Plymouth Argyle 0 Charlton Athletic 6
Well if there was ever a day to hide bad news, then today was it, but there was nothing bad about tonight’s result.
Laughably, we can now, we didn’t get out of our own half in the first ten minutes as Plymouth pressed from the off and forced corner after corner.
It was 20 minutes before we really showed when DJ had a shot saved, but we were starting to pass well and get forward in numbers especially wide and that is where the first goal came from when Millar surged into the box. His cross cum shot was saved, but JFC rubber necked the rebound high into the net. It was a big goal, undeserving on play at that point, but equally underlined our potential.
Plymouth were still in it and were getting in our box a little too comfortably. Stockley was inches away from putting us two-up when Purrington smashed in a lovely cross from the left, but Stockley made no mistake from an equally peachy Matthews’ cross from the other side just on the stroke of half-time. Always a great time to score.
With the 2nd half kick off came warnings of 2-0 leads exhorted by Scotty, Curbs and Deano. Amos made a huge save in the first minute, but then from his throw Millar changed defence to attack (which he does so well) got to the edge of the box, had a crack, and it got a couple of very fortunate Plymouth touches before ending up in the net. And breathe…. 0-3
Still we went forward. Gilbey, who is like a new signing, finishing superbly after great work by Stockley and Millar.
Matthews was excellent, and I thought it interesting that he was the first to be rested by Adkins when he started to roll in the subs. It was the Welshman who set up the 5th, winning the ball sending DJ away. His cross was dummied by Stockley and the ball fell to Millar who smashed home. I lost count of Millar’s fantasy points at this point.
Rolling subs killed the vibe a little, and naturally Argyle were on an absolute damage limitation purge at this point.
However I was chuffed that it was Aneke who put the icing on the cake and equalled our record away win. Pratley’s deft ball was controlled expertly by Chuks and he slid home.
In fact our easiest chance fell to Aneke minutes later when he burst away, again sent by Pratley, but he shot just wide of the post.
It was an historic day in news and sport, but a little League One game will also go down in history.
Nigel Adkins: “They were six good goals, we were ruthless in our finishing, we could have scored another one at the end with Chuks.”
Photo credit: Kyle Andrews
Chicago Addick 
I just wanted a win and we got a real confidence booster. With the front 3, this always had potential to happen and now we are more solid, DJ and Millar can shine with Shockley as the focal point. With other results helping it really is in our hands to stay in the play offs now and no one is going to want to play us, least of all Sunderland who have hit a poor patch.
Credit to Nigel, we stayed down the night before and last night to aid preparation & recovery, that forward thinking ( aided by TS financing of course) and rotating the subs once the game was won will help us through the next 5 games. 15 points to play for, we are at 66 and I think 72 will see us safely in. After that anything could happen.
We look like a team, we have a plan and now we have some confidence.
This does rather vindicate those of us who pointed out Bowyer was the problem,
I am a great fan of Lee Bowyer, as a player and then our manager who did good things with a non exesiting budget. However, I have to agree with the second comment that Bowyer lost the plot and consequently cost us a stronger position in the top six.
His strange decision making had me baffled which in itself was our downfall because of the rotation of players who at more times I care to remember were lost on the pitch not knowing, where was I last game and it showed big times.
Having said this, last night Akins proved getting his players organised even with the same players it can be done was something that should have been in place in the onset.
Unfortunately as exciting the game was to watch, l feel we may have giving ourselves too much to do and are relaying on others to slip up.
But take nothing away from the lads, they fought well and got their act together after a dodgy start. This performance will at least give Akins a good insight in what he needs and the type of player that will suit his style of football.
Well done the reds biggest win for many games and in reflection deserved. Let’s play the same against Peterborough but a more aggressive start they are going to test our metal.
Good luck the Addicks we are all proud.
Michael I can’t agree we have left it too late and are relying on others. We are in 6th place now, one point ahead of Oxford & Portsmouth with a game in hand on Pompey and two on Oxford, it is 100% in our own hands.
I agree with Daggs. Bowyer can spot a player of that there is no doubt. However, his man-management and tactics often left a lot to be desired. Look at any team where the manager constantly tinkers with the team and tactics and that team will struggle for consistency. Claudia Ranieri is a classic example. By the time he managed Leicester he had learned many lessons and look what happened there? NA has introduced a level of stability that is allowing players to better understand their roles within the team. Some players will be on the periphery of the team at the moment but they will get their chance to impress and stake a claim in the starting line-up. That is what true competition is all about and that is what improves the structure of the team. Charlton always had good individuals but they are now starting to play as a team. Last night is a glimpse of what can be achieved when players play for each other. NA is managing the players in the right way. At the end of LB’s time in charge, everyone appeared to be pitched against each other and that’s the difference. Onwards and upwards. COYR!
Great result and nice to see NA give players from the bench pitch time when the result was settled. Nobody mentioned it but Morgan had 2 crucial touches in the build up to Aneke’s goal.
Total agree with Daggs, MT & NR & Rierti, so nothing more to say for once! 🙂
How disappointing 🤣😃
Excellent result after the disappointing draw at home to Ipswich and to see us into our final five games, three of which are going to tough encounters against fellow promotion rivals.
A great night to be a Charlton fan – the big difference from other recent games is that the midfield got forward to take advantage of Stickley’s hold up play. Against Ipswich and in iother games he’s been a little isolated and we’ve not made the best use of the aerial duals that he consistently wins.
A place in the play-offs is ours for the taking.
Yes. I think that is the best I’ve seen DJ and Millar play too