Cullen enjoyed every minute of his time with Charlton

Josh Cullen, now playing his football in Belgium, enjoyed every minute of his time with Charlton: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/josh-cullen-exclusive-i-treated-charlton-athletic-as-if-it-was-my-own/

A message from our benefactor

Roland Duchatelet has issued a statement praising the promoted teams. He has used it to imply that Chris Wilder did not come to Charlton because of the opposition he would face from the minority of disgruntled fans. What is well known is that Wilder is a Blades fan through and through, but facts don't matter in the world of the barmy Belgian: C'est moi qui parle

In a series of tweets Richard Cawley of the SLP has rebutted the spurious arguments put forward by Roland about Wilder. He has stated, 'The impact that Cafc fans had on Wilder rejecting the job at The Valley? Zero. Fact is that Wilder wanted the Sheffield United job and Charlton's move for him basically sparked them into action - sacking Nigel Adkins and making their own official approach.'

Cawley continued, 'As it turned out, the appointment of Russell Slade drew far more of a mixed response. Wilder had done so well at Northampton that it would have been a very sound appointment.'

Better news was the well-deserved Player of the Year award to Lyle Taylor. Let's hope he will stay. I was also delighted that Naby Sarr came second. He has greatly improved, casting off a status at most derided player to become one of the most popular. Just wait till he scores his winning goal at Wembley! I was also pleased that Josh Cullen came third. I think that he has contributed a great deal this season without being particularly obvious.

10,000 tickets have already been sold for the home play off.

Josh Cullen gives thanks

Josh Cullen says that his year at Charlton has been a priceless experience and Lee Bowyer has been brilliant for him. He hopes to claim a first team place at West Ham next year (well, maybe): Hoping to establish himself at West Ham

Cullen has not always been the most obvious player on the pitch, but his contribution has been considerable. The more general issue his impending departure highlights is the need to rebuild the team whether we go up or stay in League One. The first step along that road is a proper contract offer to Lee Bowyer. A giant step would be the departure of the barmy Belgian, but I am not living in hope despite recent press reports.

Victory at Gillingham

Charlton won at Gillingham this afternoon for the first time in nearly forty years, defeating the Gills 2-0 in front of 2,306 Addicks enjoying the amenities of the temporary stand. It was the sixth clean sheet in eight games for the Addicks. Victory was achieved without Lyle Taylor and Patrick Bauer who were left out after picking up minor knocks.

On 19 minutes a last minute challenge from one time Addick Fuller denied Williams. Two minutes later Phillips tipped the ball over after an angled shot from Campbell.

Shortly afterwards Aribo made it 1-0 to the Addicks. A Purrington cross hit a defender. Phillips had to fist away a corner.

Sarr hit the crossbar with a ball from a corner. Then on 41 minutes Cullen scored his first Addicks goal. A Williams shot was spilt by Holy and Cullen scored from six yards.

On 55 minutes Vetokele was denied when he was one on one with the keeper and another shot deflected for a corner. Two minutes later a close range effort from Purrington was save by Holy.

On 78 minutes Williams was replaced by Parker to some boos from the home crowd. He managed to give the ball away twice in his first five minutes on the pitch.

Morgan replaced Lapslie on 86 minutes. Cullen headed over from an Aribo cross when he should have made it 3-0.

Elsewhere Luton lost at Burton, allowing Barnsley to draw level with them on points after a home win over Blackpool. Portsmouth and Sunderland drew and Doncaster managed an away draw at Oxford.

The report from Louis Mendez can be found here: Another clean sheet

West wind wins at Bristol

Charlton drew 0-0 with Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium this afternoon. The blustery conditions were the dominating factor in the game: Conditions ruin game

Lee Bowyer felt that an incorrect offside flag denied Charlton all three points after Josh Cullen tapped the ball home from a Lyle Taylor cross: Pleased with point

Charlton goalkeeper Dillon Phillips produced one of the saves of the season to help earn the Addicks a goalless draw. Jonson Clarke-Harris thought he had broken the deadlock with a well-struck 37th minute free-kick from just outside the box but, with the ball bound for the bottom corner, Phillips dived full length to make a magnificent stop with his left hand.

Rovers' Jack Bonham dived to his right to keep out a 43rd-minute drive from Igor Vetokele after the striker had been put through by Josh Cullen's pass.

Portsmouth beat Scunthorpe to open up a four point lead over Charlton. Sunderland also won.

It was my goal says Cullen

Although it was recorded as an own goal, Josh Cullen reckons that his strike at Doncaster on Saturday was his first Charlton goal. He discusses the game and the road ahead: Goal belongs to him

Cullen praises Grant

Josh Cullen reflects on Saturday's victory over Accrington and praises Karlan Grant for keeping his cool when he took his penalty: Praise for Grant

Huddersfield Town are reportedly taking a keen interest in Grant, as are Brentford and Millwall: Huddersfield interest

Addicks will miss injured trio

Lee Bowyer admits that Charlton will miss Darren Pratley, Josh Cullen and Jamie Ward at Portsmouth tonight. He would have liked a more physical presence in midfield: Injured trio will be a major miss

In contrast Portsmouth have been relatively free of injuries. They think that this is in part down to the skill of the medical team and due diligence when signing players: Secrets of injury success

The league leaders have won eight games at home, drawn three and lost just one. They have scored eighteen goals and conceded eight. They are third in the form table and Charlton are fifth.

