I went past the training ground at 9:30 (dog walking) yesterday and there were no player's cars in the car park
Glad you found a more suitable dog than the border collies, AHLL. Looks like our pitch will be OK, with heavy rain on the way for the next 2 days, hopefully a couple of dry days to follow. Hopefully our players were sensible with the Christmas pud, no hung-over players in red shirts to-day. It was all different years ago, when Kilmarnock played Ayr Utd. on New Years Day, Some of the players were in a dreadful condition.
Billy, the older of the two collies died just after last Christmas so I now have the younger one..... he keeps me fit
3-1. Kermorgant free-kick. I just hope we don't keep retreating to the edge of our penalty area and invite Brighton to take shots. Uh, oh. Evina and Dervite to come on. I don't like that. Leaves Kermit on his own up front. Wrong man for that. Millwall losing 0-3 but have played all but 8 mins with 10 men after Shi ttu sent off.
Very poor first half from the lads... I sometimes try to look on the match as a neutral rather than as a Charlton fan and felt that our first goal was completely against the run of play, though saying that Football isnt all about pretty passing and Brighton should have defended it better. Second Half and I felt Powell must really have got into his players (thats why he should still be our manager for the haters)... The players worked together closing down the opposition resulting in them having no time to pass the ball and allowed us to counter attack. Completely the opposite for Wilson's second and Yann's goals - They were both really deserved, special recognition for Wilson today as he works extremely well having Solly behind him After the bad luck we had against Reading / Yeovil / Derby I certainly felt our luck was with us today when they hit the bar and hit two shots just wide, not sure why the players were complaining about the Brighton second goal though (Offside?) Referee also did well today, only a handful of questionable decisions, Church when he was thrown off the ball right in front of Powell (Is he becoming a bit of a diver?) and the Evina penalty appeal (Again should have been a yellow card if not a pen, although where did his pace come from? Didnt realise he was so quick) Anyway onwards to Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday... I feel though its still a must win match as defeat will drag us straight back into the fight whilst anything else will really give us a bit of breathing space
Just finished the turkey, and with the three points, it went down sweet. Three very needed points, now to consolidate and hope for a result against the Wendies, but for now, just enjoying the moment.
I thought our equaliser came against the run of play, but it really settled us, we knocked the ball around pretty well deservedly took the lead. At 2-1 we still kept attacking until 10 minutes to go and lived pretty dangerously until the end. Cousins my MOM had a fine game, he must be the first name on the team sheet. Wilson showed what we have been missing, midfielders who get into scoring positions in the box, and he dovetailed nicely with Solly too. Great to see Kermit back to his best, and he and Church showed signs of developing an understanding. Brighton are a much more physical team than they were under Poyet, they had us in trouble at corner kicks but we got away with it 2 or 3 times. Really pleased with the way we played, and ,of course, the 3 points.
2nd home MOTM performance from Wilson for me, was brilliant and not just the goals, against Derby he was brilliant today he was brilliant too. Worked hard, Church worked hard and probs deserved a goal but thats all the time from him. Kermit's Freekick was so sublime I sounded like Crash Bandicoot celebrating. Good performance little nerve racking though. Stewart was poor, really poor in my opinion but no one else... first time I've really seen Wood... very impressed, defo stiffened our defence. Good win and great xmas pressie... one quite note, Referee was really poor but not Charlton bias, but really poor to both teams, but yeah, lucky to win due to their hitting of the post but very happy. Hope you guys had a good xmas and have cracking new year guys seeing I won't be at the Wednesday game due to flying to VIVAAAA LAS VEGAS for a bday present from parents
Not much more to add after whats been said + the match reports. A nice bright start I thought was followed by 25 mins of uncertainty in which Brighton stamped their mark on the game. I don't imagine many people would have had Wilson down for a goal today, let alone 2! It would be nice if we can get more bodies in the box and take some of the responsibility off of Church and Kermos shoulders. Will enjoy this till the Wendies game, which until Tewkes pointed out, I thought it was Saturday. I wont be able to attend now, but if the boys play like they did for the last 50 minutes then you have to believe that will be back to back victories.
Chatted to some Brighton fans on the walk up to the Village after the game, and they couldn't believe the state of our pitch. Pleased with the win, but think we were fortunate today. Negative substitutions in the end and Brighton hit post posts and had one off the line. At least we had a go second half. Positives were the return of a recognisable Yann, and the obvious class that is Chris Solly. Negatives...lets just say that Stewart has turned into the poor mans Lloyd Sam !
Stewart definitely had a poor game today... Hopefully Jordan Cook will be given another chance to impress against Oxford which could make that slot out on the Left interesting. Great partnership between Solly / Wilson and Morrison / Wood... there is a lot of understanding there between those two groups of players Nice gesture from Nathan Jones embracing the Charlton players (especially Cousins) at the end... When Powell does eventually leave this is who I want in charge at the Valley!!!
Good battling performance 2nd half we got into them glad for Wilson who seems to be a boo boy target when Pritchard ain't playing. Agree with Evina dived shoulda been booked the church one was a joke the bloke who pushed him in the face had already been booked and shoulda gone we didn't even get a free kick. Yan was immense again.
I'm back in England for Christmas and the New Year and was there today. Picked a good'un, didn't I? There was a familiar feel to Brighton's first goal as we failed to clear a ball into the box and Ulloa finished clinically. But we responded well and Wilson was in exactly the right place to finish off after Kermorgant had pushed it through to him. Generally in the first half we were guilty of sitting back and letting them have the ball in midfield, but it was much better in the second as we produced a similarly battling performance to the kind that beat Watford on New Year's Day. Kermorgant was superb, his display fittingly crowned by a wonderful free-kick. Church did well too. Stewart looked afraid to get stuck in at times, particularly early on, and he flat out refuses to cross the ball first time, but he was dangerous. Wilson deserved his two goals which were very similar, and Solly looked back to his best (aside from the odd dodgy pass, his tackling in particular was excellent). Stephens dawdled on a couple of occasions in dangerous places, but Cousins was always around, snapping away at their players. If we do sell him, we should be getting a very hefty sum for him. The defence did well, as did Alnwick, although quicker players might have exposed Wood a little more. Wiggins switched off once or twice defensively, but produced 3 stellar runs forward in the second half, one of which lead to Kermorgant's free-kick. Overall, a very satisfactory performance to see off a side with more quality than our own. Well done Powell and the lads.
Fortunate today maybe but been unfortunate in nearly every other home game this season can't have it both ways to be honest. Brighton are a decent side first half bit dull second half CP obviously gave a good team talk ( good manager) and he out thought Brighton tactical genius there you have it
I think Stewart has been one of the better performers this season. Wasn't brilliant today but one of the better players in the squad who hasn't done anything to deserve being dropped.
