Ben Purrington has become the latest former Charlton player to be fitted for a kilt, joining SPL Ross County on a two year contract. Ashley Maynard-Brewer was with them last year. The Staggies think he will offer experienced leadership in the dressing room: https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/sport/football/ross-county/4477350/ross-county-sign-former-charlton-athletic-left-back-ben-purrington-on-two-year-deal/
Wishing him every success in Dingwall.
Ben Purrington talks extensively about his time at Charlton including that goal at Wembley: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/ben-purrington-on-his-release-by-charlton-athletic-scoring-and-winning-at-wembley-with-addicks-will-never-be-forgotten/
Ben Purrington has been released by the club: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/exclusive-one-of-charltons-wembley-heroes-will-be-leaving-the-club-this-summer/
I always thought that he was an underrated player and Curbs praised him a lot, but I suppose he does not fit in with the new manager's plans.
Thanks for all your efforts and hope you find a new club.
Paul Mortimer has commented on BBC Radio London: ‘He [TS]
wants high pressing? So, now the
chairman is a coach who understands tactics....I don't know why he's talking
about tactics. It worries me...He's employing his son who has no football
background.’
However, as one fan pointed out in response, if you own a
football club is it so unreasonable to have a view about the style of play?
Another commented that Charlton Athletic fans seriously need to take a breather and just let the next few weeks play out before they let their blood pressure reach unhealthy levels.
Supremo Thomas Sandgaard has said that some out-of-contract players will be resigned (if they want to come, of course): https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-owner-thomas-sandgaard-well-re-sign-some-of-our-out-of-contract-players/
Top of my list would be Conor Washington and I would extend Jake Forster-Caskey's contract for one year. There is a case for Ben Purrington - Curbs rates him.
My survey on whether Johnnie Jackson should have been sacked is currently running at 47 per cent yes, 53 per cent no.
Louis Mendez gives a weary three takeaways on the season just finished here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/three-takeaways-from-charltons-2021-22-campaign-thank-goodness-its-over/
One piece of good news for me, last night my non-league club Leamington retained the Birmingham Senior Cup at Villa Park by beating rivals Stourbridge 3-1. Unlike Monday's match against Kidderminster, when all available police had to rush to Harbury Lane, the game seems to have passed off without any trouble.
Charlton need to collect all three points from Ipswich on Saturday to be sure of a top half of the table finish. Elliot Lee, who has disappointed on loan, is likely be to be available and Corey Blackett-Taylor has recovered from illness. Scott Fraser will not be available to face his former club: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-on-selection-news-for-ipswich-and-discusses-clare-surgery/
Ben Purrington is 'unlikely to be involved' which may signal that we have seen the last of 'The Cat'. Curbs has often praised him and I think he has been a useful player, but perhaps that is something we can no longer have if we are to push for promotion in what is likely to be a very competitive league.
Jacko also discusses Sean Clare's surgery which is an attempt to reduce the risk of skin cancer and I wish him a successful procedure and a speedy recovery. I think he has adapted well to his changed position, even if he has made a few mistakes.
It is now sixty years since Ipswich won the then first division title with Alf Ramsey. Of course, this was before the arrival of football in 1992, but it was still a considerable achievement: https://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/ipswich-town/60-years-since-itfc-won-first-division-8921472
Johnnie Jackson reveals, not surprisingly, that the conversations have begun with out of contract players at Charlton: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/internal-discussions-taking-place-on-charlton-athletics-players-due-to-free-agents-this-summer/
In general this is an opportunity to say 'thanks for all you tried to do' to an under performing squad, but most fans would (I think) like to retain Conor Washington who has an ability to penetrate opposition defences.
I know this is controversial, but I think this is a case for Ben Purrington. Curbs has had some very positive things to say about him on Charlton Live and he can play in more than one position. In other words, a useful squad player.
Jake Forster-Caskey is a talented player and we were right to stand by him, but like Ryan Inniss he is too much of an injury risk.
