Charlton Athletic 4 Exeter City 1
An attacking line-up from Michael Appleton yielded goals and a good win highlighted by some exciting attacking play.
We had to overcome the traditional defensive wobble, but we equalized at the right time and went on to dominate the 2nd half.
These days are reminding me of the Charlton team of the late 70’s when we had to always score four to win. We scored four tonight, but could have easily have been two-down before we clawed our way back into the game.
Even so, I am happy to watch us win games with goals at both ends as long as we can continue to dominate defences, which I don’t expect the better teams will allow us to do.
Bear in mind also that we played the last 30 minutes plus with injury time against 10 men when Exeter skipper Aimson was very unfortunate to be sent off.
It wasn’t faultless, but it was an enjoyable performance and Appleton should take credit with his line-up starting Alfie May just behind battering rams Aneke and Tedic. May is such as clever and hard working player and he excelled tonight in his role, and there really is a lot to like about the local lad.
CBT was in full flow tonight and Louie Watson did a very good job of pulling the strings from midfield and complimented Dobbo well. I thought Tennai Watson had a good game as well.
Aneke didn’t quite have his shooting boots on, but he is such a menace, and after he was sat down after 70 minutes, Miles Leaburn came on and scored with a peach of a goal to announce to us that for the first time in absolute years, we have four strikers that can all cause damage.
It was a small Valley crowd but they were noisy. Sleep well Addicks.
MoM: Alfie May. It feels good to have a player to really like. Does that make sense?
Appleton of my eye: Tinkered with the formation again. There were holes, literally at the back occasionally, but it allowed our attacking players to really influence the game.
Elsewhere: The top 6 has a different look to it now than it did a few games ago. Pompey, Bolton, Barnsley and Peterborough are all in there with Derby and Wycombe just outside. Thoughts tonight for the fan at Leyton Orient’s game with Lincoln who was taken ill during their game causing it to be abandoned.
Agree with everything you say. We were also helped by, highly unusually, a referee with a default setting that was in our favour. But I do think we have a good squad but now worrying about losing 2 or 3 in the January transfer window!
There’s still some stuff to work on, especially defensively, both our full backs were targeted and they struggled to deal with their wingers. I can see that Michael Appleton is trying to go for consistency of selection in our back four and it’s paying off even if there’s some fragility here and there. We pressed a lot better in the second half as a team and Louie Watson’s passing is giving us an extra edge in midfield. Having him, Dobbo, and Fraser plus Camara gives us our best midfield in several seasons.
But we counter-attacked well and took the goals when they were offered to us.
I’d like to have seen a bit more offensive mobility though, a lot of our forward players were a bit static when we were attacking, saying that it’s tricky when teams defend deep and in numbers. CBT’s goal/the equaliser came from broken play when we countered quickly and having May in the number 10 role gave us a creative outlet that we have missed. I’d rather have him though running off the shoulder of the centre forward. Alongside Aneke rather than feeding him he would have had an even better night, Aneke held a lot of possession up but didn’t have an outlet.
Still three points, a fifth game unbeaten and players returning from injury is giving us a squad with options. There are going to be some tough decisions for Appleton to make on who starts and even who is left out of the match day squad. That’s a good place to be in..
A real reason to feel happier after the win…we stuttered at times but as the game developed the confidence grew.
Even after going one down we kept focus on the game-plan and got a well deserved win.
The covered end did their bit and it was pressing to see normally subdued fans joining in with the chants….thats been long coming.
Appleton and the squad can be happy with the erratic performance but Blackpool await.
Sure as eggs are eggs Albie will be out to prove a point and no doubt will score 👍
Spot on analysis as usual CA.
Isn’t it great to have a predator in the box for the first time in many years in Alfie?? His vision and determination in picking up some loose pieces has been something that has been missing for so long…
NA4Y, you may not be worried about losing some decent players in the January transfer window, but I am! We need to use this squad as a base and build on it, not keep cashing in our assets. If CBT or Miles leaves we’ll be taking 2 steps backwards instead of moving on forward.
We still looked vulnerable at the back, particularly to breakout attacks by the opposition so still lots of work to be done.
Aimson of Exeter was unlucky to get a red card…. I think they’ll be gunning for Alfie in the return fixture at St. James’ Park – I hope he’s got some decent shin pads to put on!
Lol slight mis-read- I’m NOW worried about losing Dobson, CBT & Leaburn in the Jan transfer window. Contracts end for Dobson and CBT this year and Leaburn looks premiership recruitment level to me… Cashing in is not a good option but we may have no choice.
Lol slight mis-read- I’m NOW worried about losing Dobson, CBT & Leaburn in the Jan transfer window. Contracts end for Dobson and CBT this year and Leaburn looks premiership recruitment level to me… Cashing in is not a good option but we may have no choice. On another tack hopefully the red card will be rescinded for Aimson but quite happy with it last night.
A player to like? Bit more than that CA. Love him to bits already – his work rate and passion puts some to shame.
And wasn’t Leaburn’s goal a peach – that put his value up. I have absolutely no doubt he will be going. Not sure why ‘we may have no choice’ NA4Y – we have absolutely no choice – the owners do.
LP – woah there. We’ve been hurt before!