Plymouth Argyle 0 Charlton 6 (Forster-Caskey Stockley 45, Watts 47 o.g., Gilbey 49, Millar 56, (Aneke 89).

When Chuks Aneke rounded off the scoring in the 89th minute to make it 6-0, Charlton had equalled the club’s record away win so memorably established at Barnsley ten years ago. And incredibly six different players registered on the scoresheet as they had at Oakwell, although Plymouth’s Kelland Watts won’t relish being included for turning the Addicks’ game-clinching third goal into his own net. There was still time for Aneke to squander an easier chance to make it 7-0 but that would have been pure greed. Which, in certain political circles, is of course good.

Argyle were ultimately blown away by an exhibition of clinical finishing not normally associated with Charlton but were far better than the scoreline suggests. During a torrid opening quarter hour for the visitors, in fact, there was little warning of the carnage to come as the Westcountrymen pinned their visitors into their own half and earned a flurry of early corners. A clever exchange between Ryan Law and Danny Mayor set up top scorer Luke Jephcott for a fierce shot which was heroically charged down by Jason Pearce, then Lewis MacLeod’s cross was glanced narrowly wide at the near post by Ryan Hardie.

Chronically slow starters, Charlton survived the onslaught and began to find their feet. Diallang Jaiyesimi’s crisp drive, well saved by Mike Cooper, lifted the siege and before the half hour, they were in front. Liam Millar surged irresistibly down the left flank before cutting in to force a defiant save from Cooper. Unhappily for the keeper, his parry reached Jake Forster-Caskey, whose deliberate header made it into the top right corner, despite Watts’ half-hearted attempt to punch it clear. An eventful evening for the defender kicked off with a booking for deliberate handling.

A fine save by Ben Amos from Law’s stinging drive preserved the lead, which the Londoners duly doubled a minute before the break. Combining with Millar near the right touchline, Adam Matthews delivered a fine cross for Jayden Stockley, who shook off Sam Woods and planted a diving header inside the right post. Almost immediately after the break, Nigel Adkins’ stick-or-twist 2-0 dilemma was resolved for him by the unfortunate Watts. Plymouth had started the second half brightly with Byron Moore setting up a point blank chance for Joe Edwards; Amos brilliantly saved Edwards’ “gimme”, then regained his feet to send Millar racing along the left touchline. The winger cut in, potshotted off target with his weaker right foot and was chuffed to see an off-balance Watts drag the ball over the goalline. Charlton had wasted little time in securing their vital win with that often-elusive third goal.

Two minutes later, a more salubrious strike extended the Addicks’ lead. Quickfire combination involving Stockley and Millar created space for the bustling centre forward to centre low and hard from the right. Making up ground intelligently on the opposite flank, Alex Gilbey’s half-volley gave Cooper no chance. As the Pilgrims pondered developments, they fell even more ruinously behind.

Right back Matthews again advanced over the halfway line to link up with Jaiyesimi, who held on to the ball briefly before crossing crisply. Stockley’s heads-up dummy left Millar the simple task of slotting past Cooper to put the Addicks 5-0 up. And so it stayed until Aneke relieved willing worker Stockley, equalled the record, then spurned the opportunity to set a new standard. More worrying was his limping departure at the final whistle. His mission magnificently accomplished, Adkins’s attention would naturally have switched to results elsewhere. Same as all of us, to be honest. And a more perfect evening would be hard to imagine. Portsmouth had lost 3-1 to bottom-of-table Swindon Town (attaboy, Brett!) and slipped a point behind us with a game more played; Oxford were also beaten, 2-1 at good old Wimbledon (attaboy, Joe!), and with two more games played, were also a point adrift,which was a setback for that smug Oxford fan who pontificates on Quest. And Blackpool’s recent winning run was halted 1-0 by lowly Rochdale (attaboy, Ollie!) to leave them squarely in our sights.

Which leads us to Peterborough United, formidable guests at The Valley on Saturday. Posh were beaten 1-0 at home by Steve Evans’ Gillingham but it’s hard to know how to react to that outcome. It keeps the Gills clinging on to faint hopes of making the play-offs, having achieved the impressive feat of holding the automatic promotion certs scoreless. But does it denote the beginning of a dip in United’s form or merely a one-off blip?

