No international break for Charlton

There will be no international break for Charlton and Joe Wollacot will not be available for the Barnsley game.  Craig MacGillivray will deputise.   It was reported that he would be getting his kilt out of storage to join Dundee or Dundee United but the deal did not happen: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/no-international-break-likely-to-be-on-cards-for-charlton-athletic-as-barnsley-match-set-to-go-ahead/

MacGillivray on his way

Craig MacGillivray may be let go in the transfer window, the fact that he did not play in the Carabao Cup last night being an indication that his days are numbered: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/wollacott-form-suggests-time-could-be-up-for-craig-at-the-valley/

Nathan Harness would then be No.2 keeper.

New keeper signed

Charlton have signed Jojo Wollacott. Swindon Town keeper was in the League Two Team of the season. They have had him in their sights for a while.  Wollacott is a Ghana international. He is a keeper with strong distribution.    

Richard Cawley says that this suggests that Charlton will listen to offers for Craig MacGillivray, who had been their number one last season.   MacGillivray did not quite live up to his billing.

A Swindon assessment of the new keeper here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/he-is-a-quality-goalkeeper-swindon-town-reaction-to-joe-wollacott-signing-for-charlton-athletic/

Brian Jokat has left his position as chief operating officer at Charlton - appointed in late April and his role was focused on non-football operations. Owner Thomas Sandgaard has already started the search for Jokat's replacement.

Scott Marshall has been appointed as first team assistant coach: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-appoint-scott-marshall-as-first-team-assistant-coach/

Jason Euell has left the club and has thanked Charlton fans: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/ill-miss-you-jason-euell-has-praise-for-charlton-athletic-fans-after-leaving-first-team-coach-role/

Thank you, Jason, for all your efforts as a player and a coach and wishing you every success in the future.

Jacko praise Macca, Pearce, Morgan and Dobson

Smiling supremo Johnnie Jackson has praised Craig MacGillivray, Jason Pearce and Albie Morgan after their performances at Rotherham: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/hes-reacted-well-to-the-criticism-johnnie-jackson-praises-goalkeeper-craig-macgillivray-for-adding-new-element-to-his-game/

Jacko said that Macca has responded well to criticism and improved the aerial aspect of his play.   He was commanding his penalty box.   Albie Morgan had given him the mature performance he was looking for.  Jacko admitted that Morgan had made a couple of mistakes, but said that he stuck to the script well. Jason Pearce was 'Mr Dependable'.   [I hope he will have a coaching role next season and keep his player registration for emergencies or pizza games.  He was the man of the match in the Football League Paper].

Jacko was also full of praise for George Dobson: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-delighted-with-display-at-rotherham-and-says-george-dobson-deserved-long-awaited-goal/

Dobson is clearly going to win player of the year, and deservedly so, but who should come second?  Most promising newcomer would be Corey Blackett-Taylor.   Conor Washington opens up defences when he is playing.

Louis Mendez gives his four takeaways from the match here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-victory-at-high-flying-rotherham-a-textbook-away-performance/

Clean sheet win on the road

Charlton made five changes for this afternoon's game against Rotherham at a sunny New York stadium.  Some of them were enforced with Fraser and Lee having had knocks.   Jason Pearce was captain and alongside Akin Famewo in defence.   DJ was replaced by Blackett-Taylor.  Albie Morgan came in with Forster-Caskey on the bench.  Nile John was given a chance to warm the bench.

Rotherham showed off the pizza trophy before the game started.

Kick off was delayed because of a medical emergency in the crowd.  442 Addicks were present.

Rotherham won the first corner after four minutes.  Matthews headed clear.

Pearce made an important block as the home supporters urged their team on.   Pearce and Matt Smith were in a battle.

A free kick was headed away by Gilbey.   A follow up strike was wide.  There was not much to choose between the two sides.  The impressive Smith put the ball over the bar, but he was offside anyway.

Charlton won their first corner after 20 minutes.  It was headed clear by Wood.   After subsequent play, Morgan sent the ball sailing into the stand.

Charlton started to struggle in terms of controlling the ball allowing the home side to take charge.  A corner was conceded.  The ball went to Washington, but Rotherham countered.  

Charlton had an opportunity to score but Rathbone got his foot in on Washington at the expense of a corner.  This was headed away comfortably.

Famewo conceded a corner, his position not being the best.   Pearce headed clear.   It was a brave header and he went down.

