Leeds United 0 Charlton Athletic 1
“It was a good save. It came from the spirit of the team. There is so much solidarity, it’s not luck.”
Super result last night at Elland Road. A good time to play Leeds for sure, but importantly we punished them and it was another game in hand that we managed to max out.
The victory was the result of another superlative defensive performance with Ben Hamer a super star in between the posts saving an injury time penalty as well as making a couple of other fantastic saves. I wonder what Yohann Thuram-Ulien made of it all back at home with the hump to rival the one in his countryman’s Victor Hugo’s book?
Hamer was the night’s hero but every man in red was deserving especially Reza Ghoochannejhad, who scored his first goal for the club with an equisite left footed chip to give us a lead to hang onto in the 54th minute.
It wasn’t all about defending though as again our possession stats were much improved and we dominated in shots on and off target and corners.
Riga has them playing a calmer passing game, and it was pleasing for everyone to see a striker score a goal for the first time in two months. Reza has struggled physically and phases of the game can pass him by, but he does have an eye for the goal and last night would have done the Iranian a world of good.
There’s a lot more minutes like those in injury time last night to come, but belief is a vital ingredient and there was a lot of that knocking around Addicks land last night.
Addick Bloggers at Elland Road: Valley Talk;
excellent posting again this week have to get you to write for the trust news at this rate.
At the present time it is all about the team and getting a result, securing being in the championship place, and everything else has to come afterwards.If the attitude of Yohann Thuram-Ulien is to be even half true, I am appauled that a professional can have this attitude towards his team mates, club and supporters. Well done Hamer, who did his talking on the pitch, someone who I have personally doubted his attitude in the past. Last night he proved me wrong, and I am happy to admit it.
Another brilliant Tuesday night result. They recovered well from the predicted Derby defeat – a game that was always going to be about damage limitation to goal difference – that didn’t quite work out favourably. Against Leeds however, they were playing a side low on morale and confidence. In theory, that could’ve described a Charlton side facing relegation. Instead we have players of spirited calibre like Morrison, Jackson, Wilson and Hamer who have been immense, making Riga’s job far more easier than he would’ve dared hoped for. That rubs off onto the other players, noticeably the younger ones like Poyet and Cousins. The message from them is clear – we will beat the drop even if it kills us! So there’s great spirit mixed with pride and professionalism and the desire to please the fans and Riga. But I believe there’s more to it than even that – and this is no disrespect to Jose who is doing a good job. I believe it’s their personal desire to show their respect for and allegiance to Chris Powell that is their strong motivator. Once survival is assured, then the next chapter will begin – but for now, there has to be only one objective.
Roberto, I think the players are playing for the new boss now. He seems to have a good relationship with the players (see the touchline reactions at the final whistle after the recent wins) and at the end of the day, they are doing a job of work and want to please their boss.
Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I managed to tune in to BBC Radio Leeds full commentary on Tuesday night and boy were the Leeds guys down in the mouth. All a bit nerve jangling at the end, but we sounded pretty comfortable.
Very well said Roberto.