Nottingham Forest 0 Charlton Athletic 1
“In our situation we have to take our chances when we get them and at last we scored.”
Huge, absolutely huge win tonight at a ground we have only won once at in 38 years. Sure, it was a great time to play them, but Charlton are not famous for taking these sort of opportunities.
It was a nerve-wracking night, and it won’t be our last, as Barnsley and Yeovil led for long periods and Birmingham comfortably bettered Millwall for the majority of the game at The Den. Barnsley saw out their win at Play-Off chasing Reading but Yeovil again threw away 3 points after Kasper Schmeichel followed in his Dad’s footsteps and scored a last gasp equaliser for Leicester. Millwall went bottom after losing at home to The Blues.
Meanwhile at The City Ground we slugged it out with a Forest team and a crowd down in the dumps. As the game moved on Addicks everywhere were hoping that we’d somehow find a breakthrough and score a rare goal.
Sordell did hit the post in the first half, but so did Forest’s Simon Cox, but it was a game short on chances. Then with just 9 minutes of normal time left Astrit Ajdarevic thread a lovely little ball into sub Jonathan Obika who swept in a shot that hit a post and there was Jordan Cousins to thoughtfully pass the ball into an empty net. Get in!
Pleasingly again Riga’s side didn’t then drop back and played out the remaining time plus injury comfortably.
Riga appeared to play AA in an advanced role, but not isolated, with Reza and Sordell offering plenty of support. Jackson was pivotal again and Poyet and Cousins put in another performance that makes you proud.
The victory would not have been possible without another excellent rear-guard action with Wood seamlessly taking over from an injured Dervite at the break. Hamer again making a couple of vital stops.
It was in many ways what we had come to expect as a typical Charlton away performance and it was the kind of win that Powell’s side often snatched last term, but have looked so unlikely this season. If Jose can take those bits plus the commitment and spirit and add in his own beliefs and concepts, then I’ll look forward to more of the same please.
Finally let’s not forget the 258 Addicks at Forest tonight. Your loyalty and faith has no bounds!
Addick Bloggers at the City Ground: Chris Powell’s Flat Cap.
Followed the first half hour, sitting on the bog at 4 in the morning with a dose of food poisoning. Needed sleep after that and only got the results this morning.
Food poisoning or pre-match nerves BA?
I was at the Derby Vs Forest game at the Weekend, great atmosphere & game but Forest were terrible, I predicted an Addicks victory last night, and reckon we can nick a point Saturday away to Derby. We then have a big 6 pointer against those Somerset giants Yeovil, a comfortable victory shall be ours (fingers & toes crossed). I am confident on our Championship status remaining for next season & with a few additions we might have a very good season, 2014-15. I like the way we are now playing, possession, movement, passing & a strong defence, with a few more goals in the side we could be challenging – why not Burnley were one of the favourites this season to go down & they just might win the Championship come May.