We’ll know more at the weekend when the Addicks’ fine performance at Home Park sets them up to confront second-placed Peterborough. From Amos in goal to Stockley up front, their demolition of Argyle was a thing of beauty. Centre backs Pearce and Akin Famewo were indomitable, full backs Matthews and Ben Purrington as adept going forward as they were defending the flanks; wide men Jaiyesismi and Millar were old school in their touchline artistry but tracked back when necessary; central midfielders Forster-Caskey and Gilbey both scored and controlled the crucial middle ground. Meanwhile Ben Watson diligently shielded the back four until Darren Pratley helped him mop up the closing quarter hour. And Aneke came back to striking form again. So here’s to Saturday and an improvement in our home form. We owe it to the Upbeats. Can’t let those guys down!

Plymouth: Cooper, Aimson (Moore 38), Woods, Watts, Edwards, Camara, MacLeod (Reeves 58), Mayor, Law, Hardie (Ennis 58), Jephcott. Not used: McCormick, Opoku, Lewis, Fornal. Booked: Watts.

Charlton: Amos, Matthews (Gunter 57), Famewo, Pearce, Purrington (Shinnie 67), Watson, Forster-Caskey (Pratley 76), Jaiyesimi (Morgan 67), Gilbey, Stockley (Aneke 76), Millar. Not used: Maynard-Brewer,

Referee: S. Purkiss.

Sunderland 1 (Scowen 77) Charlton 2 (Scowen o.g 31, Gilbey 61).

This mighty result – against the odds and contrary to most expectations – went some way to erasing from memory many of the setbacks suffered by Charlton during this unpredictable season. It also propelled the Addicks into a position (7th) from which to launch a serious bid to reach the play-offs, in which their current form would make them valid contenders.

There were times during their victory on Wearside when they rode their luck and were indebted to the excellence of Ben Amos to see them through. Several of Amos’ saves exceeded the call of duty; even the 77th minute goal, through which Josh Scowen halved his side’s deficit and set up a potentially tense climax, was scored in the aftermath of two outstanding stops from Charlton’s outstanding keeper.

First things first, of course, and Nigel Adkins’ naming of a team unchanged from that which saw off Doncaster Rovers last week was encouraging enough to merit mention. Gone was the managerial tinkering with personnel and formation which nonplussed fans and no doubt unsettled players. Conspicuously absent also was the almost obligatory dithering at the back which, in fact, blighted Adkins’ debut at AFC Wimbledon two weeks ago. The players who represented the club at Sunderland executed a simple game plan which had, as its bedrock, the clear intention of spending as much time as possible in the opposition’s half. Even after Scowen’s goal gave the Black Cats a glimpse of redemption, they were repulsed with a coolness and sense of purpose not normally associated with Charlton. Much of that confidence can be traced to the timely return of massive Ryan Inniss, whose defensive influence radiates through his colleagues, each one of whom played his own part in dimming the Stadium of Light. Inniss was no one-man band. To be frank, though, it didn’t look promising during a shaky opening period. There were only six minutes on the clock when Aidan McGeady, the heartbeat of Lee Johnson’s side, set up Charlie Wyke to volley abysmally wide from six unopposed yards. And there were obvious signs of nerves as Darren Pratley’s carelessness in possession allowed Wyke a clearcut chance to finish from close range; Amos made the first of his key saves, then was positively Schmeichel-esque in batting away Aiden O’Brien’s dead cert while heading in an opposite direction.

It was far from one-way traffic by then and the left post came to Sunderland’s rescue when Jake Forster-Caskey’s free kick eluded everyone but Luke O’Nien, whose head caromed the ball to safety off the left post. Twenty minutes later, Scowen was less lucky and entered his name on the scoresheet for all the wrong reasons.

Admirable persistence from Diallang Jaiyesimi wrested a left wing corner off Lyndon Gooch, which Forster-Caskey swung on to Inniss’ lofty head. The centre back’s downward effort was awkwardly parried by Lee Burge, who might have emerged unscathed had Scowen not haplessly sliced his intended clearance into the roof of the net. They all count equally, of course, and Charlton were off and running. More brilliance from Amos, in diving full length to turn aside Callum McFadzean’s corner-bound low drive, protected the lead before the break. Soon after resumption, hardworking Jayden Stockley wasted a clearcut chance to double that lead, glancing Jaiyesimi’s perfect cross against the right post when scoring from six yards seemed an easier option.