Johnnie Jackson is proud of the performance and the players but also disappointed after today's 0-1 exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Norwich: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-left-to-rue-missed-opportunity-as-charlton-edged-out-of-fa-cup-by-premier-league-norwich/
It was the third 1-0 defeat in a row, but The Guardian thought that the Addicks were unlucky: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/jan/09/charlton-norwich-fa-cup-match-report
It was Charlton who had the better of the first half, with Elliott Lee curling just wide from distance before his cross from the left was fired over by Jonathan Leko.
Dean Smith made a triple change at half time, bringing on Brandon Williams, Rashica and Pukki in an attempt to change the momentum of the game.
It was Charlton who went close again next though, with the impressive Lee having a shot from a tight angle well saved by Krul.
The game looked to be drifting towards extra time before Pukki was released down the right, drew goalkeeper Henderson and crossed for Rashica to finish into an open net for his maiden Norwich goal.
Purrington's added-time header from six yards that hit the bar after Norwich failed to clear a free-kick into the box was the closest Charlton came to equalising.
Attendance was 13,825, 2,260 from Norfolk.
Johnnie Jackson has provided an update on the injuries to Conor Washington and Jayden Stockley: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-provides-update-on-injuries-to-favoured-front-two-washington-and-stockley/
Johnnie Jackson has said of the Plymouth game: 'It wasn’t even my intention to bring Inniss with us. He was going to stay behind and play for the u23s but losing Akin, losing Deji to an injury as well, I felt like I needed to bring him along.'
Louis Mendez of the SLP commented: 'Inniss was nowhere near ready to start, he wasn't even
supposed to be on the bench but injury to Deji and Akin being out forced
Jacko's hand.'
Mendez added, 'We badly missed
Purrington at LWB yesterday. We're so lopsided going forward when he's required
to sit in the back-three. Put everything on DJ and he was snuffed out fairly
comfortably after the opening 20 mins or so. I want to see The Cat on the
prowl.'
Johnnie Jackson says that he cannot sort out the contract situations of Ben Purrington and Conor Washington until his own situation is resolved, which is another reason for taking a decision soon. However, he says that they are very much part of his plans: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-asked-about-contract-talks-for-charlton-duo-conor-washington-and-ben-purrington/
'The Cat' fell out of favour with Adkins and indeed with some Charlton fans who insisted he was useless. However, Jackson sees him very much as a confidence player suited to the wing back role.
Sean Clare reckons that Charlton have every chance of getting back in the promotion race. He also says that he is enjoying playing as a centre back, something he has never professionally, although he started that way as a kid: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sean-clare-plymouth-triumph-lays-down-a-marker-in-charltons-season/
Clare is the latest player to endorse Johnnie Jackson as manager, saying that he knows what he wants from every single player: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sean-clare-adds-voice-to-list-of-players-praising-mr-charlton-johnnie-jackson/
In his four takeaways from the Plymouth game, Louis Mendez praises Sean Clare for the way he has slotted in and also singles out Ben Purrington. The Cat has got three goals in four, but not so long ago some Charlton fans were writing him off as usless (certainly Atkins didn'r rate him): https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-2-0-win-over-table-topping-plymouth-dont-look-a-gift-horse-in-the-mouth/
Charlton beat Plymouth Argyle 2-0 at The Valley this afternoon to end the table topping side's unbeaten run. The Addicks are now 12th in the table.
Plymouth manager Ryan Lowe said' We weren't quite at our best while Charlton were. We were beaten by the better team.'
The Addicks almost went ahead after seven minutes, when George Dobson pounced on sloppy defensive work, only to pull his shot off target. After further Charlton pressure, where they forced a number of corners, Elliott Lee put a Dobson cross just off the outside of the post on 22 minutes.
Plymouth started to get into the contest and just before the half hour mark Ryan Hardie beat the offside trap but goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray saved well.
Charlton still dominated the rest of the half, but were unable to find a way to make their superiority count.
It was 0-0 at half time. They suffered a blow 10 minutes after the restart, when captain Jason Pearce was forced off the field with injury.
Former Argyle player Ben Purrinton opening the score against his former club in the 61st minute. Dobson received a short corner and delivered an angled cross which reached The Cat beyond the far past and he drilled a shot past Cooper in the Plymouth goal.
