Rochdale 0 Charlton Athletic 2
Right. Now let’s go on a run.
A dominate performance today at Rochdale. An early goal, then another one for breathing space, their woodwork rattled three times, some good movement off the ball and a very assured defensive display.
Deji was excellent, Gunter better, Pearce better suited and I do like Purrington in there at left back. He is an established defender who reads the game well.
The midfield won a lot of second balls, which thwarted any pressure and meant we spent much more time in their half with the ball.
Millar was a constant dynamic menace, while Shinnie was much more relevant. And then up top Stockley and Aneke were a real powerful threat. Aneke was excellent, scored one and unfortunate to not have a hattrick.
Diallang Jaiyesimi (let’s go with DJ) also had a very nice cameo when he came on for Shinnie with 12 minutes left.
No need to change the team at half-time, no need to watch a game with either your hands over your eyes or head on the laptop. It was good, it was a start, but it will mean bugger all unless we repeat those levels again next week.
📢: “Now, it’s come to that point where we have to go on a run, a big run” – Lee Bowyer
🖊: Addicks Third Division Diary.
📸: Kyle Andrews.
1️⃣: After runaway Lincoln won at Gillingham Friday night, today Burton upset Hull 1-0, and there were draws for Portsmouth, Sunderland and Accrington against Plymouth, MK Dons and Northampton respectively. Donny beat Oxford in the game of the day 3-2 and Peterborough beat Crewe 2-0 on a pitch that looks pretty atrocious.
Chicago Addick 
A very welcome win that has the ‘Bowyer in’ crowd crowing. As welcome as it was, for me it alone doesn’t make up for the litany of team selection/formation disasters foisted on us by Bowyer. His poor management has cost us twenty or more points so far.
If he would listen to advice, stop tinkering around and play his best available eleven every game, we MAY salvage this season, though automatic promotion looks a bridge too far now. Whatever, I still don’t believe he is the right man to take us forward. For the moment it appears Sandgaard does.
A new strategy. We played with a definite change of style. Getting the ball forward quickly for Chucks and Shockley, rather than playing out from the back and moving sideways. “Let’s go on a run” sounds like a good plan!
The result was there, but equally so was the performance. Defensively we shut and bolted the gate and got the ball forward quickly and purposefully. Dale are a weak team – but we’ve screwed up too often against similar outfits recently and this was a job done very professionally. After last summer’s ownership wrangles Bow and Gallen were forced to put a squad together that they ultimately weren’t happy with and who were unable to play the way he wanted. Those players have been moved on and in have come players with a bit of pace and skill. From here-on, play 4-4-2, the other formations haven’t produced the results and with Millar and DJ we have width, pace and crossing ability and forwards who can use the possession.