Southampton 1 Charlton Athletic 1
That was a terrific and hard-fought point today.
Tuesday was so disappointing, but the players showed real character today to bounce back and take a point from a very good Southampton side, who have individuals a cut above this level.
Lloyd Jones and Greg Docherty were immense, and led by example. There were no slackers, everyone played their part and deservedly took the plaudits from the noisy 3,000 travelling Addicks at the end following over 10 minutes of injury time.
In team selection TC joined Dykes up front, but the surprise was Collins Sichenje making his debut in the back three. Ramsey moved to right wing back, but we played pretty much a back five out of possession.
The game quickly settled into the expected pattern with Saints having 80% possession at one point in the first half. Jones had to clear off the line early doors, Manning hit the crossbar, Bree headed over and they were camped in our half.
A couple of times TC broke out on the left and was very direct which was good to see. Yet invariably we were unable to maintain any threads of play, but as the half ended goalless we looked a different team to the one that collapsed in the home game.
The key was not to let an early 2nd half goal in, but we did. Stewart directing a powerful header in from a long way out on 49 minutes.
The next ten minutes after that were important. Would we crumble or would we steady the ship. It was the latter.
Dykes had the ball in the net, but it was scratched off due to a dubious handball against him, although noticeably he didn’t make too many complaints.
Jones brought on Leaburn for TC, and Miles had a spring in his step, and the ball instantly stuck with us higher up the field.
67 minutes and we had a nice move on the left hand side with the inimitable Bell heavily involved. Docherty laid the ball to Carey, who shot across the wet turf from the edge off the box low into the right corner. Their keeper getting a hand to it, but not enough of one.
We were suddenly level, and they looked a little flustered. Leaburn was fouled, their player booked, and we almost scrambled in a second before Downes appeared to lose his mind in a rumpus with Coady and then all hell broke out.
This all contributed (supposedly) to 10 minutes of injury time and it was like the alamo as they threw ball after ball into our box, but time and time again it came back out. The structure and organization at that point was top notch and finally after 114 minutes the ref blew up.
There were many stand-out performances, but significantly it was a real team performance, one of putting bodies on the line for the greater cause welcomingly received by the magnificent Addicks support.
To a man they all played their part. Sichenje, to steal a Steve Brown line, looked to have plenty of raw materials to work with, although I’m pretty sure the ref from last Tuesday would have sent him off within the first 20 minutes but he most definitely played his part in the 2nd half.
We now need to back this point up.
🎙️ “The supporters were magnificent for a me all game. Our fans really warmed my heart today and I thank them for that.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Greg Docherty
🏟️ 29,476 (3,000 Addicks)
📸 Kyle Andrews
Well done CAFC, and credit when it is due, and a battling point.
I saw the early game, WBA v Coventry, and saw the result of the Stoke v Leicester match, and knew our result this morning, Thai time, and well how Leicester did not win in injury time, and had a feeling those two teams, before the match, might get a result.
We went up a place and wonder just for once on Tuesday, we buck the trend of gifting points to teams around us in the table, and high time this was addressed.
Yes talking about the Christmas period and the shambles against Pompey in the last midweek match.
CAFC still need 4 wins and a few draws to be absolutely safe and we are CAFC after all.
Great result yesterday bounced back from Tuesday which is a good thing onto WBA Tuesday let’s keep it going picking up points, the last five games WDWLD 8 points that will do until the end of the season 8 points every 5 games coyr
That was a hard fought result and I’m impressed with the way all players wanted to stamp their authority on play…as I’ve said frequently we are totally unpredictable and expect the unexpected with us.
WBA away will be a challenge but I’m hoping we can build on yesterday and hopefully get a win before we face our nemesis Wrexham.
Big shout out to the travelling fans yesterday who did us proud 👏
A hard fought point from a game I expected to lose. Getting to half-time at 0-0 was probably the NJ plan. Though conceding straight after the re-start probably wasn’t.
At least we competed for the second 45 minutes (make that 55 minutes) Saints keeper looked a little Kaminski-esque when the ball went past him and into the net. A welcome draw.
Now they need to follow that up Tuesday with a win at WBA and things will start to look more comfortable.
Yes indeed a well deserved point the whole team played well against a very good side. I still don’t get how Charlton can play shockingly one game and then play like that the next I guess that’s just football, glad you picked out Doherty for our star man though I thought L Jones did fantastic that clearance he did in the first 3 mins was excellent Collins also did exceptionally well on his debut. Look forward to Tuesday I think we could get a win.. COYR
Once again a Jeckyl & Hyde performance compared to the Pompey game. Why the hell can’t we play with the backbone we showed yesterday, in every game? Yes, we were under the cosh for probably 80% of the time, but we looked solid, had a bit of luck, and each department did it’s job in frustrating Southampton. So, a welcome point in the battle to avoid the drop. I wonder which version of us will turn up at The Hawthorns.
