Charlton Athletic 1 Brentford 0
On Wednesday night, to steal from Lee Bowyer, we battered Forest. Today the battering was on the other foot, but heroic defending, and total commitment saw us gather another 3 points to our early unforeseen total.
8 points above the relegation zone, it’s how I’m looking at it, and another wonderful Valley occasion as second best throughout we showed another side to our game. If Wednesday was about slick passing and movement, today was about blood and guts with the back three of Lockyer, Pearce and Pratley immense and Duracell bunny Lapslie and Purrington leaving no blade of glass unturned.
Oshilaja was taken off as a precaution, but it sounded like we were more water tight with three at the back as we matched them man for man. The stats weren’t pretty but there will be plenty of games this season when we will be outplayed.
Williams with another assist and Gallagher with another undaunted finish. Four years younger than Cullen, Gallagher looks some player.
Whilst Williams and Pearce benefited from not starting on Wednesday, it clearly affected others such as Leko and Taylor. Tomer Hemed made his debut and made an instant impression. The strength of character and body that we need.
Those last few minutes I was gnawing through my finger nails. Brentford are a good footballing side, maybe short of a striker, and that’s another story, but they have top six credentials.
Bowyer and Jacko would have learnt a lot today from that performance. We need to be more consistent in possession, but when the team is that committed and together, we will always have a chance.
Addicks at The Valley: Charlton Aesthetic; Doctor Kish;
Bow: “They do that every time. They did the same last season, that’s why we got promotion. We give everything whether we’re winning or losing, they still keep going and going. They never know when they’re beaten.”
Elsewhere: Leeds looking good on top piling more pressure today on Nathan Jones as they win 3-0 at Stoke. To prove how good our performance was on Wednesday Forest stopped Fulham in their tracks winning 2-1 at Craven Cottage. Luton won for the first time at Barnsley, Millwall drew at Middlesbrough and QPR beat Wigan. Huddersfield lost at home to Reading, who had a very good week.
Photo: @K_AndrewsPhotos
Chicago Addick 
Yep, it was a great team performance and balances out not taking three points from Forest on Wednesday.
I worry a tad about Lyle Taylor, thanks to the play-offs he and many of last year’s squad that are still with the club had several weeks less rest than they really needed. In particular he works hard, popping up in midfield, on the wing and anywhere he thinks he’s needed ad I fear that will eventually lead to a few wear and tear injuries. thankfully with Hemed and Chuks we now have a bit of cover. And as for Conor Gallagher, I can’t believe he’s only 19 and playing his first few games as a pro – he reminds me a bit of Lee Bowyer at that age, unafraid to make runs into the box and to take shots on goal, elsewhere I see a bit of Scott Parker, reading the game well, winning possession and then looking to do something positive with it. His match reading skills are those of a natural.
CA, for those of us from abroad, I can’t say enough about how great the live streaming package of each game is and how much it changes the dynamics of supporting the club from long distance. At just over a couple of “pounds” cost per match (if you take the season package), it is terrific value and so far it has been a total blast!! 🙂
Agreed Bob. It’s a great service. In fact the whole commentary / highlights package in recent seasons has made a big difference to following the club from far flung places.
Connor Gallagher’s finish was top class and he will be a very good player, but I did observe that his midfield play looked a bit tired,playing 4 games in 2 weeks is a big ask for someone of his age. One of the Chelsea websites that follows the progress of their players out on loan commented that Gallagher faded in the second half against Notts.F and with the short gap to the Brentford game it’s no surprise that he found it tough going. The short space between games had a very noticeable effect on Leko who had a poor game. Hopefully the week until the Reading game will give the players time to recover. The international break should then offer the opportunity for some players to have a short break whilst those whose fitness and stamina levels need boosting can put in some hard work. Basically the players that had a preseason and went to Spain have been fine it’s the late arrivals who need to sharpen up.
How did Hemed look to you when he was introduced?
Hemed looked short of match fitness and needs to work on that over the next 3 weeks until the end of the international break. Let’s say I reserve judgement until then.