Famewo collected the first yellow card of the game after he got a tackle wrong.  Peter Shirtliff said it was naive.  The ball was headed away by Clare.

The home support was quieter except when they were shouting for free kicks.   The half came to a rather scrappy close.   Blackett-Taylor had a chance for a shot but it ended up as a cross and a Rotherham throw in.  Two minutes were added on.

Old school Rotherham

Rotherham had put Charlton under pressure but only had two clear opportunities.   It was a game of not many chances but Charlton had defended well.   Curbs said he was not expecting Rotherham to be so direct.  We couldn't get the ball up to the front two and if we did it wouldn't stick.  Forster-Caskey's stepdad said that the home side were an old fashioned team.  Curbs said we saw so much possession based football these days, but the Millers were old school.

HT: 0-0

Charlton conceded an early corner from the kick off.  Stockley headed clear and then again.  On the whole it was a quiet and indecisive start to the second half.

Clare broke away and created a chance for Charlton.

Morgan fed Dobson who scored a great goal on the volley from just outside the penalty area to make it 0-1 on 56 minutes.

Rotherham were rattled as the home supporters tried to rally them.   Blackett-Taylor put the ball over the bar.   The home side made a double substitution.  

Dobson had to scramble the ball clear for a corner.  The ball was sent over the bar.  Rotherham made a third substitution.   It looked as if Rotherham were going three up top.

The home side applied some pressure, trying to get the ball forward at every opportunity.  Stockley headed the corner clear.   Pearce had to intervene at the expense of another corner.  Macca claimed it well on the edge of his six yard box.

Gilbey's ball was blocked away leading to a Charlton corner which was unproductive.  Dobson's shot was gathered by the Swedish keeper.

Morgan did not give Stockley good service.  Leading goal scorer Smith scuffed a shot.

The home side won a corner.  There was a lot of pushing and shoving.  The referee decided that Macca was fouled.

Stockley tried to chip it over the keeper but he got back in time.  Dobson conceded a free kick.   It was a tricky one for Macca but he caught it superbly out of the sun.

Three minutes were added on.   Blackett-Taylor was replaced by Purrington.   The Charlton fans started Valley Floyd Road.  Rotherham were awarded a free kick, but were unable to take advantage.  

Peter Shirtliff noted that Washington was always running in behind and stretching the home defence.

The pundits

Curbs said that the three centre backs dealt with Rotherham's direct play.   They were magnificent and dealt with everything that came in.   Gilbey and Dobson picked up a lot of the second balls in midfield. Dobson scored a cracking goal.   Forster said that in the second half we took the game to them.  Rotherham kept doing the same thing.   We gave as good as we got.   Stockley had worked his socks off, to a man they had worked their socks off.

George Dobson said he was delighted to score his first goal for the club.  'I just thought I'm going to have a swing it.  When it went in the net there's no better feeling.   Coming across the body it's the toughest technique.  We're putting in good performances, getting ready for next season.   We knew we had to stand up the battle, using Jayden and Conor on the counter attack.  We've just got to use it as fuel for next season.  The start of the season put us in a really tricky situation. '  [Dobson was not part of the Atkins diet].  

Curbs noted he was nowhere under Nigel Atkins, not even on the bench 'he puts in everything.  He's been excellent since he got in the side.  MacGillivray took a lot of pressure for us today.  It's a good run we're having at the moment.  If we finish as strong as we can, it will make us more attractive.'

Jacko: 'It was a really good away performance, I would have liked one or two more goals.  We limited the opposition to a few chances.  I thought we defended brilliantly today, especially in the penalty box.  We worked a lot on that, the lads implemented it brilliantly.  I thought we looked really fit, really strong, full of energy.  I did freshen it up a little bit.   I thought everyone still looked strong in the second half. When you've got a front partnership like Jayden and Stockley it gives you an opportunity to get better results.   We're in a good place, the boys are bouncing in the changing room.'

Charlton remain 15th, but they are just one point behind three teams.   Charlton had five shots on target to Rotherham's one. 

Victory on the road

Charlton won 1-0 at Doncaster this afternoon in front of around 700 Addicks, many of whom had taken advantage of the subsidised coaches.   It was a story of missed opportunities for the Addicks, and they had to hang on at the end, but it was a third win a row and another clean sheet.   Charlton had nine shots on target to one for Donny.