In the 84th minute Conor Washington raced past the Plymouth defence to make it 2-0.
Substitute Mason Burstow tweeted: 'Buzzing to make my league debut in a packed out Valley, making my family and friends proud!! Fans were absolutely amazing, thanks for all the support! Been a dream of mine since I started playing football. Big game, Big win.'
Johnnie Jackson gives his reaction to the game and whether he would be prepared to revert to assistant manager: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-a-hit-as-charlton-caretaker-boss-would-he-be-prepared-to-go-back-to-assistants-role/
Louis Mendez says that it was a man of the match performance by Jason Pearce at Burton yesterday and that is confirmed by The Football League Paper who made him star man. Both he and Ben Purrington were in the paper's team of the day: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-tempestuous-1-0-win-at-burton-albion-a-chaotic-triumph-on-the-road/
The Times have selected our win at Burton as League One performance of the week.
Mendez says that the case for appointing Johnnie Jackson as permanent manager is now compelling. It could be that an announcement will be made in front of the bumper crowd at the Plymouth Argyle game.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink says that Deji Oshilaja did not retaliate against Jayden Stockley and that Charlton caused them few problems in the game. He says that in the second half 'it was all us' which leads one to question why they didn't have more shots on target: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/burton-boss-hasselbaink-deji-oshilaja-did-not-retaliate-charlton-did-not-cause-us-problems/
Johnnie Jackson says that losing Jayden Stockley is a blow and referee Trevor Kettle could have simply given two yellows. He told his players to avoid going down to ten men in the second half: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-caretaker-johnnie-jackson-has-his-say-on-red-cards-for-stockley-and-oshilaja/
Match winner Ben Purrington is the latest player to say that he hopes Jackson is made permanent manager: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/ben-purrington-i-hope-johnnie-jackson-gets-charlton-managers-gig-full-time/
Charlton piled on the pressure after the quarter hour mark with a succession of corners. A big argument broke out in the penalty area after the third corner. It looked as if Oshilaja was holding Stockley down. He may have hit out with his arm. Both players were sent off. Steve Brown said at half time that he thought that neither the referee nor the assistant referee knew what was going on.
Charlton won another corner, Famewo flicked it on, bypassing two defenders and Purrington scored from within the six yard box. He read the situation very well to score his third goal of the season.
Lee got a yellow card after a trip. The referee talked to both managers as they clashed in an increasingly heated atmosphere. Jacko gave as good as he got from Hasselbaink. Kettle booked DJ for hitting the ball off the hoardings.
Hemmings was booked for a dive in the box.
Charlton had around two-thirds possession in the half. Burton had not had a shot on target. Five minutes were added on. Famewo was booked for time wasting at a throw in. This means he will be suspended for the next game. The steaming Kettle booked someone in the tunnel. Apparently it was Arter, an unused substitute.
HT: Brewers 0, Addicks 1
MacGillivray made a great save from Powell at the near post as Burton started on the front foot. Charlton were able to clear the resultant corner.
A good cross from Davison was headed behind before DJ could make use of it. Josh Parker said afterwards that this was a bit of a wake up call.
Burton were playing further forward than in the first half. At times Charlton struggled to get out of their half.
The hard working Davison who showed signs of tiring came off and was replaced by Blackett-Taylor.
The 1,000 or so of Addicks fans in a crowd of 3,500 made a lot of noise.
Famewo did superbly well to win a free kick for Charlton. O'Connor shot straight at MacGillivray.
Good play from Lee teed up Purrington and led to a Charlton corner.
On 83 minutes DJ, who had pointed to his groin, was replaced by Elerewe. Gilbey headed away from a free kick.
Four minutes were added on. Famewo made a great tackle and brought the ball away. Lee made good covering defending and Charlton won a free kick. Jacko and the players celebrated with the fans.
Steve Brown said that we were very resilient, something we had been over the last four or five games, it was a brilliant clean sheet. Defensively we were doing things very well. The balance of the side had changed, we had been too easy to play through. We had a nice balance in centre midfield. Gilbey covered run after run after run.