We are so chalk and cheese at the moment but let it carry on because we’re be alright to stay up is so very very important
Those players are working their socks off to keep us in this division and its impossible for it to go right every game with the gap between the divisions being increasingly evident. Anyone who looks at league positions and thinks we should win because they are below us doesn’t get it.
Brilliant yesterday boys and Collins – ulikuwa wa ajabu xx 🇰🇪
Hi ,
A couple of quick points
It was great to see 3000 Charlton suppporters at the game yesterdayThere have been days in the past when this sort of number represented the entire gate-at a home game,but not now.
We must be mindful of our league position and the real threat of relegation .we now need a minimum of 5 points,probably 7 or 8 to guarantee survival from 13 matches!
Easier said than done
The matches coming up are really tough,and we must try to continue picking up points when and where we can.
The West Brom game is a massive opportunity for us and them to improve positions.
We must not lose
Keep the faith
Best
Richard
Three of us were at St Mary’s sat. The crowd and cafc atmosphere was on the money. Great support, a tremendous result and the team looked fully committed and played encouraging and supporting each other across the pitch.
We stopped on the M3 service station coming back and it was great to see that camaraderie carry on as they queued for food watching the replay on their phone and commenting/ backslapping on every defensive header.
Totally close knit group. Let’s go again Tuesday. COYR
A great day out, Rob.
Jeez did it rain! First half we battled away, and not really threatening the saints goal. TC had some opportunities and picked the wrong options. Our midfield were deep too and
struggled to get the ball upfield via our midfielders.
We had to dig deep in the 2nd half after conceding an early goal. It was better and scored with our first real attempt on goal. Somehow we had a goal line scramble and nearly got another. Those extra 10mins at the end seemed to drag but we managed to see it out.
I saw players playing for the manager and the away fans singing in support with NJ. NJ had set up us well and we executed the plan well.
Another 9 pts will do, don’t see Oxford getting past 45pts.
A result against WBA on Tuesday will do, 3pts would be good result. 1 pt is not disastrous either. Leicester are the unknowns, with rumours of further points deductions coming. We can’t influence that only our games, hopefully we can a result on Tuesday.
Finally a massive shout out to the away fans.. sang away and supported the team and manager.
I was like two different teams as the first half we hardly got out of our half and had Southampton been more clinical we could have been a couple down, but everyone put a shift in and we managed to keep them at bay. Jones blocking the ball on the line was the highlight in defending, but Kaminski, who was in front of Jones on the line, should have stopped it before it even got to him! He may have made one good save, but please NJ give Mannion a chance, as he’s making too many errors in most games, and a real solid defence relies on a solid Keeper!
Second half once they had scored, like Brownie, I thought thats it game over, but Leaburn came on we looked like a different team and started moving forward and passing the ball and we deserved the goal. The last 10 minutes, it was everyone to the pump and we just went back to just defending, but held out so a great well earned point.
Anyway lets not get too carried away as we have seen it all before, playing a team who are really off form and we play terrible, so lets hope this time will be different against WBA and we come away with a well earned win.
Have to pick out two players Docherty, who quite often is just not good enough for this division, played probably his best game thsi season and never stopped and the other being Sichenje, who IMO was man of the match. Considering he has never played at this level and this was his first game playing away against a really good side, but he got stuck in and apart from a few tackles, which weren’t malicious, he was everywhere, blocking shots, tackleing players and coming away with the ball, good passing and we now have a central defender with speed, something which has really been lacking. As I previously mentioned on here, similar to others, I was very wary of a player coming from a lower standard league who no one had ever heard of, but if he continues to play like this and better once he gets use to Championship football, he could be our best signing of the season! That’s as long as NJ doesn’t confine him to the bench, once his favourite players, like Burke are fit, similar to other ceratin players! 🙂
Well i never almost a positive assessment on the excellent previously unheard of Kenyan. Amazing how giving a player a chance can pay dividends. 😉
You do talk a load of crap, you have often been completely wrong and also love to criticize others for not agreeing with your own opinions, yet you never ever acknowledge it, such as Ahadme, comes straight to mind!
I have my opinions and like this one, was only concerned he would not be good enough, when we are currently struggling and need to stay clear of relegation, as he has been playing in a lower standard leagues, but advised, hope he can perform and wished him well.
As it has been shown, quite a lot of NJ’s signings have been poor and not performed &/or are injury prone.
Unfortunately you are continually fixated NJ can do no wrong and he is the Messiah!
Well wise up hes not, he has many faults like all of us!