Stockley’s miss was quickly forgotten as he played an important part in the Addicks’ second goal. Nodding Adam Matthews’ throw into Alex Gilbey’s path, he was first to celebrate as the rangy midfielder eluded Dion Sanderson and forced his shot through Burge’s legs. How important that second goal was became clear when the Mackems hit back through Scowen and complicated the closing quarter hour.

Amos was entitled to a stroke of luck after saving magnificently from First Wyke, then substitute Ross Stewart but was helpless to intervene as the second rebound fell conveniently for Scowen to plunge forward and head into an empty net from the 18-yard line. An uncomfortable finish loomed in front of the Addicks but was negotiated with commendable poise and minimal anxiety.

The last few hundred words belonged to Sunderland’s peevish manager Johnson. He and his gimlet-eyed staff had spotted a spot of sneaky blocking by Jason Pearce, which helped Inniss to reach Forster-Caskey’s corner and head the opening goal. In a modern penalty area where wrestling, holding and downright villainy are de rigeur, it requires uncanny perception to separate the guilty from the innocent since everybody’s at it. But a less-than-jolly Johnson felt badly let down by the myopic officials and felt it his duty to have a moan about it. He was also a bit upset that Charlton seemed to be taller than his chaps – six or seven inches taller in some cases. That was, of course, beyond referee Backhouse’s control, but it still rankled. Oh, and another thing…both of Charlton’s goals were “soft”. So there you have it. Consider yourself told.

Sunderland: Burge, Power, Sanderson, O’Nien, Gooch (Hume 62), Scowen, Winchester (Jones 60), McFadzean (Stewart 62), O’Brien (McLaughlin 60), Wyke, McGeady. Not used: Matthews, Diamond, Leadbitter.

Charlton: Amos, Matthews, Inniss, Pearce, Purrington. Gilbey, Pratley, Forster-Caskey, Maatsen (Millar 66), Stockley, Jaiyesimi (Gunter 73). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Oshilaja, Shinnie, Watson, Schwartz. Booked: Gilbey, Forster-Caskey.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse.

Doncaster Rovers 0 Charlton 1 (Maatsen 12)

This definitive away performance earned Charlton three critical points, without the usual nerve-jangling histrionics but featuring instead a measured march to victory from start to finish. They were in charge from the off and even negotiated seven added minutes with a new assurance that, under new guvnor Ian Adkins, suggests they might be a force to be reckoned with when the play-off places are doled out. The Addicks were calm at the back, a mixture of steel (Darren Pratley) and artistry (Jake Forster-Caskey) in midfield and, in a game of rare chances, had enough composure about them up front to convert one of the few they created.

The identity of the game’s only scorer came as a pleasant bonus to Charlton’s Sky Sports viewers. Surprisingly named by Adkins to operate on the right side of a mobile front three, Ian Maatsen, a left back by trade, though one with naturally aggressive inclinations, coolly claimed his first goal at senior level after only 12 minutes in his new role. It was too early to inspire confidence in their ability to successfully protect their slender lead but this time they got it right and saw it through.

Maatsen’s strike was the result of unapologetically direct methods, a move launched by Ben Amos’ downfield clearance and continued by headed flicks from Jayden Stockley and Diallang Jaiyesimi through the middle. Outmuscling Reece James in pursuit of the loose ball, Maatsen shook off the defender, expertly adjusted his body shape and volleyed past Louis Jones into the bottom right corner. The simple, effective nature of the goal will hopefully see an end to the kind of screwing around at the back which proved so disastrous during Adkins’ curtain raiser at Wimbledon. It was thoughtful of John Stones to demonstrate the obvious dangers of over-elaboration two days before Charlton’s Keepmoat engagement.

Making six changes from the debacle at Plough Lane, Adkins was rewarded by the dispassionate, frills-free manner of victory. He was lucky enough to welcome back Ryan Inniss from a five-month injury absence, rested Chris Gunter and Liam Millar following international duty and trusted Jayden Stockley’s physical presence to lead the attack. Most of his decisions were vindicated, though his effusive post-game salute to Alex Gilbey, surprisingly preferred to Andrew Shinnie, may have been his way of encouraging a player who has struggled to impress since arriving at The Valley. Gilbey did his bit but was hardly the outstanding influence hailed by his boss. No harm, though, in bigging him up. He’s one of us.