On four minutes CBT broke and got into the box, Stockley poked a shot past the keeper but a defender was on hand to clear it off the line.

On 16 minutes Charlton were awarded a penalty after CBT was brought dow., Washington instead of Stockley took the shot and the keeper saved.

On 24 minutes a poor goal-kick saw the ball head straight to Stockley who got in the box and squared for Washington, but his close-range effort is saved by the scrambling Mitchell.

Close to the break, Stockley flicked on Matthews' long throw and CBT was inches away from turning it in at the back post.

Missed opportunities were the story of the half as the Addicks headed in all-square at the break.   Louis Mendez said it could have been 3-0 if they took their chances.

HT: 0-0

Finally on 67 minutes Stockley scored.    Excellent work from CBT who skinned his man on the left and pulled back into the box for Stockley to slot home.

A Washington shot was saved by the keeper. Stockley faced an empty net, but his effort came off the crossbar.  How did we not score?

The midfield was starting to tire, Gilbey had worked really hard.   Doncaster won a free kick on the right edge of the penalty area, tiredness showing on the part of Charlton.   Blackett-Taylor went down.   Purrington headed away.

Blackett-Taylor was booked for coming back on without permission, although he was waved on by the fourth official, as an argument broke out between the two benches.

Famewo came on for Charlton in place of CBT.   Six minutes were added on as Donny won a corner.  Fraser swiped it out.    Lee came on for Fraser.

Donny won a free kick near the corner of the area after an alleged foul by Purrington.   Macca made a great claim.   Macca had to make a save with his legs from a shot.   Clare blocked the ball but the referee awarded a goal kick rather than a corner.

The pundits

Steve Brown said we would have comfortably won the game.   Instead we were under pressure at the end.   It was three games without making changes so Jacko had a core he could trust.   They were good results if not great performances.

CBT was derided by negativists as 'scraping the barrel' when he was signed.   Scott Minto said that he had come in again and make a big impact.   CBT said he was enjoying the wing back role, he had never played it before.  He felt he had improved.   'We've got a lot of togetherness in the camp, let's finish the season strong.'   He definitely felt he could last the 90 minutes.

Smiling supremo Jacko praised CBT for his contribution, saying he had cramp when he was substituted: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/jacko-heaps-praise-on-corey-blackett-taylor-for-display-at-doncaster-and-reveals-details-of-his-bizarre-late-booking/

Jacko admitted that Charlton should have been out of sight in the match: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-we-should-have-been-out-of-sight-during-win-over-doncaster/

Charlton are now 14th.

The positive story about Macca

Craig MacGillivray has been subject to some criticism as Charlton's goalkeeper and I think that some of it was justified.  Some of the goals he conceded could have been saved.   Nevertheless, there is a more positive side to the story: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/joint-top-of-the-home-clean-sheets-table-and-charlton-man-has-more-assists-than-liverpool-star-mane/

Assists are one thing but Leamington's former keeper barmy binman Tony Breeden used to score goals and not just as penalty taker.   The sight of him tearing up the wing unnerved the opposition but you could only get away with it in non-league football.

Keeper gets public rebuke

Shell shocked supremo Johnnie Jackson has admitted that Craig MacGillivray is not commanding his six yard box: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-johnnie-jackson-provides-straight-answer-when-asked-about-goalkeeper-craig-macgillivray/

This was evident yesterday when Accrington keeper Savin was willing to come out of his box to snuff out threats.   Admittedly, there should be better communication and more pace from the Charlton defence as Curbs pointed out.

I didn't want Amos to go, but presumably he had a better offer from Wigan.  Many fans are pinning their hopes for next season on the return of Ashley Maynard-Brewer who impressed at Ross County in the Scottish Premier League before his injury.  The SPL isn't the greatest league in the world, but it is surely as good as League One.

Jacko is clearly baffled by the form of the rest of his players, suggesting it is a confidence problem rather than a lack of effort.  Certainly they seem to train well but then fail to deliver on matchday.

Fans continue to insist that the formation is the problem, but does he have the players for 4-4-2?  I know it's all supposed to be about the manager in modern football, but I think more of the fault rests with the squad, although I was surprised that Gilbey was omitted yesterday,.

