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.

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 notes 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.'

Troika in charge of Wigan on Saturday

Wigan have appointed former Preston boss Ryan Lowe as their new supremo, but he will not be in charge at The Valley on Saturday when a trio of three will be in charge of the Lactics: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/wigan-announce-new-head-coach-before-charlton-clash/

Quite how this works I don't know: perhaps one is in charge of the defence, another looks after midfield and the third tells the strike 'force' where the net is (Wigan have scored fewer goals than any other team in League One).

Away from home, Wigan have won five, drawn six and lost six.   They are mid-table in the form table. My Badger League prediction was 2-0 Charlton win.

It sounds as big a nightmare as having a fans' committee in the dugout to tell the manager where he is getting it wrong.

Richard Cawley's talking points arising from the win at Crawley: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/talking-points-from-charltons-1-0-win-at-crawley-town-jones-wants-his-players-going-flat-out-not-flat-white-in-league-one-promotion-charge/

Clean sheet specialists

Charlton went to 4^th in League One as Thierry Small's first-half goal gave the Addicks a narrow League One victory at struggling Crawley to consolidate their play-off push with a ninth win in the last 12 games.   Bolton and Wrexham both lost.

Crawley improved somewhat after the break but lacked a cutting-edge up front.

Charlton captain Lloyd Jones had a dangerous low cross intercepted early on with Tyreece Campbell in a threatening position before Crawley striker Will Swan fired off target at the other end after a strong run by Panutche Camara.

The recalled Alex Gilbert, arriving late inside the area, had a shot blocked for Charlton, having earlier put a fierce 20-yard chance inches over.

The Addicks made the breakthrough after 37 minutes a Gilbert assist found Small to the right of goal after Crawley had failed to clear and his powerful close-range shot gave goalkeeper Jojo Wollacott no chance.

Wollacott was well positioned to save a goal-bound chance from Karoy Anderson shortly after the interval.  And the Crawley keeper was in action again to save drive from Gilbert from the edge of the area.

Campbell came close to doubling Charlton's lead when he put an angled shot just wide after showing blistering pace.

Charlton's victory saw them climb above Stockport into fourth place and they now boast 17 clean sheets in the league.

Nathan Jones said it was 'a very tricky game but a wholly professional performance', singling out Lloyd Jones for praise: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/charlton-athletic-boss-jones-on-really-professional-win-over-crawley-town/

What airport workers are reading on the night shift: https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/crawley-town-0-charlton-athletic-1-reds-winless-run-continues

Can we lay the ghost of the season's low point?

The home defeat to Crawley was a low point of Charlton's season and the 'Jones out now' crowd thought they might have at last got their man.  But now it is Crawley who look like playing in League Two next season.

However, such a fixture against a side fighting for survival is not going to be easy and Nathan Jones gives his perspective: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-looks-ahead-to-crawley-clash-as-charlton-have-chance-to-lay-ghosts-of-seasons-low-point-to-rest/

Crawley are 2nd from bottom in the form table and Charlton are 2nd.   At home they have won just four matches, drawing six and losing seven. 

Last Saturday a last minute goal saw them draw 1-1 with Reading, but they have been hit by injuries and suspensions.  Manager Rob Elliot (for it is he) said. 'We are struggling to put bodies on the pitch.'

I am perhaps unwisely sticking with my original Badger League forecast of a 2-0 win for Charlton.