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'.

A real tough test

Lee Bowyer has admitted that the absence of Ben Watson and Ryan Inniss will make the task of the Addicks tougher at Portsmouth this afternoon: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/addicks-bans-will-be-a-loss/

The words 'tough test' can be applied to most games, but they are particularly relevant for the clash against an in form Pompey.   I would be pleased with a draw.

Quite a few Portsmouth fans are not happy with manager Kenny Jackett,  The fan file contributor in Four Four Two states: 'I won't be happy unless Jackett leaves the club.  He's had three years and he's shown that his football is too old school to succeed.  Our American owners seem to favour stability, which only goes so far when the football doesn't warrant it.'

Nevertheless, Four Four Two forecast a first place finish.

CAS Trust portray the game as a clash between the league's top scorers and its meanest defence: https://www.castrust.org/2020/10/portsmouth-the-leagues-top-goal-scorers/

No Doughty until February

Louis Mendez reports that Lee Bowyer states: 'Alfie Doughty has a big, big tear. He has to have an operation on his hamstring. He’s going to be months. Probably around four months, they reckon.'

A big blow.

Andrew Shinnie and free kicks

Andrew Shinnie talks about his free kick technique and says that he expects to be first choice from now on: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/ive-been-bullied-off-free-kicks-before-by-lads-who-fancied-themselves-as-the-next-ronaldo-charltons-andrew-shinnie/

Shinnie says the Addicks can only get better: 'We’re a brand-new team. Lots of us haven’t played together. It’s difficult, with so many games we haven’t been able to train as a side and work on movements and patterns of play.'

'To get the results we’ve been getting and the clean sheets, looking strong as a team it’s actually better than you think because we’ve not been able to work on it on the training ground. As the weeks go on and we get to know each other better, we can only get stronger really.'

More from Shinnie here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-wins-on-the-spin-for-charlton-athletic-and-andrew-shinnie-says-the-addicks-can-only-get-better/

Farnell is back in the takeover market

Former club director Chris Farnell is back in the club takeover business, having been cleared by the EFL: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/former-charlton-solicitor-chris-farnell-given-right-to-pursue-ownership-of-a-football-club/

His latest target is Burnley: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2020/10/burnley-takeover-in-turmoil.html

Fourth win on a spin

Charlton beat Oxford 2-0 at The Valley tonight to give a fifth clean sheet and the fourth win on the spin.  It is 22 years since we have been that tight at the back.

Both goals were scored in the first half and the Addicks were reduced to ten men in the second when Inniss was sent off for a second yellow card.  However, they managed the game well to secure the three points.  It was Charlton's first league victory over Oxford this century, the last win was in 1998.

Charlton did not start well and an early Oxford free kick on the edge of the penalty area saw Amos make a good save at the second attempt.  The Addicks struggled to get a hold on the game, the midfield in particular were losing the battle.   Perhaps pre-match moaners who said it was a mistake to play Pratley and Watson together might have had a point.   Inniss had to clear from an Oxford corner.

I was just noting that in the first half hour Eastwood in the Oxford goal had not been tested once when Shinnie put in a good assist to Washington who provided a crisp delivery to make it 1-0.

Oxford were still finding pockets of space, but in the first minute of time added on Charlton won a free kick in a good position and a powerful delivery from Shinnie made it 2-0.

Half time: 2-0

Watson got a yellow card which meant that he will not be available for Portsmouth.  A corner was won by Smyth but the effort from Maatsen was wide.  An Oxford free kick in a dangerous position went over the bar. Inniss got a yellow card for a foul on Eastwood.

Taylor got a yellow card for a foul.  Oxford made a double substitution.   Inniss received his second yellow on 65 minutes and was sent off,  Gunter got a yellow card.   Amos had to make a save.

Bogle was taken out on the edge of the penalty area, but there was no yellow card for the cynical foul to Bowyer's fury.   The free kick came off the wall.

Purrington replaced the tiring Bogle on 87 minutes.   A great run by Shinnie drew a foul.  Moore got a yellow card.   Washington was replaced by Forster-Caskey in time added on and Charlton ran down the minutes.

My man of the match: Andrew Shinnie.

Charlton have moved into the play off positions in 6th place.

Seething supremo Lee Bowyer called for more consistency from officials: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/lee-bowyer-calls-for-more-consistency-from-officials-as-ryan-inniss-is-sent-off-during-win-over-oxford/

 

Not good news on Doughty

Alfie Doughty has said on his Instagram account, 'Gutted to be out for some time, but I'll back stronger and fitter.'  His injury at Northampton did not look good at the time because of the way he landed on the hard surface.

He has made a key contribution to our ability to unsettle opposition defences and he will be missed.

Shell shocked supremo Lee Bowyer has confirmed that 'it doesn't look good at all': https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-boss-lee-bowyer-reveals-details-of-alfie-doughtys-injury-it-doesnt-look-good-at-all/