Macca is star man

Craig MacGillivray is in the League One team of the week and Sunderland's boss has given him credit for the draw at The Valley yesterday: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sunderland-boss-gives-credit-to-charlton-keeper-macgillivray-for-denying-them-maximum-points/

I have been a bit disappointed with some of his recent performances, perhaps become a parent affected him.  Anyway his return to form is another cause for hope.

Charlton stop the rot

Charlton ended their run of defeats with a 0-0 draw against Sunderland at The Valley.

Jayden Stockley and Scott Fraser came back for Charlton's game against Sunderland at The Valley, but was the real problem the formation as many fans have suggested?   Sean Clare (wearing an outfit that Curbs said deserved a fine) said that the formation suited a lot of the players, what had been missing had been a platform up front.  Curbs said that the return of Jayden Stockley was crucial.

Nathan Broadhead was brought straight back into Sunderland's starting line-up.  The on-loan Everton striker is fit again after recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered in the Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat at Arsenal the week before Christmas.

A Sunderland corner won after five minutes was directed straight at Macca with a header.

A challenge saw DJ on the ground as he was caught on the shin and might have been penalised if there was VAR.

A Sunderland corner was headed away well by Stockley.  Sunderland came at Charlton early and tried to attack, securing comfortable possession.   The Addicks were being dominated and needed to keep the ball better.

After a great pass from Fraser, Burstow was caught offside.   The crowd was relatively quiet despite the generous distribution of free tickets available from your local newsagent.   My uncle was never asked to do that in the 1950s.

Lavelle was in late with a cynical challenge and received a yellow card.   Every cross seemed to be going beyond the three centre halves.

MacGillivray made a save at the expense of a corner.   From the corner Stewart missed a clear goal scoring opportunity for the Black Cats, but he headed wide.

Sunderland were trying to turn the Charlton back line with balls over the top.   Good defending by Lavelle dealt with Stewart who headed wide and landed awkwardly.  He looked fine to carry on.

Charlton conceded a corner from nothing, Macca put too much on it.   DJ got a strong foot to the corner, hitting the top of the Curbishley stand.   Sunderland were making life difficult for Charlton when they were in possession.

DJ had to head behind for another Sunderland corner.   Charlton couldn't get out of their defensive third and hadn't managed a goal attempt after nearly 30 minutes in.   It was another header from Stewart from the corner but again it went wide.

Sunderland won a free kick just outside the Charlton penalty area, 10-12 yards left of the centre marking.   Pritchard's free kick was tipped over by Macca for a corner.   He certainly had to deal with it. Macca clutched the ball from the corner.

Charlton continued to be on the back foot under pressure.    From a Lee free kick Stockley's header went wide.

It started to rain.   A sliding challenge from Lee took out Gooch and he received a yellow card for a clear foul on 40 minutes.   Pearce defended well for a throw in.   

A Stockley header went wide of the post.   A ball from Lee was cut out for a Charlton corner in added time.   The referee flagged for a push.  

Steve Brown commented that in earlier matches we would have gone behind with the pressure we were under.  Sean Clare said we had done well to come out at 0-0.   Greg Stubley said we did enough to stay in the game and gradually we had grown into it.  Scott Minto thought we were playing too long and not giving the front two a chance.

HT: 0-0

Gunter put in a decent block to stop Broadhead.    He then made a great saving challenge.    Macca saved from Gooch.

Steve Brown said that Sunderland pressed very well as a unit.   It was difficult for Charlton to break through the press.

Macca saved well from Winchester, it was along the deck at pace.   Steve Brown said it was a very similar pattern to the first half.

It was quite a bitty opening, but the visitors were in control.   Charlton couldn't get sustained possession with fifteen minutes of the half gone.

Charlton won a free kick near the tunnel for a foul on Purrington.   Lavelle's header was just wide of the post and went into the side netting.

Gunter had to put the ball out for a corner as safety first.  DJ and Purrington got the ball clear, it came back in, Pearce headed it clear and then Stockley.  Eventually Charlton won a free kick.   Fraser was replaced by Gilbey.   Fraser had struggled to get into the game, perhaps still affected by having had Covid.

After a counter attack by Charlton with a hook on by Stockley, Burstow put it wide of the post.    He perhaps waited too long to make the shot.

Broadhead came off for Sunderland, replaced by the Spurs loan player Clark who soon looked lively.  Gilbey put in a ball to Burstow, but it was blocked.   For the first time in the game it was end to end.

