Watford 1 Charlton Athletic 1
Another very good away performance. It’s been a nice run since the Millwall debacle.
Today we held a better structure, defended smarter, characteristically battled for everything, and wasn’t it great to see Matty Godden score.
Watford did have 31 shots at goal though on and off target, yet our xG was quite a bit greater. Mostly those shots came from distance and in goal Mannion really stood up well after his error on Friday and made nine saves.
In team news Coady was in for Coventry, and TC replaced Kelman. Coady brought that extra line of protection and a level head. I hope he is better tonight after laying unconscious for eight minutes after getting the ball full in the face at speed.
Campbell was our biggest threat first half, less so 2nd half when moved back, but just as he can lift you off your seat in a good way, he is still culpable of giving the ball away in dangerous areas. I hate that he gets grief from some quarters, but in some moments he doesn’t help himself.
The first 45 were very open and entertaining. We both hit the woodwork, Docherty very unlucky with a close-range header. Theirs was more a cross than a shot. Watford also had a goal disallowed for offside.
On 61 minutes Jones introduced Gooden and Rankin-Costello for Chambers and Carey, and within 61 seconds Godden had put us in front. Ole Ole..
The goal came from a throw, and a Ramsey flick which was a bit agricultural, but Godden’s finish would have not looked out of place at the Chelsea Flower Show. The away end erupted and Godden rightly milked it. We’ve missed him.
Watford had shown moments of threat in transition. They break quick, but at that moment with Vicarage Road resembling a Charlton home game, I was hopeful that they’d tail off and we’d manage the game to victory.
To be fair to them they came at us hard. Irankunda, who is lightening quick, hit the bar and then scored as he outpaced Bell and gave Mannion no chance with a fine drive across goal.
Between the bar and the goal though JRC, who brings a different skillset to our midfield, really could have put us 2-0 up. He broke well, reached the inside of the box, but could not get off a clean shot and it was saved.
The latter part of the game was headlined by numerous Mannion saves, and the injury to Coady. However there was another opportunity for JRC, who raced away and with Charlton shirts in support, he got caught in two minds and we got a late corner and that was that.
It was a good point, an important one on a day where below us might have seen a big shake-up, but it didn’t.
Watford are a funny team. I thought they had some really good players at The Valley, but didn’t have anything to compare them to. If only they stuck with a manager.
🎙️ “Joe Rankin-Costello has had two glorious chances which would have been Utopia but on the grand scale of things it is a good point.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Will Mannion
🏟️ 19,961 (2,246 Addicks)
📸 Kyle Andrews
Another point towards safety and a good display from Charlton and I think a draw was a fair result, I agree CA mannion motm also great to see Matty godden , 5 to go let’s go out and have a good run in special mention for coady been excellent since he arrived that was some crack in the face coyr
Can you imagine the grief TC would have got from our fans had he missed the chances JRC had? Our fans will drive poor TC out of the club. The lad is clearly v introverted and isn’t one to wear his heart on his sleave or kiss the badge. Fans need to lay off him. He’s got great quality and we should be proud he’s one of our own.
Well that’s a better performance and we earned a well deserved point..I was delighted to see Matty grab his goal and to have him back in the squad as we climb to safety.
Coady must be nursing a major headache today and pity that no Charlton player had time to shout out to him “DUCK”…I’m delighted to hear he’s recovering well.
Preston are up next at The Valley and a repeat performance will be needed….COYRs !!!!
And big praise to Mannion who kept us in the game again.
Much better performance than the Bristol game.. I do wish we were not such a Jeckyl & Hyde team. A totally different mindset, and it secured a well earned point. Mannion was outstanding, and the experience of Coady and Docherty shone through. Matty Godden is a class act, his control of the ball from Ramsey’s flick was exceptional, and the finish superb. We would’ve been safe ages ago if Godden had been fit for even half the season. Other results were kind to us yesterday too. Preston up next. Jeckyl or Hyde ??
It certainly was great to see Godden score again, CA. As I said in a recent post, our season would have been so much easier on the nerves if he had been fit. I suggested in that same post that I was unsure how the squad would react under the continued pressure of potential relegation. Well, they showed yesterday that they are well up for it!
Absolutely love the reference to the Chelsea Flower Show.for Goddens silky finish with his first touch – shame no-one else seems to have the same finesse. Bristol game was awful proceeding a very quiet pint in Bartrams, yet again.
On the basis I expected nothing from the game, a very good and welcome point.
Godden’s finish reminded me of a bloke called Mendonca 🙂
If we can sqeeze a win out of the Preston game, I think I’ll be able to relax.
100 per cent agree Daggs one more win will do the trick still don’t know why mannion didn’t play more at the beginning of the season he played his heart out last season now started doing it again, Godden is very similar to Mendonca lets hope he can keep fit till the end..COYR
Much better game yesterday thank god and Godden’s goal was a thing of beauty, let’s hope he gets some more playing time. Mannion MOTM, made some good saves and I don’t think there are many keepers out there who would have saved Watfords goal, so no blame there. Also good news that Coady has been released from hospital, hopefully he will be able to play again soon, or next week. Let’s keep these performances going till the end of the season. COYR’s
Highlight of the week-end : Thierry Small’s own goal…If you have not seen it take a look…a real classic!
People are saying that if Godden had been fit for just half the season we would be out of trouble. I reckon if Mannion had been in goal instead of Kaminski for the first 30 odd games we would be out of trouble now.
Your right Wayne and have heard rummours that Kaminiski was dropped from the bench, as he had a hissy fit about not playing against Watford!!! The sooner we get his extortionate £20,000 a week off the wage bill the better, Mannion is a far better keeper and commands the area, cost Charlton nothing and is on a pitance compared to Mr K!
Small’s OG was brilliant.
Birmingham mid table Wrexham get hammered at home and millwall not going up and we will stay up merry Xmas 😀
COYR