Out-of-form Donny, without a win in five previous games, offered little. Their two best chances arrived early but revealed the lack of punch which has seen them fall away recently as play-offs contenders. Ex-Addick Omar Bogle nimbly transferred the ball to his stronger right foot but saw an unconvincing shot turned away by Ben Amos’ outstretched leg. A better opportunity fell to his strike partner Fejiri Okenabirhie, who pounced on the temporary paralysis afflicting the visitors’ defence after Adam Matthews inexplicably backheeled into play from the left byline but drove weakly at a briefly exposed Amos. There was little else to concern the Addicks’ well-protected keeper, though a second goal would have usefully sealed the issue.

Adkins’ re-jigged side were hardly dynamic themselves. Before the interval, though, Maatsen was irrepressible and came close to doubling the lead. Pratley’s raking pass sent Gilbey to the right byeline to cross hard and low; arriving at the near post, the Chelsea youngster’s close range effort was smothered by Jones and Tom Anderson. As Maatsen’s threat faded, the slack was taken up by Diallang Jaiyesimi on the opposite flank. His scintillating run had right back Brad Halliday labouring to keep pace and was capped by a perfect cross which barely cleared Stockley’s head but landed conveniently on Gilbey’s chest. Possibly startled to receive the ball, Gilbey hesitated and the chance was predictably lost. Jaiyesimi and Stockley featured again when the latter headed Forster-Caskey’s outswinging corner past Jones. Loitering in an offside position in front of the keeper, Jaiyesimi made the official decision easy by touching the ball as it passed him on its way into the net.

While celebrating a job expertly done away on the road, Adkins is entitled to breathe a sigh of relief that massive central defender Inniss emerged from an undemanding test without apparent difficulty. Alongside him, Jason Pearce revelled in his responsibility as a no-nonsense defender unfettered by any dreary keep-ball duties. Full backs Matthews and Ben Purrington are solid pros the new manager can depend on to complete a capable back four. As a defensive midfield shield, Pratley is hard to better. Against Rovers, he reined in his occasional lapses into villainy, avoided his customary yellow card and regularly broke up attacks before they matured. Often at his shoulder, Forster-Caskey provided vision and unsuspected aggression.

Stockley will no doubt share with Chuks Aneke the role of upfield target man. The wide roles will be filled by Liam Millar/Maatsen and the fast improving Jaayesimi. There should be a place for Shinnie in the starting line-up. But the new gaffer will make his own decisions. He’s off to a promising start. It might be too late this season but Charlton are clearly in good hands. Count me on board.

Doncaster: Jones, Halliday, Wright (John 68), Anderson, James, Smith (Greaves 88), Bostock, Robertson (Richards 58), Coppinger, Bogle, Okenabirhie (Lokilo 68). Not used: Balcombs, Horton, Gomes. Booked: Halliday.

Charlton: Amos, Matthews, Inniss, Pearce, Purrington, Gilbey (Shinnie 90), Pratley, Forster-Caskey, Maatsen (Gunter 90),
Stockley (Aneke 84), Jaiyesimi (Millar 65). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Oshilaja, Watson. Booked: Stockley, Purrington.

AFC Wimbledon 2 (Longman 15, 65) Charlton 2 (Stockley 10, Jaiyesimi 21)

Kevin Nolan wrestles with his emotions and moderates his language in Grove Park.

Charlton’s new boss Nigel Adkins has been relaxing at home since leaving his last managerial job but it’s safe to assume he kept up with developments within the game by one means or another. It’s not known where he stands on the practice of “playing out from the back”, or, as it’s more technically called, “building from the back” which is all the rage nowadays. Everyone from Manchester City to the Dog and Duck’s second team are at it with, it must be said, varying degrees of competence. City are flagship exponents of the method while D & D’s reserves frequently degenerate into heated recriminations and even the odd fistfight when things, as they do, go horribly wrong.

Charlton wasted little time in demonstrating to their recently arrived gaffer that they’ve never quite grasped the mechanics of building from the back. From time to time, they’ve ended up covered in brick dust while some gleeful opponent makes off for the corner flag to join his mates in celebrating an unexpected windfall. For visual evidence, Adkins might usefully be referred to videos of the 2019 Wembley play-off final or more appositely the evening of November 24th 2020 when the Addicks shot themselves in both feet and had to limp through an embarrassing 4-2 defeat by Burton Albion. Nigel might be the one to explain why horsing around at the back is preferred to the admittedly cruder practice of clearing the ball over the halfway line into the opposition’s half. After all, what’s the point of passing among yourselves in the shadow of your goal anyway? Where does it get you? And are you some kind of Luddite if you despair over the suicidal sequence of events which gifted AFC Wimbledon’s their second equaliser on Saturday?

