Charlton 3 (Jackson 26, Makienok 44, Ghoochannejhad 55) Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Forestieri 74).
Magnificently turning current form on its head, Charlton made a stand and stopped the rot against Sheffield Wednesday at a euphoric Valley. Without a win in 11 previous league games and unable to score in the last five of those fixtures, the Addicks seemed easy pickings for Wednesday, unbeaten themselves in 11 games. A potentially humiliating home defeat was the only logical outcome.
The reality was starkly different. The Owls were comprehensively thrashed by a side unrecognisable from the wretches jeered off the field all too often recently as “not fit to wear the shirt.” From the first whistle, the visitors were swept aside by the obvious hunger and sheer intensity of their rampant opponents. They never stood a chance. So fair play to Charlton. This wonderful win just might turn their season around. But caution is advised. After all, I won’t be the first to link swallows and summer.
In the short term though, a tip of the hat is due their beleaguered interim boss Karel Fraeya, who astutely set them up in an attacking formation and temporarily at least removed the fear-filled shackles, which have restricted imagination and enterprise. Deprived of the injured Jordan Cousins, he moved Alou Diarra into central midfield, trusting Naby Sarr to plug the gap at centre back. Chief playmaker Johann Berg Gudmundsson was switched from a touchline-hugging role on the right into that mythical hole behind strikers Reza Ghoochannejhad and Simon Makienok. He was rewarded by tremendous performances from both re-deployed players.
Diarra, with El-Hadji Ba more than useful at his elbow, destroyed and built with equal expertise while Gudmundsson, seeing far more of the ball than usual, tore holes in Wednesday’s defence and prompted Ghoochannejhad and Makienok as they combined to torment the South Yorkshiremen into distraction. The fluent passing and movement made a mockery of the sterile drudgery of recent weeks.
Fraeya was even able to cope with the loss of the dependable, uncomplaining Chris Solly to a knee injury midway through the first half (incidentally, the small but growing band of Solly scapegoaters are invited to do one). His young deputy Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, by trade a left back, stepped up admirably, even finding time near the end to turn poor Barry Bannan pretzel-shaped near the corner flag and unable to continue. It was that kind of joyous day for Charlton.
Sharply out of the blocks, the Addicks quickly showed their intent. The first chance was created by Ba, who twisted clear on the right byline before crossing for Makienok, under key pressure from Tom Lees, to head wide. Sam Hutchinson showed similar resolve to smother Gudmundsson’s effort, on his weaker right foot, as Johnnie Jackson’s pass played the schemer into the penalty area. But the persistent Londoners were not to be denied long.
Typically and predictably, it was Jackson who made the breakthrough with a goal he really needs to patent. Barrelling through Wednesday’s penalty area, he left a helpless marker sprawling in his wake as he timed Gudmundsson’s outswinging corner and headed powerfully into the net. As usual, the skipper’s 49th intervention for Charlton was crucial. He doesn’t do meaningless goals.
After Gudmundsson went close with a searing half-volley on the turn, then on his right foot swinger sliced horribly wide, the attacking midfielder was instrumental in Charlton doubling their lead. Sent through to the left byline by Ghoochannaejhad’s neat pass, his low cross was nudged home by Makienok at the near post. A first half of total superiority was punctuated only by Fernando Forestieri’s feeble shot on the turn, which barely troubled Stephen Henderson. It was a rare break from Forestieri’s customary routine of sublime talent and infuriating gamesmanship.
Ten minutes into the second period, the Addicks sealed the issue with another fine strike. Facing his own goal, Makienok’s adhesive control set up a perceptive ball which sent Morgan Fox through a splayed defence on his own to confront Keiren Westwood. Sensibly choosing to pass rather than shoot, the left back’s unselfish low delivery was met by Ghoochannejhad, who crowned a hugely encouraging contribution by turning home his first league goal at The Valley from close range. The outclassed visitors were spared an even more emphatic hiding when Gudmundsson sought to punish Bannan’s foul on Ba but unluckily hit the bar with a dipping 25-yard free kick.
With a quarter hour remaining, an horrendous error by Sarr marred the French defender’s otherwise satisfactory performance and provided Wednesday with a throroughly undeserved consolation. His hapless airshot allowed Kieran Lee to skate past him and cross for Forestieri to shake off Holmes-Dennis and score past Henderson’s right hand. Local annoyance was pleasantly allayed by the brief, skilful cameo supplied by teenager Ademola Lookman who, if he has an inhibition, is at pains to hide it.
And so a squally afternoon began with “revolution in the air” and ended with “music in the cafes at night.” The voluble protests prior to kick-off lost none of their validity based on one favourable result and it’s not clear whether this one-off success will spare Fraeya the fate which undoubtedly awaited him if Charlton had succumbed again. While pleased by the unexpected result, as loyal supporters, many of us feel that the case for a British manager remains uncompromised. Not to mention an owner who shows up occasionally to show responsibility as well as leadership. The people’s tribunes stay erected for the time being.
Charlton: Henderson, Solly (Holmes-Dennis 24), Bauer, Sarr, Fox, Ba (Moussa 66), Jackson, Diarra, Gudmundsson, Ghoochannejhad (Lookman 82), Makienok. Not used: Pope, Ahearne-Grant, Bergdich, Charles-Cook. Booked: Ba, Fox.
Wednesday: Westwood, Hunt, Hutchinson (Joao 46), Loovens (Sasso 46), Lees, Wallace, Pudil, Bannan, Lee, Hooper (McGugan 66), Forestieri. Not used: Wildsmith, Semedo, Nuhiu, Helan. Booked: Hutchinson, Bannan, Forestieri.
Referee: Gavin Ward.
Att: 16,267 (3075 visiting).
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