Tough match and a 'massive victory'

Mansfield made it difficult for Charlton tonight in a tough match on the old Nottinghamshire coalfield, but the Addicks claimed all three points with a 2-1 win.  Steve Brown, never one to praise easily, hailed it as a 'massive victory'.   Mansfield had a tight defence and were capable of disrupting Charlton.

Nevertheless, a key contribution was made by players derided as 'useless' by moaners earlier in the season: Matt Godden, Tyreece Campbell and Claus Aneke.   Godden was seen earlier in the season as an inadequate replacement for Alfie May, Campbell was often scapegoated and Aneke was supposed to be  a crock.

Conor Coventry put in a real shift and displayed some skill.   A calf injury kept Lloyd Jones out.   Tom McIntyre did a good job of replacing him.

Godden opened the scoring in the first half with the home side equalising on 40 minutes.  Mansfield had a tight defence, but  Tyreece Campbell then put Charlton ahead on 71 minutes.  Campbell was applauded by the Addickted after he had to be taken off following a knock.

Mansfield then threw every piece of discarded mining equipment they could find at Charlton, but the Addicks stayed firm.  In the five minutes added on an under pressure Aneke put in a strong shot from distance which the keeper had to tip over the bar, giving Charlton two corners.

Charlton were impressive for the first half-hour and almost went ahead after two minutes, Thierry Small heading a good chance wide from Tyreece Campbell's cross.  Christy Pym was down well to save from Macaulay Gillesphey after 13 minutes.

But in the 22nd minute Louis Reed's loose pass at the back intended for his keeper rolled straight to Matty Godden who made no mistake in tucking away his gift.

Stags went up a gear and after Reed had drilled inches wide in the 29th minute they were level after 40 minutes.  Baily Cargill's cross was headed out to Matty Craig who smashed an unstoppable rising finish home from 16 yards off the underside of the bar.

Soon after, Will Mannion had to get down to deny Caylan Vickers as Stags ended the half on a high.

Josh Edwards saw his shot blocked on the line on the hour after a scramble from a corner.  But Charlton noses were in front again with 16 minutes to go as Tennai Watson found Campbell to his right and he beat Stephen McLaughlin before tucking a low 15-yard finish inside the near post.

Charlton defended well under late pressure before Pym saved superbly from a powerful Chuks Aneke shot in added time.

It was also a win for Mrs Brown as with hubby off in the wastes of Notts she was able to load the dishwasher without complaints about the left side not being utilised.

Wycombe Wanderers could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Shrewsbury, but Stockport beat Stevenage 3-0.   Huddersfield lost 1-0 at Lincoln and Bolton made it into the top six.

Clough says he is facing a different Charlton

Looks like Nigel Clough is taking the opportunity of getting an alibi in early before tomorrow night's game between Mansfield and Charlton: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/mansfield-boss-nigel-clough-charlton-athletic-are-different-animal-to-team-we-faced-at-valley/

These midweek away matches can be decisive in a season.   I had this one down as a 3-1 Charlton win at the beginning of the season, but I would be content with a one goal margin.

Mansfield's recent form has not been bad, they have lost just one match in six, although three were drawn.  They had done slightly better away than at home and have scored just 19 goals at home, one of the lower totals in the division.   They are 10th in the form table and Charlton are 4th.

Mansfield won 2-1 at Bristol Rovers on Saturday, but that had aa much to do with errors by the Gasheads as anything.

Berry, Campbell and Godden were all in the League One team of the week at the weekend.

Charlton thrash play off rivals

Charlton beat Huddersfield 4-0 at The Valley this afternoon and a key role was played by Tyreece Campbell.   Until recently a target of moaners, who could not recognise a player in development, he now has his own song; 'Tyreece Campbell running down the wing, scoring goals, makes the Charlton sing.'

Campbell has thanked Nathan Jones for his confidence in him and converting him from a winger to a striker: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/tyreece-campbell-thanks-charlton-athletic-manager-nathan-jones-for-his-belief-in-him/

In his take on the match, Louis Mendez also selects Campbell as star man: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/the-lowdown-on-charlton-athletic-4-huddersfield-town-0-tyreece-campbell-grabs-brace-in-dominant-display/

Charlton were excellent: bright, positive and pretty clinical when it mattered. Huddersfield were none of those things.

This was a match between 4th and 6th but on this showing there's only one team who will be playing beyond 3 May, and they wear red and white.

Matty Godden's flashing header after 30 seconds set the tone, Tyreece Campbell found the bottom corner either side of half-time, and Greg Docherty's thunderbolt  (later ruled to be an own goal) found the net via the bar and the back of unfortunate keeper Lee Nicholls, who is the only reason the margin of victory wasn't wider.

Chuks Aneke found the back of the net from distance, but was ruled offside.

Attendance 17,278.

Never mind a partial eclipse of the sun, Nathan Jones was over the moon at his team's performance: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-after-charlton-blow-huddersfield-away-you-wont-find-a-better-league-one-performance-than-that/

Leaburn, Edwards out injured

Miles Leaburn will not be available against Huddersfield tomorrow. Nathan Jones: "It's not a matter of days, it's a weeks one. It gives someone else an opportunity. We have got to manage Miles slightly differently to other players - he is young and had an injury before."

Josh Edwards is another missing with a groin injury. Nathan Jones: "He is a lot closer than he was a week ago. He has done some training and we'll assess and see how he is." Dan Kanu rolled his ankle with the U21s.  Jones said, "We can't rush it."

Huddersfield are 7th from bottom in the form table, Charlton are 4th.   Huddersfield's home and away records are symmetrical in terms of wins and defeats (nine and six), although they have scored more goals away (29).

Interim Huddersfield coach Jon Worthington has dismissed speculation that the game could be a dress rehearsal for a play off contest: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/you-can-think-about-that-huddersfield-interim-boss-quizzed-on-potential-play-off-dress-rehearsal-at-charlton-athletic/

CAS Trust remind us that the Terriers have won the last five games against us: https://www.castrust.org/2025/03/no-walk-in-the-park-against-terriers/

I am sticking with my beginning of the season prediction of a 2-1 win.

Jensen returns

Claus Jensen will be at The Valley on Saturday and still follows the club.  He has great memories of this time at Charlton where he played 126 games: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/i-still-follow-the-club-ex-charlton-midfielder-claus-jensen-excited-by-valley-return-on-saturday/

He could certainly score from distance.   What was your favourite Jensen goal?   It may seem an odd choice, but I remember a belter at Leeds where we lost 5-2 but he momentarily silenced the home crowd.

Wrexham halve losses and see big revenue increase

Wrexham's latest accounts show that revenue has surged to just under £27 million, an increase of 155 per cent.  The club still lost £2.7m, but that represented a halving of the previous year's figure.  Loans of £15m by the original owners have been repaid with new minority owners: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wrexham-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-31286635

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.