The details of Charlton’s latest descent into lunacy are starkly simple. Standing over a goal kick 20 minutes into the second half, Ben Amos had the obvious option of launching it routinely out of harm’s way. Standing next to him, meanwhile, Akin Famewo would doubtless have applauded his goalkeeper’s decision to do exactly that; his obvious diffidence suggested he wanted nothing to do with the ball. When it reached him, he prodded it half-heartedly back to Amos without taking into account the predatory presence of Ryan Longman, who was loitering nearby with baleful intent. Concluding reasonably that both Amos and Famewo had temporarily taken leave of their senses, the Brighton loanee quietly rolled his second goal of the afternoon into a yawning net. “Really disappointed” was Adkins’ admirably restrained reaction to the disaster. Er, quite so boss. I must confess to being -erm- disappointed myself. I was few other things as well, over which we will draw a discreet veil.

As significant as the loss of two important points was the departure, after less than five minutes, of in-form forward Conor Washington. A hamstring injury was the discouraging diagnosis, which was hardly the news Washington’s admirers wanted to hear. To their credit, the stricken Addicks re-grouped and were in front mere minutes later. Picking up a clearance from Amos, Albie Morgan’s fine pass sent Liam Millar ghosting past Luke O’Neill on the left flank. The winger’s head-high cross on the run was cleverly nodded beyond Nikola Tzanev by Jayden Stockley at the near post and the visitors were off and running towards three apparently comfortable points. That feeling lasted all of five minutes, which was the time these gutsy Dons needed to draw level again

Almost inevitably ex-Addick Joe Pigott was crucially involved in his side’s prompt equaliser. Receiving Alex Woodyard’s pass in heavy traffic, he astutely kept the ball moving into Longman’s path. With momentum lending him wings, the fleet-footed loanee cut inside from the right and placed a crisp low drive across Amos into the far bottom corner.

Continuing the trend of a goal every five minutes, Charlton quickly regained the lead through Diallang Jaiyeisimi. Boldly preferred to Chuks Aneke as Washington’ replacement, he hung back as Millar chased down Jake Forster-Caskey’s fine, lofted pass and was unmarked as the winger picked him out. Using one touch to steady himself, Jaiyesimi drilled a precise shot into the middle of the goal. His coolness and accuracy were impressive.

In an entertaining game, both sides came close to a winner. For the Dons, Pigott broke clear to rattle a post with a ferocious, angled drive while Longman failed by inches to complete a hat-trick as Oksanen’s fiercely driven cross eluded him on its way to safety. Much improved on his recent performances, Millar drew a fine save from Tzanev before Aneke hit the woodwork deep into added time.

Then it was over to Adkins who patiently explained how the early loss of Washington forced his hand and meant an adjustment to Charlton’s diamond shape. It was very helpful but the experienced manager doesn’t need me to remind him that the only diamonds worth a carat in football are goals. Unlike basketball where an error becomes irrelevant in a blizzard of points, goals are hard to come by in football; if you average two per game, you’re on the way to the top. To gift your opponents one, therefore amounts to no less than criminal behaviour. Even Dog & Duck’s second team manager knows the consequences of that. Anyway, welcome aboard, Mr. Adkins. You’ve got your hands full. Sorting out Charlton’s chaotic defending for a start.

Wimbledon: Tzanev, O’Neill (Guiness-Walker 64), Woodyard, Nightingale, Alexander, Dobson, Oksanen, Longman, Woodyard, Assal (Rudoni 64), Pigott. Not used: Palmer, Chislett, McLoughlin, Cox, Asew. Booked: Oksanen.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.

Fleetwood Town 1 (Madden 42) Charlton 1 (Stockley 6).

It’s pretty simple, really, so pay attention please. All Charlton need to do if they intend to rejoin League One’s play-offs race is to “string some results together and go on a bit of a run.” That’s what everyone says and you have to admit they’re hard to argue with. Trouble is it’s easier said than done because one also-ran after another has insisted on throwing an annoying spanner in the works. They simply won’t accept that the Addicks are their superiors. It would be so much easier if they would.

