Notts County 1 Charlton Athletic 2

I’ve just seen the goals on Sky, what a wonderful finish that was by Waggy and fully justifying his starting place in the team. By all accounts Wagstaff played so well that Danny Green didn’t even get close to taking his tracksuit off!

We will play better teams than both Bournemouth and County but trust me we will play far worse. In Martin Allen they have a manager who is an expert motivator and they brushed aside Carlisle last week and ran city rivals Forest about as close as you can get in the League Cup on Tuesday, so today’s win at Meadow Lane packed a powerful message of what we can hope for this season.

By all accounts we passed the ball well and looked a real threat going forward and should have snatched a 3rd in the second half. That was our first win away since February, and against the likes of Lee Hughes sleeves have to be rolled up and bodies need to be thrown in the way. It sounded like the defence delivered, especially Matt Taylor, and Wiggins was much improved although we are still susceptible at set plays.

This was a game more for Hollands than Stephens, and the ex-Bournemouth man was outstanding but he was booked after the game when he and substitute Jason Euell got involved in a bit of fisticuffs with the oppo after a County player booted the ball into the delirious Charlton fans. “Me and Danny H not having it!” tweeted Euell after. Love it, I can feel a new bond developing already between fan and player.

According to travelling Addicks, Hayes impressed again and it’s good to see him get on the scoresheet, set up by his strike partner BWP, who in the final half of last season barely got on first name terms with the myriad of strikers and formations thrown together with him.

As Chris would say – 44 games to go.

Addicks at Meadow Lane Drinking During the Game; Addicks Third Division Diary.
Powell-ometer: Sat in the directors box next to Peter Varney, he stuck with Waggy, for which he was handsomely rewarded. Powell preferred Euell over Benson on the bench, probably for his versatility and he’ll be pleased with how we responded to County’s direct approach in the 2nd half.
Elsewhere: Sheffield United won convincingly at home to Brentford, and Tranmere joined the Blades and us at the top following David Buchanan’s cracker at Orient. Bournemouth bounced back from last week with a noticeable win over Sheffield Wednesday and ex-Lion Ashley Grimes snatched a late equaliser for Rochdale to thwart Huddersfield whilst MK Dons win at Exeter stood out.