Stockport Interlude

Jim "the Ghost" Gannon brings his second division side to the Valley this evening for what promises to be an interesting encounter after the heroics of Saturday. Stockport are undergoing something of a revival under Gannon but should find us too strong, especially away from home. I know we have only played them a handful of times and our record is very poor - I'm sure they did the double last time around.... I remember leaving the County Ground shortly after they went 3-0 up, the Alan Curbishley stare followed me all the way out of the ground. I'm only pleased he didn't feel compelled to gesticulate.

The crowd will be interesting for this one following the disappointing turnout for the Braga game earlier this month. Based upon the 20,000 Charlton fans there on Saturday and probably 21,500 for the Scunthorpe match, you would think we might hold up for close to 10,000. My suspicion is it might be nearer 5,000 and I can't see Stockport adding more than 500. At least we have the pricing right at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.

I'm taking Pardew to rest three or four. Partly because we have a reasonable sized squad to select from and also because Palace are already out and can expect to be a tad fresher come Saturday. I don't think he'll do anything more dramatic than that baring in mind the need for more games for the emerging team. Despite being lower opposition, I don't think we'll be fretting about the consequences of defeat here either and we should expect to create enough decent chances.

Finally, I see Thomas Graveson is being offloaded by the Bhoys. Fingers-crossed-every-so -tightly that it might come to pass. Always struck me as a "Charlton-type" and I'm sure he has something left to give as well as to prove after his relative disappointments since leaving Everton.

Come on you Reds!

Up and running!

Why, oh-why do Charlton Athletic always do this to us? At 4pm on Saturday afternoon, I was feeling queasy; a bottom-of-the-table placing looked on the cards and all the early season optimism looked about to be quashed. Doubting Thomas had been whispering to me for weeks that we have bought a team of unknowns for the Championship and that we face another season of disappointment because of it. To make matters even worse, Wednesday have conceded 7 so far this season and looked very ordinary despite the two-goal lead.

I reminded myself that Pardew is to be trusted completely. He speaks with total confidence doesn't he? He doesn't panic. He can judge a player. He's been here before and gone on to build promotion winning sides. Surely he will now be doing what he does best and we will see a second half renaissance. Even if we don't win, we can grab a point. It will likely take a couple of months before our new team is firing on all cylinders. We've been at rock bottom before - remember the dozens of regular faces drinking in the bar under the Covered End. Driven there in sheer frustration whilst the game was still being played. Determined to get some meagre enjoyment out of another day of Charlton disappointment.

Cue the second half revival. Zheng Zhi's introduction gives immediate balance and composure to the midfield. Thomas gets slightly wider and starts thinking about crossing and not winning free-kicks. Todorov is holding the ball up and linking play. Semedo looks strangely more comfortable at full back. Reid performs his trademark shift of weight and bang! 1-0 with still 40 minutes to go! They are beginning to play now. Wednesday are shrinking and the gaps are beginning to appear. Zheng is swarming in midfield and pings a through-ball into the path of Big Chris who shows us for the first time that there might be more to his game than his height and shoulders suggest. And doesn't he looked pleased with himself? Not sure I could look happier if I had scored the equaliser. Something tells me we can get a winner here. Can't remember us doing this since...Coventry in the F A Cup? More flowing football and chances before Big Chris does it again. Another run and shot fired in followed by unbridalled celebrations. Pleased too for Bougherra who avoided the temptation to rise to the bait of the taunting Owls fans and even now remains restrained, although he has been pushing forward like never before in the last 15 minutes, determined to see a winner.

The obvious cliche is heard twice before I get to my exit. The spirits are lifted, we are off and running. If only we can play like this at Palace on Saturday.

Come on you Reds!