Take Fleetwood Town, for argument’s sake. They proved themselves stubborn opponents when Joey Barton brought them to The Valley in early November. Two down early in the first half, they fought back to equalise before the break thanks to a pair of expertly taken goals from Ched Evans. It took a second half penalty converted by Conor Washington to subdue them.

That exciting victory completed a six-game winning streak for Charlton, since when both Barton and Evans have left Fleetwood – predictably and unpleasantly. Some falling-out involving the subtext of Hamlet’s “to be or not to be” soliloquy, was the last straw, so we hear. Turns out Joey was quoting from it, Ched began taking the mickey and things turned nasty. To borrow one of Joey’s favourite words, their behaviour was egregious.

Since the toxic duo left Highbury, it’s probably been a more relaxed place to report for work. But the Fishermen have subsided from the 7th position they occupied last November to the virtual anonymity of 13th, out of touch with the play-off contenders but under no real threat of relegation. The draw they shared with Charlton on the wind-battered
Fylde Coast was no doubt regarded with mixed emotions. Although the point was useful in achieving their aim of mid-table security, they will know an excellent opportunity was spurned to claim all three after they dominated all but the opening ten minutes. Frankly, they missed Evans who might have converted at least one of the many chances they created. On second thoughts, scrub that. Nobody should have to miss Ched Evans.

Charlton, on the other hand, will regret their latest failure to beat another of League One’s middle-of-the-road members. They were, in fact, lucky to head for home with a point which might yet turn out to be more important than it appears right now. And for that slender consolation they are indebted to the brilliance of goalkeeper Ben Amos and to the one moment of quality they contributed to this clash between so-called “haves” and irreverent “have nots.”

Their excellent 6th minute goal stood out among the general dross offered by the visitors, not that it had much competition. A cohesive move along their left flank was begun by Ian Maatsen, whose pass to Liam Millar allowed the wide man to check inside and find Andrew Shinnie. Feinting to cross right-footed, the Scottish playmaker took two defenders out of the equation by turning sharply on to his left foot to deliver a delicately flighted cross. Ignoring Harrison Holgate’s earnest attempt to knock his block off, Jayden Stockley dived full length to head past Alex Cairns.

Stockley’s third goal since joining Charlton signalled their end as an attacking force. Fleetwood took over and pinned them inside their own half, with Kyle Vassell leading the fightback. Under pressure from Akin Famewo, the big striker shot narrowly wide, then turned to test Amos. Four minutes before the break, veteran Paddy Madden’s equaliser rivalled Stockley’s opener in preparation and execution. A rapid exchange of passes between Vassell and Mark Duffy played the latter behind Maatsen to cut back a low cross from the byeline. Meeting the ball crisply, Madden finished the move from the six-yard line.

The second half of this dour game was totally dominated by Simon Grayson’s rugged side. In holding them scoreless, Amos came into his own with a hat-trick of saves from Vassell before his brilliant point-blank reflexes somehow denied Madden a second goal, with Chris Gunter completing the clearance. The one-way traffic headed exclusively for the heroic Amos.

Charlton’s mulish adherence to “building from the back”, meanwhile, was as much threat to them as Fleetwood’s admittedly untutored onslaught. Stubbornly declining to move the ball quickly, they struggled to cross the halfway line and frequently were the authors of their own defensive problems. If the definition of madness is what they say it is, the increasingly haggard Addicks, in sticking to their calamity-inviting guns, were off their rockers. But at least their spirit, which remained unbroken, saw them through to an exceedingly fortunate point.

So who’s next? Right, that’ll be Burton Albion on Tuesday, rock bottom in the division and winners of just five of their 27 league games. Just what the doctor ordered to launch that aforementioned “bit of a run.” No sense in dwelling on “that bleak November day” when the Brewers notched up one of their five wins by wading into Charlton’s boneheaded insistence on swanning around near their goal, before twice pinching the ball from them and punishing their arrogance. Nah, no chance we’ll repeat those mistakes. After all, we’re not mad…

Burton: Cairns, Hill, Connolly, Holgate, Donacien (Burns 76), Duffy (Camps 90), Rossiter, Batty, Andrew, Madden, Vassell. Not used: Coleman, Morris, Saunders, Biggins, Rydel. Booked: Madden, Rossiter.

Charlton: Amos, Gunter, Oshilaja, Famewo, Maatsen, (Purrington 61), Millar, Pratley (Watson 57), Smith (Morgan 56), Shinnie, Stockley, Schwartz (Washington 56). Not used: Jaiyesimi, Pearce, Harness. Booked: Oshilaja, Millar, Pratley, Stockley.