The Cat said the sending offs affected the way Charlton pressed. In the second half Burton had a lot more of the ball. We were showing that we were a solid compact unit, getting to know each other. It was a completely different story, we knew what we were doing in possession.
Jacko said it was a great win, a strange game. It was a proper away performance, you have to suck up a little bit of pressure. We limited them to very few chances. He thought that the referee should have booked both Oshilaja and Stockley. I thought we had a real good shape about us. What you need is that whole hearted honesty (referring to DJ).
Both sides had a cagey start, but the game burst into life when Doncaster cleared off the line from a shot by Lee after ten minutes. At the other end Famewo received a yellow card.
Leko was injured and replaced by DJ. He did have a slight groin injury coming into the game.
Lee put Charlton 1-0 ahead on 21 minutes from a free kick.
Doncaster's finest
Amusement was caused by a topless bloke in the Doncaster end throwing some sparring punches towards the East Stand from 50 feet away. He did briefly get on the pitch and was led away.
Doncaster were having most of the possession, but weren't creating anything.
Gilbey was brought down and the referee awarded a penalty. Conor Washington scored on his 50th appearance for Charlton on 33 minutes to make it 2-0.
Dobson was playing a key role in midfield in winning the first ball.
A shot by Washington was saved well to deny Charlton a third.
Dobson put in an excellent ball to Washington but Purrington put it wide at the near post.
Doncaster did not really create anything in the first half.
HT: 2-0
DJ put in a cross and Charlton won the corner which was taken short and cleared.
The ball was cleared off the line after Stockley got something on it.
A header from Stockley was straight at the keeper after good play from DJ. Doncaster made a substitution with their top scorer Rowe coming on.
Charlton had a free kick in a promising position. Lee took the free kick and Stockley made a run across his man to make it 3-0 on 62 minutes.
Purrington got his claws out to make it 4-0 at the far post on 70 minutes with a superb header after a great ball from DJ.
On 75 minutes Lee went off to a standing ovation and was replaced by Clare. Doncaster also made a substitution.
Davison replaced Washington.
Gilbey put in a shot but the keeper saved to his right after it nearly crept past him. Dahlberg then flicked Stockley's header on to the bar. Without the keeper it could have been six or seven.
Stockley's header went straight at the keeper following a Charlton corner.
Dobson, Pearce, Euell and MacGillivray all did tunnel jumps.
Charlton moved out of the relegation zone. A sterner test awaits on Tuesday. Rotherham beat Sunderland 5-1 today with any head butts. Curbs said it would be a totally different game. If we could get anything against Rotherham we were suddenly looking upwards. We should look at five or six games before making a decision about a manager.
Elliot Lee said it was a good atmosphere with the supporters singing, it gave a lift. 'I am getting my fitness, my sharpness, I had flu three weeks ago. We were better than them all over the pitch. We know we could have got more but we'll take 4-0. It will be a tough game on Tuesday night. We're all high on confidence now.'
Johnnie Jackson said he was really pleased with the clean sheet, a good solid performance, probably should have scored more. It was a blow losing Leko so early, credit to DJ he was ready to come into that role, we had done some work with him for that eventuality earlier in the week. The skip (Pearce) was an absolute rock. We had a real good shape about us, limited them to very few chances. We got the better of them through hard work, Doncaster are a good team. We got 100 per cent commitment from what we were asking of them. There's so much quality in that room but we haven't been showing it. Through pure endeavour and pure intent your quality will show through. An incredibly proud day to see the Valley rocking.
Curbs said the first thing Jacko had done was working on them out of possession. Most of the sessions had been defensive.
Ryan Inniss will play 60 minutes at Fulham on Saturday as part of his carefully managed return after he put in a good session at training yesterday says Nigel Adkins: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/nigel-adkins-explains-absence-of-charlton-defender-ryan-inniss-during-pre-season-draw-at-palace/
Ben Watson has been making progress and Ronnie Schwartz has been 'running around a bit'.
The future of trialist Madger Gomes is uncertain after he played at Palace last night, although Adkins made some supportive comments. Fans' reactions were mixed from 'useful squad player' to 'wouldn't be disappointed if he didn't come: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/nigel-adkins-has-say-on-trialist-madger-gomes-with-former-doncaster-mans-charlton-future-still-up-in-the-air/
Ben Purrington will miss the first game of the season with a hamstring injury. Chris Gunter played at left back last night.