Leko came on to replace Burstow who had not made a great impression on the game.   Pritchard had to come off after a clash with Dobson, he had looked dangerous at times, but his end product was disappointing.

Pearce made an important interception as Clark approached and the game entered the last 15 minutes of normal time.   Purrington got a yellow card for a challenge as the Sunderland players surrounded the referee demanding more.

Macca saved well from Stewart after a good move by the visitors.   Roberts replaced Gooch for Sunderland. 

Steve Brown said Charlton had been harder to break down, but Sunderland won a corner.   DJ headed away.  Sunderland got the ball back in but headed over.

The visitors won another corner, the ball deflecting off Gilbey.   Charlton dealt with the corner well, Stockley made an important challenge.

Macca had to save again as the Black Cats counter attacked.   Five minutes were added on.   Leko won Charlton a free kick by drawing a foul.  Lee took the free kick but Lavelle failed to score with a header which went over the crossbar.  Dobson made a great block as Sunderland threatened and Charlton won the goal kick.   Wright fouled Stockley and got a yellow card.    Lee took the free kick, but Stockley could not take the opportunity and may have been offside anyway. 

Praise for Pearce

Curbs said MacGillivray had had a good game.  We put in some good defensive blocks.  I thought we were more defensive in our wing back play.  We got some decent balls in in the second half, we were just not able to get on the end of it.  Sean Clare said we weathered the storm, sometimes we were our own worst enemy.  Scott Minto said that Pearce was very good.   Sean Clare said you knew what you were getting with Pearcey.  Curbs said some of the balls up to Stockley were aimless.   Sean Clare said that Fraser was a player who needed the ball.

Jason Pearce said we had 'to get back to basics, we done that.  Sunderland had a lot of goals in them, we stayed resolute as a unit.  We feel we needed to be tough on each other, nothing personal.  Macca made two brilliant saves.   Today there was no booing, the fans were really behind us.  We need to be better in possession, we will work on that.  We are delighted with a point.  Accrington's always going to be a tough game.'

Jacko said it was a real battling performance based on hard work and spirit.   'There's been questions asked this week of all of us.  There have been some good honest conversations.  We looked each other in the eye and said we all need to do more.   There was a period in that first half when they were having corners and lots of set plays, Stewart is a real threat in those situations.   I thought Craig was excellent. We did a lot of work in the week on limiting the opportunities, forcing them into wider areas, narrower angles.   Jayden's a massive player for us, excellent work rate from the front.   We need to be better in possession of the ball.  Blackett-Taylor is coming close to fitness.   We've got another clear week, you can focus on your training, another tough test coming up.'

Charlton remained 16th, nine points above the relegation zone.

Keeper's worries and frustrations

Craig MacGillivray likes to play every game in a season and is frustrated to miss out on the pizza trophy and the FA Cup, but realises that players need minutes: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-keeper-craig-macgillivray-on-why-covid-19-is-extra-nerve-racking-wanting-to-break-appearance-record-and-johnnie-jacksons-clear-message/

His partner is at an advanced stage of pregnancy, so Covid-19 is particularly worrying for him.

Jackson hoping for a decision

Johnnie Jackson is hoping for clarity over his permanent role as the January transfer window approaches so that discussions can begin.  He says that he has never seen League One as strong as it is this year: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/johnnie-jackson-hopes-for-clarity-over-permanent-role-soon-with-transfer-window-approaching/

In his four takeaways Louis Mendez says that Charlton found a different way to win against another East Anglian team.   Washington was clinical and MacGillivay excellent: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-2-0-win-over-cambridge-addicks-found-a-way-to-win/

Charlton battle for three points

Charlton battled away in horrible conditions at The Valley today to beat Cambridge United 2-0.  It wasn't a classic performance by Charlton, but the three points were secured with another clean sheet in the last home game before Christmas.

Charlton are now 11th, but are six points behind MK Dons in 9th and eight points from the play offs.

The first ten minutes or so were indecisive.  Dunk, at one time a trialist at Charlton, was booked for a foul on Leko.   The free kick was slightly overhit by Lee.

Charlton had to concede a corner to through Lee to avert danger.   The game remained rather scrappy.  Charlton had lacked composure at times and allowed Cambridge easy possession.  

Heavy rain continued.  A shot by Smith went just wide.   May received a yellow card as he took one for the team to stop Gilbey.

