Charlton Athletic 1 West Bromwich Albion 0
Who doesn’t love a last minute winner.
Euphoric scenes again at The Valley tonight as Sonny Carey scored the winning goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make it 23 points from 14 games. We sit 5th in the table as we go to bed tonight.
As a tired looking injury time corner from James Bree was headed away the game looked up and a hard-earned point was going to be our lot.
However, Sonny Carey had other ideas as he wrestled the ball from an opponent a long way out, moved forward menancingly and hit a low shot that took a slight deflection which went underneath West Brom’s ‘keeper to spark joyous scenes.
Sky pictures caught Nathan Jones standing on the wall of the West Stand arms aloft as the ginger genius was heralded by his teammates and three sides of the stadium.
The game didn’t deserve that much fuss if we’re honest. It rarely sprung to life and the Baggies played the crisper football, but the stats did have us ahead. Maybe I was hoping for more but we relied too often on long balls anticipating second phases that we didn’t win enough off.
Of course the character and effort could not be criticized and our defensive, led peerlessly by Lloyd Jones, were again magnificent. We did miss injured players which now includes Charlie Kelman, and Bree looks knackered to me.
Offensively we didn’t move the ball well enough seemingly looking for a scrap over a sweet pass, but it is at this point I stop typing and open up the league table.
I am not counting any chickens, but come on, no one expected this. Look at that goals against column. 👀
Nathan Jones team do not know when to give up, and have this innate belief that they can always win a game whatever the time is on the clock.
I thought the tide turned in the last 10-15 minutes coinciding with the introduction of young Ibrahim Fullah, who was excellent and fearless.
If Greg Docherty had nailed his 1st half penalty the game may have been won before the 95th minute. It was a poor penalty and although he did take one in pre-season (it was our last one) I did think he was a surprise choice.
Like many Addicks Greg will be handing over his wife to Sonny Carey tonight!
🎙️“I said to Sonny at the end of the game to go and enjoy it. You don’t often get 17,000 or 20,000, however many were here, singing your name. Every pass and touch he has is forward. Whatever run he makes is forward. Every shot zings or tests something. He has been an absolute revelation and it’s why we’ve brought him to the football club.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Lloyd Jones
🏟️ 17,147 (1,453 Baggies)
📸 Kyle Andrews
Given that West Brom have played one game less than us in the last ten days, I thought we matched their fitness until maybe the last fifteen minutes. The game was never a showpiece, more of ‘grind out a result’ type of affair, but boy,did our defence stand tall. NJ has instilled a ‘never say die’ attitude into this group of players. A couple of seasons ago,it would have been us who would consistently conceed the late goal. On we go to Wrexham without fear. COYR.
Oh my word! I hope this doesn’t come over too curmudgeonly.
I wasn’t at the game so I’m relying on the typed commentry from ‘Charlton Life’ and the short Sky highlights.
Let’s get this out of the way first. We won again, despite wasting a penalty. Who doesn’t love a last minute winner (probably WBA) It seemed to be in the seventh min. of five minutes added time! We’re fifth in the table and let’s be honest, no Charlton supporter predicted that, certainly not me.
The downside however was another drab and uninspiring game that only livened up in the last ten minutes.
Our defence once again stood strong, but our goalscoring ability has not improved all season (Ipswich excepted)
I just have a nagging feeling that sooner or later relying on 1-0 wins is going to come back and bite us.
Maybe the return of Godden, if it ever happens, will improve the situation.
The good points. Relegation? no way. Play-offs? possibly, but probably a step to far unless more players come in, in January. If we end up in the top ten, that would be quite an achievement for a side promoted the hard way.
A special mention for Ibrahim Fullah. I saw him in a game for us, it must have been last season, but I can’t quite remember the details. I was instantly impressed and it sounds like he had a storming appearance last evening. I would be putting this lad at least on the bench every game or even starting him. He is an undeniable talent.
What a brilliant result!