Victory on the M6 boosts promotion hopes

Charlton won 2-0 at Walsall tonight with a goal in each half, a Taylor penalty and a goal for the Pole. The Addicks are now back in the play off places at 6th. BBC Midlands, who like to use a 'Charlton were anything but Athletic' line captioned it as a 2-0 Walsall win, perhaps better than my 2-9 typo earlier.

Taylor (a surprise inclusion given injury worries) put Charlton ahead from the penalty spot after just six minutes, sending Liam Roberts the wrong way after Tariqe Fosu's clever turn in the area drew a clumsy foul from George Dobson.

The lively Fosu, who had a great first half, had already curled inches over from 15 yards on three minutes after cutting in from the left. On 20 minutes a Fosu shot was deflected after a Taylor cross. Cullen was booked for a foul. Charlton suffered a blow when Igor Vetokele was carried off on a stretcher with a shoulder injury. he has gone to hospital.

His replacement, Karlan Grant, almost made it 2-0 from Taylor's cross on the brink of half-time but Roberts' fingertips foiled his header with a great save.

In the five minutes added on Charlton had a free kick on the left side of the area after Aribo was fouled. The Charlton bench were calling for a penalty. Cullen's effort was unproductive.

Charlton did double their lead in the 51st minute as a corner fell to Arsenal loanee Krystian Bielik six yards out and he lashed home. Taylor received his fifth yellow card of the season for a foul on 73 minutes, meaning that he will miss the home game against Bristol Rovers while he recuperates.

Walsall took 77 minutes to register a shot on target as Morgan Ferrier's strike brought a great diving save to his left from Jed Steer. The injured Cullen was replaced by Lapslie. Cullen has also dislocated his shoulder. It's Derek Ufton all over again, but in those days you had to stay on the pitch.

Marshall, who had come on as a substitute, won a corner and Bielik's effort was just over the bar. The much criticised Steer then had to punch away under pressure on 90 minutes before the Addicks saw out the five minutes added on.'

Chant of the night: 'Naby Sarr, once he was s****, but now he's all right.'

Congratulations to the 328 Addicks who made it.

Satisfied supremo Lee Bowyer praised a professional performance from his team: Three points on the road

Bowyer now has the highest win rate under Duchatelet (47 per cent) if one discounts the special case of Nugent.

We probably can't afford Cullen

Lee Bowyer would be interested in signing Josh Cullen on a permanent deal, but we probably couldn't afford his wages as Roland tries to revert to his hopeless ambition of running a club on a break even basis. There has also been talk of West Ham wanting a £1m fee: Permanent deal?

I have just realised that when I go to the match on Saturday, it will be my fourth trip to London this week. I have already been for a meeting and to see my cardiologist. Tomorrow I am going for a social event but with a work dimension to it. It reminds me that even if I won £1m on the premium bonds instead of the £25 prizes I win every month, I would have difficulty in affording a base there.

When Charlton were top four

The Times points out this morning that it is 13 years since a team from outside the top six were in the top four in the Premier League at this time of the year. That team? Charlton Athletic.

But it's back to reality with a bantamweight contest today. We won 1-0 at Bradford last season and drew 0-0 the season before.

Charlton's latest signing Jamie Ward is expected to make his debut for the club. Ward joined on loan from Nottingham Forest on deadline day and has returned from international duty with Northern Ireland unscathed. Josh Cullen is available again after international duty with Republic of Ireland Under-21s and some fans think we missed him against Wycombe.

Bradford will be without Josh Wright and Kelvin Mellor for boss David Hopkin's first home game in charge against Lee Bowyer's Addicks. Midfielder Wright and defender Mellor both sustained hamstring injuries in last week's defeat at Blackpool. Defender, former Addick and Zimbabwe international Adam Chicksen has a possible hairline leg fracture and midfielder Hope Akpan is not ready to return following a shoulder injury.

Winger Sean Scannell (groin) is also still out, so Hopkin could hand starts to youngsters Lewis O'Brien and Jordan Gibson.

The big debate in Bradford is whether 'sorry is enough' to restore relations between the chairman and the fans: Restoring relations

Also big news is the opening of the first Pizza Express in the city.

Odds: Bradford 2/1, Draw 11/5, Charlton 29/20. Odds on promotion by any route: 8/1.

Josh Cullen joins on loan

Josh Cullen has joined Charlton on a season long loan from West Ham United. Fisherman Lee Bowyer did not think he would be able to land the midfielder: Bowyer surprised

Cullen, 22, has made nine appearances for the Hammers since his debut against FC Lusitans in 2009. He has since had two loan spells with Bradford City and spent part of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers.

Interest in Josh Cullen confirmed

Lee Bowyer has confirmed that Charlton are interested in taking West Ham United midfielder Josh Cullen on loan. When Darren Pratley looked tired on Tuesday night, the interim supremo only had inexperienced youngsters available as substitutes: Midfielder target

Discussing Tuesday's game on Quest last night the pundits agreed that the Peterborough penalty was very dubious. A long clip from Lee Bowyer's after match comments was shown with the commentators agreeing that Bowyer was a very 'emotional' individual.

Quest should be praised for introducing a midweek roundup show for the EFL.