Referee: Carl Boyeson.

Rochdale 0 Charlton 2 (Aneke 7, Oshilaja 27).

Still hunkered down at home, Kevin Nolan hung on every word uttered by Terry Smith and Greg Stubley at Rochdale. Including Terry’s jubilant reaction seconds before Chuks Aneke scored. A bit unsettling, that was. But very welcome.

When Charlton were dispassionately dismissed by Portsmouth at The Valley four days before this tricky fixture, their defeat brought in its wake more than the usual dose of bitter backbiting. An apocalyptic injury list, rotational changes to each successive starting X1 and a stubborn fondness for shoehorning players into unfamiliar positions had finally brought the Addicks to their knees. Factor in fake diamonds, false No.9s and a place in the post-season play-offs seemed unlikely. I hold my hands up and admit my fair share of moaning but then, where Charlton are concerned, I’ve never been one for mindless optimism. In fact, I’m the sort of cautious bloke who instinctively checks first with the linesman before allowing myself to celebrate whenever we score. Doubting Thomas? He couldn’t carry my bag.

In the immediate wake of the Pompey setback, the Addicks were sent to Spotland, or Crown Oil Arena as nobody calls it, for the away stage of their knockabout double act with unpretentious Rochdale. Memories were still fresh of that chilly January evening when Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s side were handed leads of 2-0, 3-1 and 4-2 before being pegged back to 4-4. When the visitors kicked off after Charlton’s final equaliser, the ref absentmindedly announced “next goal wins it!”

Anyone looking forward to similar shenanigans in outer Manchester was doomed to disappointment. Lee Bowyer’s men turned up in sober mood, no doubt suitably reminded of their responsibilities and with nothing but business in mind. Forget the modest scoreline – Rochdale were taken to school by a solid line-up which talked the talk on paper and walked the walk on grass. Two down inside the opening half hour, they struggled on haplessly as their visitors, with uncharacteristic efficiency, strolled to a victory which, aided by favourable results elsewhere, breathed new life into their promotion challenge.

It was impossible to identify a weak link in Saturday’s triumphant squad. And almost as impossible to name a player who stood out from the pack. Almost but not quite impossible, that is, because wounded warrior Deji Oshilaja was different class. Easy to pick out with a rakish bandage covering an early head cut, Oshilaja, despite his relative lack of inches, won every header, tackled and blocked selflessly, as well as gilding the lily by scoring Charlton’s second goal -his first ever for the Addicks. When a basic clearance is called for, Deji is your old-school defender, more than ready to put his laces through the ball. Not for him any of that Russian Roulette they call “playing out from the back”. Bosh! Sorted! Have it!

Oshilaja was run close for MOM by Darren Pratley, who was on his best Bill Sikes form – hustling, harassing and hunting down the opposition, but on this occasion remaining scrupulously legal, above board and yellow card-free. Also worthy of recognition were “seven-out-of-ten” Ben Purrington and Chuks Aneke, whose 11th goal of the season highlighted an outstanding contribution, one which was impressively emulated by strike partner Jayden Stockley.

It was Aneke who fired the Addicks into a 7th minute lead they were never likely to relinquish. The approach work was provided by Purrington, whose pass sent Liam Millar burrowing into the home penalty area, where he picked out Aneke, his back to goal and closely monitored by Gabriel Osho. Turning sharply to his left, Aneke casually shrugged off Osho and drilled a low shot into the far bottom corner.

Encouraged by their success, the visitors sought urgently to build on it. A persistent nuisance to ‘Dale, Millar cut in from the left and, frustrated by an unwanted deflection off Ollie Rathbone, clipped the bar right-footed. An important second goal was not delayed long, though, and arrived through an unlikely source. Andrew Shinnie’s inswinging left wing corner was bulleted goalwards by a horizontal Stockley but saved brilliantly by Gavin Bazunu. Recycling the rebound on the byline, Jake Forster-Caskey returned the ball to Pratley, whose chipped cross was met gymnastically by Jason Pearce’s diving header and turned past Bazunu by the outside of Oshilaja’s right foot. With over an hour remaining, a rout seemed on the cards but Rochdale improved, with referee Bramall looking tolerantly on a pair of 50-50 penalty appeals and Aneke unlucky to see another sharp drive bounce harmlessly off the woodwork.

