Charlton Athletic 2 Cambridge United 1
Not always fluent, but once again it was easier on the eye and good to back up the big win at Northampton.
I thought under Gary Monk (and Jason Euell) Cambridge played some nice stuff and after our quick fire start we had to battle hard to keep the 3 points.
Nonetheless we did, and it makes such a difference when we start games indisputably on the front foot.
TC scored on 30 seconds showing great pace and an eye for goal and then his long-time mate Miles Leaburn headed home amongst a dithering visiting defence on 20 minutes to make it two.
2-0 is never a wrap, but by the time the half-time whistle came we looked pretty untroubled.
Cambridge made two changes at the break, and for 15 minutes moved the ball really well from side to side and there were a few signs that we had reverted to old.
We conceded on 52 minutes and for ten minutes afterwards Cambridge had their tails up, but led by Lloyd Jones we got over that hump and I thought if anyone was going to score next, it would be us.
We didn’t but we got ourselves in some good positions and once again I thought both Docherty and Berry were good contributors.
The third goal never came but I thought we saw the game out well, and added three more points to the board.
A word for Thierry Small, who doesn’t always get it right but his willingness to get forward and make something happen I admire. Coventry too did little wrong and pleasingly picking a MoM was not conclusive.
🎙️“It was probably a little bit hairier than it should’ve been,” said Addicks manager Jones. “The first half we were excellent – really front footed. Two-up and I’d have liked us to have got another one because we had had enough of the play and situations where we should’ve been better.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Thierry Small
🏟️ 14,369 (592 from Cambridge)
📸 Paul Edwards
That was as close to our best starting 11 as we’ll get imo save Ramsey for Small – if we can bolster in Jan (Gillesphey remains a weak link) then a run to top 6 shouldn’t be beyond us. Anyway CA like you will be tuning in from sunnier climbs Sunday, 3 on the bounce will definitely turn this doubter into a believer.
Gillesphey is much better with Jones next to him and in a three but definitely a weak link.
Agree, but we are probably stuck with him,as ‘Charlie Boy’ says there will be no incomings in the January window…….That is of course, if you believe anything he says !!!
I was enjoying Boxing Day so only knew what was happening via ‘Flashscore’
A win is a win even if a stuttering one. It served only to emphasise how bad Northampton must have been the previous game.
Putting three subs on from the 90th minute just seems to be a ridiculous idea. You either need the subs or you don’t.
Its called running down the clock. Thought we were much better in game menagement today and even used the ‘head injury’ trainer at least twice to our advantage. Its taken a while but we are learning !!
Yeah I’m familier with the tactic. But if the Ref applies the rules correctly, he should add back any time lost by making subs.
Either way the subs had no time to affect the game, pointless really.
I’ve a feeling that putting subs on so late qualifies them for appearance money ?
Yes there was a very well known Premier league manager that used to insist on his own cut in that scenario 🙄
it’s actually called cheating and is a blight on the modern game. I was ashamed we stooped so low.
Another step forward and a win is a win but we were were put under pressure after they scored.
Confident performances from our defence and Theiry showed what pace and skills he has and caused their left back problems.
Great to see ex-Chalton players again in the Cambridge set up….Jordan Cousins,Michael Morrison and Jason Euelle in the dug-out.
We made heavy weather of that match. In the first half we were in charge, scored two goals and then maybe got caught in the stick or twist thing of whether to defend a 2-0 lead or try for a third kill the game off but risk leaving a gap at the back.
NJ could and should have brought on some subs earlier, Cambridge changed their shape at half-time and moved better and we were chasing shadows for the first 15 minutes, their goal was coming and possibly an equaliser too but it hit the post and our lack of a fox in the box striker meant that we didn’t capitalise on a couple of decent chances.
Defensively we look stronger with Lloyd Jones back and we need to extend his contract and get that creative midfielder in.
Wycombe next and that will be a tough match – but we have some underused subs and squad players to draft in, that might be why NJ was reluctant to go to the bench?