Charlton Athletic 1 Queens Park Rangers 0

“This is the benchmark for what is to come over the next 17 games, I will make sure of that.”

There are very few moments in life when a wave of happiness can be brought about in a split second like there is at a football match. With the whole Covered End stood for the remaining couple of minutes after Johnnie Jackson had headed in an impossible goal, I had to sit down for fear of passing out!

I think I am safe as my other half doesn’t read my blog, but at that moment at around 4.45pm yesterday I don’t think I could have been more impassioned. I was a shaking, starry-eyed mess. And I’ve been doing this sh**t for 40 years. They do that to you don’t they?

Yesterday was an improbable win, but like those around us, with half an hour left Chris Powell also felt that we could gain more than a point from the game. Not known for making earth-shattering substitutions Powell needs to be credited for the masterful introduction of Tudgay and particularly Ajdarevic replacing the ineffective Green and Ghoochanneijhad.

Ajdarevic instantly took hold of a game which for long periods we had watched as QPR passed the ball intricately only for one of their high-salaried players to get bored and either shoot the ball into the stands or boot it out of play. The possession stats told the story, but that was fine.

But with Ajdarevic we got power, strength and purpose. Playing in an advanced role the Standard loanee wrestled back control of the game in our attacking third from players such as Ravel Morrison, all rolled-up socks, step overs and petulance.

We then started to dominate and looked to force ourselves on our opponents. Harry’s cast of Premiership cast-off’s and wannabes don’t look like they have the heart for a promotion battle. They reminded me a little of Pardew’s team in the second-half of our first season out of the Premiership and if they fail to go up FFP will absolute kill them.

Back to the subs then. Instantly we got movement and a player not scared of the ball in Tudgay, a whole lot more tenacious than Reza. It’s very early days but in Tudgay we have a player who knows what this division is about and knows the requirements.

As we went for the goal, Cousins continued to break up attacks, Diego Poyet probed further up the pitch and the skipper moved back into a far more comfortable central role.

Poyet impressed me. 18-years old and unafraid to make a mistake with good timing in the tackle.

The first half we mostly spent the game closing down and forcing mistakes, but it was us who had the best chances hitting the post twice in a couple of seconds. Cousins first with an excellent shot and then Reza hitting the other stick. He looked like he may have done better, although to be fair the ball did come out to him quickly and he too was a long way out.

The second half began in the same vein, but with The Valley baying the Reds on in a real show of support for the team and their manager, the game changed following the substitutions.

The stats show no shots on goal for Rangers but I do remember Thuram diving to save comfortably with climactic affect late in the 2nd half. Thuram doesn’t exude a lot of confidence. Ineffective kicking not to mention gifting Rangers their best chance with an awful clearance from an admittedly dodgy Dervite back pass.

But it came down to the final curtain. Robert Green saved superbly from a beautiful Ajdarevic left footed shot and after the ball pinged about a bit from the corner, it came back out to Ajdarevic who put over a deep cross and there he was, captain fantastic, to head in from a ridiculously tight angle with the clock at 4.45pm.

Cue absolute pandemonium in the Upper tier of the Covered End and the need of a sit down from me.

Addick Bloggers at The Valley: Chris Powell’s Flat Cap; Ramblings of a Football Fan; Blackheath Addick; Valley Talk; Hungry Ted; Charlton Casualty; Stickleback; God, Charlton and Punk Rock; And Nothing Else Matters.