I’m not too sure if NJ was looking the other way when Kaminski stood big and strong to stop a certain goal in the second half, if not, he should give him credit. I don’t think that the West Brom keeper made the two ‘saves of the game’ as he said in the post match interview.
To be honest we weren’t that good until the 95th minute.
It was a fantastic save from Kaminski.
A word about Connor Coventry. He was everywhere – in attack and defence – and gave us oxygen several times when we were looking on the ropes.
It was a great win.. a typical NJ win. We are not going to be fluid and score a hatful goals , NJ’s game is defensive, and build from there. Is that anything new, nope, does it deliver results for us, simply yes considering where we were this time last year.
We lost players to injuries, players playing out of position and we beat a well established Championship side. We are currently look like we belong and transformation of this squad is impressive. Yes we all had low expectations lfor the season, so results like these are a big euphoria hit and I for one am enjoying it. The game itself was not great, WBA sat deep and Leaburn and TC were ineffective. I saw Coventry waving arms about complaining to the lack of movement by our forwards. The penalty was out of the blue and it was not well disguised by Docherty and the keeper read it .
Defensively we battled away, our keeper made a good block when it looked like they would score.
Carey was trying to make things happen and the introduction of the subs made a difference. Knibbs and Fullah added some extra pace , will Fullah making a great championship debut. As previously said he has talent and took his chance. I understand Charlton did not send him on loan because they want him in the squad as he is that good. I am sure we will see more of him, but he needs to managed.
This game and the Swansea one, are games I feel we would have lost last season.
So we have 23pts, sit in 5th before tonight’s games. It’s an amazing time for the team and fans. Personally I see this league as quite open, so anything is possible. We as a club are in good place and there are not many championship teams who currently can say that. We are surprising people and sides will adapt their tactics accordingly.
I am just enjoying the season, yes there could be some bumps along the way, but let’s enjoy the ride after many L1 seasons of high expectations, then poor results and management.
I worry that we might get promoted! It could be a disaster!
I worry that I win the lottery. Could be a disaster!
Mike,
Personally I never worry about getting promoted but a fear of relegation is always with me. However, I think this squad is doing a tremendous job in removing any thoughts of relegation and I salute them to a man! However, I accept that there will be some difficult times ahead this this season, particularly away from home. The coming Saturday certainly worries me, given our performance at Wrexham towards the end of last season.
If we can keep this level of performance up until January, it is possible that the prospect of promotion may lead to the signing of some even better players, and then who knows what will happen! I am not going to get carried away, though: I am just going to try to enjoy it while I can.
I’m just about recovered from watching the game at The Valley and wow wow wow!!!…Jones has instilled into the squad that you never never give up and Carey demonstrated that scoring so late in the game….I witnessed lots of WBA fans in deep shock when the ball hit the oinion bag !!!!.
Despite injuries the team with changes showed the positive and determined mind set of the team that got us over the line and 3 points are important.
I need a cold compress,a lie-down and a glass of wine !!!!
It wasn’t a classic, but we again matched a team experienced at this level and kept a clean sheet, in so doing we gave ourselves a shot at getting the win.
We’ve also played better than that this season and either lost or drawn.
We have a problem for Saturday week though, unless either Burke or Bell are fit to play we will be a further defender down as James Bree cannot play against Southampton.
I thought Ibrahim Fullah looked good when he came on.
Fuller did.
And agree we were had some luck in the bank after Leicester, Bristol City and Millwall.
Southampton game is 2.5 weeks away, but your point stands.
I’m starting to wonder if the unthinkable could happen!
I think we have to dominate games more, but Jones has built an environment to dream.
Its potentially problematic with Jones. We are in zero condition as a club let alone a team to entertain promotion ideas. The 15min gap btw our half time I tuned into Liverpool Madrid!!! It was like watching a completely different sport.
As much as I want us to win every game and put every point on the board if ever a club needs a moment at a level to reflect and build it’s us.
I love the guy and he’s exactly what we need but I wouldn’t want to be the one to tell him to relax.
@Chicago Addick Ive managed lots of different teams as the lead for different ends as I imagine you have.
He would be tricky to deal with