Saturday 31 October 2020

Victory and a clean sheet again

Charlton beat Portsmouth 2-0 at Fratton Park this afternoon with a first half goal from Jonny Williams and a second half one from Chuks Aneke.  Charlton are now 5th, ahead of Portsmouth and Sunderland.

Charlton have now gone over nine hours without conceding.   They have won five in a row for the first time since the spring of 2012 when they won the League One title.

There was a moment of danger after four minutes when there was uncertainty about Amos's call, but Portsmouth put the ball well over.

There was some sloppiness in Charlton's early play and a struggle with possession at the back as the makeshift defence settled in, but it has to be said that Gunter played well in the game as a whole as a stand in centre half. 

Pratley was in some danger of getting a red card, but the referee judged there had been little contact even if he was studs up.

On 25 minutes Forster-Caskey picked out Maatsen who put in a cross and Williams powered into the box to score his first Charlton goal.  Maatsen was included in the Football League Paper League One team of the day.

Bogle appeared to be brought down in the area, but the referee probably rightly judged it was not a penalty.  Gunter made a great clearance.

Half time: Pompey 0, Addicks 1

Pompey withdrew Whatmough and brought on Nicolaisen after the break.   Ben Amos got a yellow card for time wasting, his third yellow card this season.

Following maestro Jackett's half time talk, Portsmouth applied more pressure in the second half, but Charlton stood up well, even if they were a little too deep at times.   The midfield did look a little tired and stretched.

Charlton made a double substitution on 70 minutes with Bogle and Williams going off and Aneke and Smyth coming on.

Faemwo went down with what looked like a hamstring injury and Purrington replaced him.  Jason Pearce is now in training.

An Aneke shot was saved.   Pratley cleared a Portsmouth corner with a header.  On 82 minutes Smyth put in a pinpoint cross to Aneke who scored with a header.

Charm merchant Nicolaisen got a yellow card.

Five minutes added on saw a yellow card for Aneke.   There were two Pompey corners, but Amos punched out the first one and saved the second convincingly.

Lee Bowyer said this was probably the best three points this season, not many teams  would come to Portsmouth and win 2-0.

The Football League Paper had great headlines this morning.   On the front page 'Jonny's so good for the Addicks' accompanied by a big picture and inside 'Mystic Lee predicts Williams' influence'.

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