Ex Addick praised for international coaching role

In the interval of tonight's international match between North Macedonia and Wales, the BBC Wales studio pundits praised the achievements of Chris Gunter as a Wales coach.  He has been in charge of the under 19s who won 3-1 earlier in the evening.

Gunter played for Charlton for two years, also playing for Wales internationally.  He was the first player to achieve 100 caps for Wales, a record subsequently overtaken by Gareth Bale.

He was at Charlton towards the end of his career and was often the target of moaners.   After his two years at The Valley, he had a brief spell with Johnnie Jackson and the Wombles before joining Wales.

His real talent may be coaching.

Berry refuses to be downbeat after loss

Most Charlton fans are prepared to accept that yesterday's defeat was a bad day at the office and that is pretty much the message from Luke Berry: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/luke-berry-refusing-to-be-downbeat-despite-charltons-3-0-loss-at-peterborough/

Of course, given that we are talking about Charlton fans so there has been an outpouring of pessimism and negativity from some quarters.

There was, I think, a failure to recognise how resurgent Peterborough are.   We couldn't maintain the initial intense press (although it nearly produced an early goal) and, as Berry points out, the home side were strong on the counter attack.

We just need to learn the lessons for an important home fixture against Huddersfield.

Charlton stay 4th after loss to in form Posh

Charlton remain 4th in the table tonight after Stockport lost 1-0 at Wrexham despite losing 3-0 at Peterborough.  My start of the season prediction of a 3-1 defeat doesn't look so bad.

I warned in my preview of excessive optimism on the part of Charlton fans.   We tried to press too hard in the first half, giving the home side the opportunity to have moments, starting with an indirect free kick in the penalty area.

Charlton almost led in the third minute when a looping header by Lloyd Jones from Luke Berry's corner came off the bar.

But following the indirect free-kick from Mothersille being smothered, Peterborough took the lead after 38 minutes when Kwame Poku's ball back into the area was headed in, for his first goal for the club, by captain Hughes.

Five minutes later, the Posh doubled their lead as Ricky-Jade Jones broke away through the middle before passing to Odoh, who bent in a fine finish after cutting inside.

After wasting a succession of chances, including a glaring miss by Odoh, the hosts had the third goal their performance deserved in the 79th minute when Cian Hayes' ball across the area was converted by Mothersille.

Nathan Jones commented: 'When we were on top we didn't score and we gifted them the first goal. They are a real threat on the transition and we didn't defend that well enough.'

Richard Cawley, who had ventured outside the M25, noted at half time: 'Charlton have had 24 touches in the opposition box - Peterborough had nine - but not been able to make those moments count. Thierry Small's shot in the 43rd minute one of the few saves that Steer has had to make.'

Peterborough are a form side

The season hasn't quite turned out as expected for Peterborough United and a lot of their energies seem to be directed towards a 'brand evolution project'.   The Posh are currently 18th in the table, although they are 4th in the form table (Charlton are 1st).   At home they have won seven, drawn five and lost six, although they have conceded almost as many goals as they scored (32-28).

Peterborough have been very much a yo-yo side in recent years and at the beginning of the season Four Four Two forecast a 5th place finish.  The fan commentator forecast 4th hailing manager Darren Ferguson as 'the second coming'.   Quite what went wrong is unclear, although Ferguson thinks it is a 'mentality' issue.

Charlton fans seem to have moved from excessive pessimism to excessive optimism.  At least the 'we'll be playing in League Two next season' have crept back under their stones.   I must admit I didn't think about the play offs when I arranged to marry again on May 9th.

Birmingham City have the title nailed on and the other automatic promotion place is likely to go to one of the moneybags clubs, Hollywood owned Wrexham or Wycombe, owned by a Kazakh billionaire.

I think Charlton will make the play offs, but we are likely to face either Wrexham or Wycombe, Stockport County and either Bolton or Huddersfield.   Reading or Leyton Orient could make it, but I am sceptical. (Reading are now in danger of being thrown out of the EFL by April).

Remember we can be knocked out in the semi-final of the play offs (as happened against Swindon) and the fact that we have won at Wembley twice before does not mean we would be third time lucky.

I had Peterborough away down as 3-1 defeat at the start of the season, but a 2-2 draw now seems a better prediction.

The CAS Trust preview also observes that Peterborough are in form, noting the return of their leading goal scorer after a long lay off: https://www.castrust.org/2025/03/two-and-a-half-thousand-go-to-posh/

From zero to hero

Not so long ago Macaulay Gillesphey was a scapegoat player for many, but now Nathan Jones praises his defensive strength and aggression: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/i-berate-him-more-than-i-big-him-up-charlton-boss-jones-on-defensive-asset/

It's ironic in a way: formerly 'useless' manager praises 'useless' player.

Jones also praises Charlton's defensive strength and results surely justify this claim.

Charlton march on

It was seven wins on the spin for Charlton as they beat Wigan 2-1 at The Valley this afternoon, although they lost their clean sheet record as the visitors scored in the 84th minute and set up a nerve wracking finish.  Even so, it was a Lowe point for the new Lactics supremo.   

Charlton's two goals were scored by Matty Godden in a dominant first half.  For the opening goal Ramsay showed good strength on the byline to keep the ball, his cross sees a Wigan player's clearance hit a team-mate and Godden spins to finish from close range.

For the second Berry's free-kick was nodded across the face of goal by Gillesphey and it was a simple close-range tap in for Godden.

Charlton almost added a third within seconds of the restart, with only a double save from Tickle keeping out first Tyreece Campbell and then Godden for what would have been his hat-trick.

And only a fine defensive header from Jason Kerr diverted Gillesphey's goalbound shot finding the top corner.

Despite a brilliant save from Will Mannion to deny Ronan Darcy, half time substitute Chris Sze tapped home from close range on the rebound to give the away side an unlikely lifeline.

Charlton remain 4th.  The game between Wycombe and Wrexham was suspended at 0-0 after a medical emergency in the Wrexham end.

Fans chanted 'Championship, we're on our way'.   Well, maybe.

Missing striker mystery solved

Gassan Adahme has not been seen in an Addicks line up for 13 games and there were rumours that he was practising his shooting skills against a barn door in Kent.

However, Nathan Jones has solved the mystery, at least partially.   Apparently, Ahadme has been ill, although the nature of the illness has not been disclosed and its effects seem to be rather odd: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-boss-addresses-squad-absence-of-summer-signing-gassan-ahadme/

The Sparrows Lane medical team does not seem to have had a ready answer, although perhaps an old fashioned remedy like syrup of figs would remove any blockages.

A sports psychologist commented: 'Sometimes players develop a fear of scoring, for example they may imagine that the net will envelop and smother them or the crossbar will fall on them if they score.'