben Speedie in a match which was more scrappy than dirty. James Brophy caught the eye for the visitors on the left wing and, thankfully, we didn't see much of Joe Ironside who scored a hat-trick on Tuesday. 

Conor Washington carried on his own fine form of late by netting in each half (six in seven). His opener after 30 minutes was from one of our few chances in the first-half but he took it very well as he collected a short pass in the box and swivelled to push a low hard shot wide of Mitov in the U's goal. It was a quality finish and a step above what else we had seen that far. It also gave you the impression we would win the game without busting a gut, which is what happened.

Cambridge had two fine chances in the first-half as they managed to find a man free in our box twice. MacGillivray blocked the first with a foot and the second was dragged horribly wide as it looked easier to score. In the second half they managed another two half-chances in front of their 1500 travelling fans but couldn't beat MacGillivray. We played better attacking the Covered End, but not by much and had to settle with Washington's second two minutes from full time when he and Jayden Stockley found themselves with possession on the near post. Stockley tried to control the pass into the box but it fell to Washington who drilled home from eight yards. 

I was delighted to speak with my all-time favourite player, Colin Powell before the game. I had written about him for the latest My Only Desire (MOD) magazine and he came over to reminisce as we enjoyed a pre-match pint. My mate Pete and I lived in neighbouring streets to Paddy as teenagers and we had a laugh recalling some local characters including Bob Curtis. Oh how spoilt we were to have seen Hales, Flanagan, Peacock and Powell in their pomp. If only we had a stronger defence in those days....