Jayden Stockley missed today's 1-1 draw at Reading because of a stomach upset: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-assistant-boss-explains-absence-of-jayden-stockley-discusses-first-friendly-game-time-for-ryan-inniss/
Ryan Inniss took part for 30 minutes. Some Charlton fans were concerned that was all he could manage, but Johnnie Jackson explained it was part of a detailed plan to have him ready for the opening league game against the Massives.
Ben Purrington had to come off with an injury and it is still being assessed. Some fans don't rate 'The Cat', but I think he is a competent defender capable of getting forward.
Keeping a clean sheet on Saturday against the Keystone Cops of football was more important for Deji Oshilaja than scoring his first goal for Charlton: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/clean-sheet-more-important-than-a-rare-goal-for-charlton-centre-back-deji-oshilaja/
Back in form after recovering from injury the recovering centre back said that it will be a tough and physical game against Gillingham on Saturday.
Oshilaja was in The Football League Paper's League One Team of the Week.
Interesting to see how fans are now heaping praise on Purrington when he was a scapegoat player not so long ago.
After Ian Maatsen picked up a knock on Saturday, Ben Purrington will start at MK Dons in his place but Lee Bowyer insists that was always the plan anyway: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-bowyer-makes-revelation-over-chelsea-loanee-as-he-reveals-one-starter-for-mk-fixture/
Charlton beat AFC Wimbledon 5-2 at The Valley this afternoon in front of 2,000 fans. After going one goal ahead, defensive errors saw the Addicks fall 1-2 behind at half time. But it was a storming performance in the second half particularly after Aneke and Williams came on as subs, both of them scoring goals.
It will have been a treat for Thomas Sandgaard who says he likes to win games 5-2 rather than 1-0. Charlton have gone up to 5th.
Gunter had to make a superb defensive intervention in what had up to then been a rather tenative first half. The Addicks were undone by a deflection.
On 36 minutes a move that started off with an offside free kick saw Jason Pearce put in a slide rule pass which Washington took advantage of with a curling shot to make it 1-0. It was his sixth goal for the club.
A misunderstanding between Maddison and Bogle allowed Wimbledon to break Pigott was given too much space. Controlling the ball well, he put in a great shot to make it 1-1.
Ben Amos had to save at the near post with Charlton's defending again in question.
Wimbledon recovered from a corner to enable Csoka to take advantage of a free header to make it 1-2 at the break.
HT: 1-2.
Watson drew a save from the keeper following a Charlton free kick. Maddison put a good ball into Bogle, but he couldn't get it out from under his feet. On 52 minutes Aneke and Williams came on in place of Bogle and Gilbey.
Aneke got a yellow card and then the keeper Truman tested the referee's patience too far and got one for time wasting.
After good work by Washington, Gilbey set up Forster-Caskey who scored the equaliser.
On 64 minutes Gunter set up his Welsh colleague Williams to make it 3-2.
On 84 minutes Washington did well to keep the ball alive. Purrington, who had just come on in place of Maddison, put the ball across to Aneke who made it 4-2 with a workmanlike goal. All of Aneke's six goals have been scored as a substitute.
Wimbledon continued to threaten and Oshilaja replaced Washington.
Maatsen had a great second half and did well to keep the ball alive in time added on. Williams passed to Purrington who made it 5-2.
Unfortunately it looks as if Famewo is out for nine weeks after his freak training ground injury.
Lee Bowyer told Richard Cawley: /From start to finish we were very good, apart from a lack of concentration for five minutes - they went bang, bang and scored two goals from nowhere.'
Bowyer told his players not to panic at half time: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-lee-bowyer-told-side-not-to-panic-during-half-time-break-of-5-2-win-over-wimbledon/
Bowyer was delighted with the reaction of Williams to his Shrewsbury substitution: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/well-done-jonny-williams-lee-bowyer-delighted-with-goal-scoring-midfielders-reaction-to-shrewsbury-substitution/