On the half hour mark after Gilbey put in a good cross to Washington who scored with a great finish, his sixth of the season. He got the shot away before anyone could put in a block.   The match needed a goal.

Charlton did well to get bodies back after Williams got past Famewo.  Gilbey won a free kick. 

Famewo was booked after he stepped across Smith.    Stockley headed away from a corner.   Dobson did well to prevent a Cambridge break.   Clare did well to clear the ball.   Jason Pearce was in a battle with Cambridge top scorer, the physical Ironside.

Three minutes were added on.   Ironside caught Pearce having led with his arm and the roundhead received a yellow card.  Digby was incensed that Stockley was incensed.  The referee spoke to the assistant.   Both of them received yellow cards, giving a total of five for the half.

Lee won a corner for Charlton, but a free kick was given to Cambridge.

It had been a scrappy half.   Steve Brown thought that Cambridge had caught Charlton by surprise a bit, they were edging it.  They moved the ball well and had a good set up.  There was not the fluidity of Tuesday night.  There may be some tiredness because of Tuesday. We barely had any moves where we had five, six, seven passes. We had struggled to create anything worthwhile.  Clean sheet mentality was everything.   That was the most animated he had seen Johnnie Jackson.

HT: 1-0

Dobson did well to get back for Charlton and win the ball as Cambridge came at Charlton in the wintry conditions, the rain continuing.   After a pass from Clare, Washington put in a shot that was deflected.  The corner, taken short, led to a goal kick.

Clare fouled Brophy and got a yellow card as Cambridge players surrounded the referee and called for him to be sent off.   The free kick was in a dangerous position.  Gilbey cleared it away.

Leko drilled in an effort that was saved.   As Charlton rebuilt, Gilbey had to stall his run because he was worried about being offside.

Dunk went down holding his face after contact with Washington who got booked, the eighth yellow card of a fractious game.   The interruption slowed Charlton's momentum.

May shot and MacGillivray made a good save.   A shot by Washington was blocked as the game went end to end.   The atmosphere in The Valley was building with a torrent of noise.

Purrington missed the ball but Williams put in a tame shot after a moment of panic.  Leko showed great control, but the cross was cleared away.    MacGillivray came out to deny the angle from Smith and stop an equaliser.   DJ came on in place of Leko to provide fresh legs.

Pearce was forced to concede a corner, it would have been too risky to clear.   Purrington went down holding his left side.   He had to be taken off as a precaution bearing in mind future games and Souare came on.

Pearce fouled Ironside and received the ninth yellow card of the game.   Cambridge made a change, Gibbs coming on.   Smith ran forward and got past Souare but put the ball just wide of the post.

Famewo shielded the ball well from the lively Smith.   Pearce did well against Ironside.  

In the 88th minute Washington made it 2-0 after Souare put in a decent cross.   Washington dragged it back out to give a little more space.

Three minutes were added on.   Stockley put in a shot that went just over the bar as Souare found freedom on the left and put in a cross.  Washington advanced but couldn't get past two players, denying him a third.

Johnnie Jackson is now the most successful manager in Charlton history in the first ten games, a 70 per cent record.

Steve Brown said the performance was flat, but it was six points from six.  The opposition created chances and didn't take them, we did.   Charlton had been resilient when we had to be.   Graham Stuart said that Charlton were a hard side to beat.

Steve Brown said that Cambridge do make life difficult for you, they have some good players.   There were a couple of potential penalty calls.

Craig MacGillivray said it was a scrappy game.   We all enjoy defending, it means a lot us as a team, we want to keep clean sheets.  We all fight for each other.  If you're going to be a successful team you have to find different ways of winning.   The run we're on at the moment is very, very good but we're not getting ahead of ourselves.  

Steve Brown said that the keeper took a few games to settle in, but since then he had been outstanding.  The stats showed that it was a very tight game.

Johnnie Jackson said: 'Really pleased with the win, not as pretty as I would like, but a win's a win.  Conor and Jayden have a formidable partnership.   Conor is tireless in his work and his running.  You've got your keeper to thank, some big moments at 1-0, two real good chances where he's made some excellent saves.  Cambridge have a lot of quality at the top end of the pitch.  It was important that we kept eleven on the pitch, they showed some discipline, Sean Clare was on a yellow card and came up with some big tackles.  This is our last clear week for some time so we have to be careful how we train and recover.'