Charlton Athletic 1 Birmingham City 0

That’s a great result and well deserved too.
Excellent performance and the whole team played with determination,skill and purpose…..What a great finish from Kelman too !!!!

An excellent result from a tough game, and another 3 points toward staying in this division. Since the first day we signed Dykes, Kelman should have partnered him up front. With a bit of luck, NJ will keep that partnership going.

That was a massive result, especially as the teams below us are all picking up points.

I thought that Charlie Kelman’s post-match comments were quite insightful, even if there was some reading between the lines on my part. NJ is clearly pushing hard to get more from this group and some individuals in-particular, and at times these players are not going to be happy. But if they are reacting in a positive manner, such as CK did, by getting on the pitch and scoring a winner, then I believe that it is working, and it also puts to bed any doubts of NJ ‘losing the dressing room’ that was thrown about during the rough spell we had recently.

Middlesbrough feels like a free hit now!

Another vital three points, phew! Another improved performance.
Obviously I can’t comment without a moan though, got to keep up my image 🙂
Why NJ starts with TC on the pitch, let alone as a striker remains a mystery. He is best used as a sub IMO.
Hopefully Kelman will get more time alongside Dykes or Leaburn as we enter the last ten games.
Six to Nine points could see us safe.

CA What a difference in the last two games when we were actually on the front foot trying to play in the opposing half rather than in our own half for most of the game! Some attractive football at last, finally it must have clicked with NJ &/or others have persuaded him, that trying to play mostly defensively and hoping that we can keep a clean sheet and can snatch a goal to win, will not be enough!
Unfortunately I couldn’t go to the game as had put my back out on Monday and it still wasn’t right so didn’t want to chance it, so watched it at home instead.
I know we lost against Wrexham and certain people on here, who are always sarcastic to the likes of myself, Daggs, John West and others etc who want more attacking football, were saying you got what you wished for trying to play that way, but hey when we came out from the Wrexham game, though we lost there was an upbeat, as the football was miles better and we weren’t as normal, camped in our own half with side ways and backwards passing, with only poor finishing letting us down. We all thought that it would be back to the same old way against Birmingham, but no it was on the front foot from the off and like against Wrexham, we played with more fluenecy and moved forward together as a team, with the midfield being much more positive with passes going forwards rather than trying to play in our own half. After we scored, I sat back in my chair and thought here we go, everyone back again and bringing on some more defenders to keep hold of the one nil lead, but no we continued to go at them and NJ wasn’t calling his players back which was a first this season, plus we still looked positive and could have scored a couple more, as with only with a short time left did NJ bring on two centre backs, which at that point made complete sense. Watching on TV, after the game, the players themselves even looked far more happy with playing this way, rather than everyone packed in their own half and just lumping the ball up to a solitary forward, and were even jumping around at the end with fist pumps to the crowd.
So it just shows we don’t have to be so negative & defensive to get a good result and we can play some entertaining football if allowed to! Obviously there will be some games we have to really grind out to get a result, which can be boring and defensive, but you expect that with any team.
I think those who believe it doesn’t matter if we just continue with negative football as long as we stay up are not thinking of the issue this will also cause! A lot of new supporters who have bought season tickets this season won’t probably renew, as they can watch those boring performances at lower league clubs costing a lot less, but they want to be entertained, so will go elsewhere. To give a prime example, the young lad in his 20’s, who now lives here but comes from Hong Kong, bought the seat at the end next to me, has recently commented how poor and negative Charlton have been and wasn’t quite expecting that, plus his father who came over to visit came to one of the games in his place, as his son was ill, didn’t think much of the way they played. You have to also wonder how many other new potential season ticket buyers would also be put off, as many will want to see a team worth watching and at least trying to play attractive & entertaining football! Plus, unless a player is just in it to line their own pockets, we have a few of those already, what really good player would want to join Charlton to just to play in a negative boring way, as like any pro sportsman, they want to show what they can do, when given a chance.
Anyway lets just hope, NJ has at last listened to reason and will continue with more of the same when they can, which will benefit all concerned. 🙂
Also NJ please retain Mannion in goal, even when Kaminski is fit again, as you can see he has already instilled more confidence in the backline, with his catching and commanding the area.