Charlton Athletic 1 Stoke City 0
A big, big win.
It was an enjoyable watch, the odd bit of anxiety aside, but better still was the huge 3 points that gives us some breathing space. The clean sheet was fully earned and we wanted it more all over the pitch. We are so better structured, Clarke and Chambers give us balance and poise, Coady is the linchpin, and Dykes an old school number 9, who leaves it all out on the pitch.
The only team change was a welcoming start for Godden, with Kelman dropping to the bench.
We started the game well once again, and created very good early chances. Clarke’s header thudded against the bar from a Carey corner. Another Carey corner was put narrowly wide by Jones and then Ramsey had a header that was saved. All that before 15 minutes was on the clock.
We were playing well, but Rak-Sakyi reminded us of his threat and hit the bar after inevitably wriggling free in the box. He blazed another shot over, and the visitors finished the half just the stronger.
Were we once again going to rue those missed chances?
We began the 2nd half on the front foot and Carey sent a lovely ball into Godden’s path who hit a shot that looked on target but it took a deflection and went for a corner. Jones shook the net from the corner, but it was the side-netting.
Stoke’s Thomas was looking dangerous, but his team mates didn’t seem to have the desire when he put a couple of really good crosses across the goal. Rak-Sakyi went off and the Potters looked more earthenware than porcelain.
In fact whereas QPR smelt blood, Stoke didn’t look like they had the same heart for a fight as the game moved into the final 20 minutes.
TC was on for Godden, and was playing up top with the tireless Dykes. Campbell had an archetypical shot palmed away by their ‘keeper and at that point we looked like we were running out of gas.
Then on 81 minutes a long kick from Kaminski was headed on towards TC by Dykes. Their defender stuttered and TC was through on goal. His first touch was poor, but he regained his composure rounded the ‘keeper and slotted home.
The last 10 minutes might have in real time been more nervy than they really were. Jones, Bell, Ramsey, Chambers, Clarke, Coady and sub Coventry were all willing to put themselves in front of any threat and we closed the game out.
A big win and some big performances. MoM could’ve been almost anyone, but a shout out to the skipper, who while he is liable to misplace a pass, his reading of the game and desire to get on second balls is excellent. Dykes, Jones, Clarke and Bell were all man of the match worthy.
🎙️”We’ve had more clear-cut chances, we should have been ahead at half-time. You do feel like that you might not get the goal, it will peter out, or they might nick one because the Championship is brutal like that. I felt we defended superbly well tonight for the clean sheet. I felt we created enough chances to win the game and I’m delighted in the manner that we did. It took a game changer in TC to win us the game.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Amari’i Bell
🏟️ 14,836 (1,112 from Stoke)
📸 Paul Edwards
Had a feeling tonight we win was thinking last saw Stoke at valley was cup game big crowd loosing 2 o then ships got couple headed goals then crooks scored penalties
Seven points from a possible nine, three clean sheets and things suddenly look a lot different!
We look considerably better balanced with Clarke and Chambers, however I do have some nagging doubts about Chambers defensively, being a bit lightweight. That said, he is quality on the ball. Having Bell just inside does ease those concerns though.
I was sceptical of the Dykes signing, when in fairness, he is exactly the kind of player that we needed up-front, and is putting in a proper shift in every game. I don’t mind if he is not prolific, especially if he is causing a nuisance, winning those aerial duels and bringing others into the game, like for TC last night.
A good well earned 3 points the team looks much better with chambers and Clarke, special mention for the shift Lyndon dykes puts in, hard to pick man of the match they all played well coyr
Fantastic! The stuff of dreams! A win against Pompey would be wonderful for the nerves, wouldn’t it? I cannot praise the team enough and what a difference the new acquisitions have made!
We look better with the influx of Championship standard players in January, but we need to take a few more of those chances. In reality this should have been a comfortable home win against a dogged team who offered little threat other than Rak-Sakyi hitting the bar. Those three early chances all fell to defenders rather than forwards.
We also look better with Amari’i Bell back from injury and playing on the left side of the central defence, we need him to stay fit. Defensively we are stronger when he plays.
Onto the six pointer against Pompey, in the meantime seven points from nine and a third clean sheet in a row has lifted us out of the relegation fight, but we have to keep this up.
That was a brilliant result and once again we showed grit and determination to gradually wear down Stoke.
All the players gave 100% and it was only poor finishing that tarnished the great performance. We should have been 3 up in the first 15 mins.
The sense of relief when T C scored a great goal was evident all around the stadium…..Nice to see Nathan “thanking the Stoke fans” at the end….if you give Nathan stick expect to get it back 😃
Pompey up next and my sea weed is limp indicating we could do it Tuesday night under the lights…..night games at home seems to get points….
COYRs !!!!!
Three very welcome points. I’m not quite as relaxed as some, now we are on 39 points.
We’re still too close to the danger zone. Another ten points and I think we’ll be safe.
Precisely, Daggs was thinking well in the 50-plus points, and let’s hope no issues on the final day, like 5 years ago.
God knows please not but maybe we stay up by one point this time!!
A long way to go and it would be nice to score some more goals as on aggregate less than one goal a game,
COYR
Well done, CAFC last night, and we must continue with these results and not get carried away. We still need more wins, of course, and a huge shout-out to our new players who seem to have slotted in seamlessly.
Yes, our rivals for many decades, Pompey, up next, and they seem to be improving, and indeed they and Oxford in past seasons seem to pick up points when needed.
It does look like Oxford may well drop, but such is this league teams can go on a run of form.
CAFC must keep on, and yes, it would be nice to score more goals, and not have our nerves on edge.
Great result , a solid performance and a shout out to the performances in midfield. I like the trio of Docherty,Carey, and Coady. Also Dykes and Godden up front hopefully will produce more scoring chances when paired together. Lets be up for the fight with Pompey.COYR.
Great result the new signings played their part all the team played well but lets not forget stoke played poorly lets not take the shine out of the win though. I m thinking 4 more wins should keep us up. Dykes I thought was definitely motm he always puts in a good shift like I said when we signed him has more assists than goals glad TC got his goal hopefully more to come from him . Lets have a win against pompey then will be 3 wins to go COYR
Wow, we really needed that. A proper old fashioned route one goal.
Also it’s refreshing to read a bunch of comments without reference to Sichenje and chickens!
A big 3 points! At this stage of the season, I don’t care how they come. We are not over the line, but have made a big move with 7pts of 9 since the Millwall debacle. I feel another 10 points will do , 12 to be sure. I can’t see Oxford getting out of the bottom 3, and feel that Leicester will drop as well. The January signings have made a big impact and I hope they continue to do so. I was pleased for TC and have been critical of him in the last 2 games. He seemed to enjoy playing without the defensive duties. You want him to be enjoying his football and when he does he looks a good player.
I thought Bell was outstanding.. no coincidence when he plays we are a different side defensively. Coady was barking orders all game, and you could hear him very clearly tonight. He marshalled the team well in that last 15 minutes of the game. We nearly saw the Kenyan come on as well. He is a tall lad for sure!
We need to keep going, and get those points on the board. I am looking at games with Portsmouth, WBA, Oxford and Sheffield weds where we have real chance of getting a good collection of points. Throw in some odd points from the other games and we should be ok. As a newcomer to this league that is a big result. Not there yet , but we are in a better position now. A Saturday off now.. then back for the Pompey game and hopefully another 3 pts.
COYR !