Charlton Athletic 3 AFC Bournemouth 0

Winning your first game of the season is not imperative but my does it put a skip in your step. Yes, it wasn’t perfect and one would hope we will get better but as I walked away from The Valley amongst smiling faces there were some significant signs of better days ahead.

Undeniably we tried to pass the ball, particularly amongst the midfield. It wasn’t always possible and a long ball was reverted back to and arguably Bournemouth passed the ball better, but they had nowhere near the quality of impact players that we possessed and neither the penetration. One other worry, as has often been the case in past seasons, was that we occasionally sat back too deeply but I liked the strength and power of Taylor and Morrison.

Successful teams need a consistent and trustworthy pair of centre-halves and Powell looks to have found two, but it remains to be seen if a nippy and direct League One striker can be nullified. Equally Solly, who played well, and Wiggins, who I thought had a nervous first 60 minutes, do lack a bit of height and experience but that is what Andy Hughes is there for.

Many have mentioned Dale Stephens, who spent the entire game joyfully passing the ball and moving into space looking to recollect it and his finish for the all important first goal was sublime.

Danny Hollands next to him was the water carrier and one would imagine he will grab more headlines than Stephens on a cold night in Hartlepool, but the two worked exceptionally well together and memories of Semedo and Racon were soon vanished.

Jackson was the quieter of the midfield four, but he made a couple of trademark late runs into the box and tucked away a nice penalty and I for one think his appointment of captain is fully justified although Taylor looked and sounded a good influence at the back.

From our seats in the Upper Covered we had a terrific view of Waggy’s goal and it was the last thing I thought of last night as I fell asleep full of curry and Cobra. Waggy is an impact player and he caused a lot of problems out on the right yesterday but did give the ball away on a few occasions but typically he would chase back to rectify it.

I was impressed with Hayes, who cleverly found space is confined spaces and supported the midfield well. A second contender for goal of the season was too much to ask when he blazed his right foot volley not far wide after being set up by Stephens. Benno likewise did well when he replaced Hayes, but I would still like to see another striker join, but Powell denied it will be Danny Ings, who I thought showed well for the Cherries.

Meanwhile BWP, who often suffers like other natural goalscorers of being accused of laziness, showed flashes of deftness and singularly won us a penalty. Bradley Pritchard made a nice little cameo late on, although I was convinced he was bigger but I don’t know how I made that assumption!

Based on the fact that Robbie Elliot had started every pre-season friendly it was right that he played yesterday, although who’s to know whether Powell would have selected him over Hamer anyway, but I reckon that Powell has reservations, like many of us, that Robbie is not good enough consistently. Nonetheless he did nothing wrong yesterday and produced one fine stop and at least when he left the field kissing the badge, you know he means it.

So overall it was a great afternoon, which began in the Rose of Denmark where I met many insightful bloggers and tweeters, continued in a noisy and happy Covered End and ended with my love of Charlton impossibly heightened, just like my optimism.

I might even go back on Tuesday night!

Who else was at The Valley Saturday: And Nothing Else Matters; Deepest Darkest; Charlton Casual; Hungry Ted; God, Charlton & Punk Rock; Stickleback; New York Addick
Powell-ometer: Chose Solly over Hughes and Elliot over Sullivan, both of which were good decisions. Spent the entire game ‘hidden’ in the tunnel and shied away with a smile on his face when the crowd sung his name.
Elsewhere: Lee Hughes scored twice as Notts County were 3-0 up at Carlisle at half-time. Sheff Utd had what was described as an ‘easy win’ at Oldham and Sheff Wed beat Rochdale 2-0 at home. The result of the day was Colchester’s 4-2 victory at relegated Preston.