Barry-Murphy’s men soldiered on, with Charlton’s Valley nemesis Baah gliding in from the left but blasting high over the bar and Aaron Morley’s deceptive corner posing an awkward problem for an underworked Ben Amos. Bazunu kept his side interested by spectacularly tipping Aneke’s fierce drive to safety but long before then this one-sided game had ceased to function as a contest.

Bowyer is regularly on record, meanwhile, as warning against overcooking either the elation of victory or the despair of defeat and he knows what he’s talking about. But then again “a fan hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” So, for the time being, enjoy the moment, at least until next Saturday when Gillingham show up at The Valley to bring us down to earth. Only joking! We’ll moider the bums! Or maybe end up grateful to draw…

Rochdale: Bazunu, McLaughlin (Keohane 68), Osho (Vale 80), O’Connell, Roberts (Done 60), Dooley (Newby 60), Morley, Rathbone (Grant 68), Baah, Humphrys, Lund. Not used: Shaughnessy, McNulty. Booked: O’Connell.

Charlton: Amos, Gunter (Matthews 78), Oshilaja, Pearce, Purrington, Shinnie (Jaiysimi 78), Pratley, Forster-Caskey (Morgan 90) Millar, Stockley, Aneke (Schwartz 86). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Smith, Watson. Booked: Gunter.

Referee: Thomas Bramall.

Peterborough Utd (Szmodics 66,79) Charlton 1 (Washington 14,pen).

by Kevin Nolan on duty back at home, where he belongs.

Two descents into momentary madness destroyed what had promised to be an untroubled, tactical tour-de-force by Charlton. On arguably the worst playing surface in League One, they had adapted sensibly to the conditions, kept things deliberately simple and were proceeding uneventfully behind the early lead supplied by Conor Washington’s early penalty. Then abruptly they shot themselves twice – once in each foot.

Their first concession involved an outbreak of slapstick misunderstanding – comical under different circumstances but disastrous in this serious context. While converging on an innocuous high ball through the middle, Jason Pearce and Deji Oshilaja contrived to impede each other and turned what should have been a routine clearance into a music hall farce, which Brian Rix might have authored. Subdued up to that point, Jonson Clarke-Harris was quick to exploit the carnage, his flick sending Sammie Szmodics through to slot calmly past Ben Amos. From busy beasts of prey, Charlton became hypnotised rabbits in Peterborough’s headlights.

A creditable draw with freescoring Posh (25 goals in 10 home games) was still achievable until more Keystone Kops defending ruined even that modest ambition and handed all three points to their grateful hosts. A faithful re-run of the opening goal saw the hapless Pearce combine with substitute Andrew Shinnie to make an unholy mess of dealing with another apparently harmless delivery near the left touchline. Pearce hesitated, as did Shinnie; both were lost as the predatory Clarke-Harris solved their dilemma, his accurate pass slipping Symodics clear to beat Amos again, this time off the foot of a post.

Before the end, Symodics and Amos confronted one another again, with the keeper winning their third one-on-one duel by blocking the on-fire forward’s shot. It was too late to matter by then, with the Addicks already reduced to a broken, disorderly rabble. But until Posh’s prolific striker equalised, their tactics had been spot-on. They carried out Lee Bowyer’s game plan faithfully, with high-end pressure, tigerish group tackling and defensive responsibility unsettling their normally freewheeling opponents. Taken aback , Duncan Ferguson’s men struggled to assert the usual authority they enjoy at home. The question was whether Charlton could keep it up. Five minutes past the hour mark, we had our answer.

On 14 minutes, however, the visitors’ future looked bright. They had signalled their aggressive intent shortly after kick-off, with Ian Maatsen’s fierce drive skimming the crossbar. It was no shock when they took the lead, with Pearce an important contributor at the right end of United’s ill-kempt potato patch. In pursuit of Jake Forster-Caskey’s free kick, he was clumsily hauled to the ground by Ethan Hamilton and despite goalkeeper Christy Pym’s pointless protests, for which he was booked, a penalty was correctly awarded. From 12 yards, Washington made not altogether convincing work of claiming his 7th goal of the season.

Buoyed by their early success, the Addicks were good value for the lead they brought back to the dressing room at half-time. Oshilaja and Pearce were a redoubtable barrier to progress down the middle, with Darren Pratley in belligerent mood ahead of them; Clarke-Harris and Symodics were reduced to scraps of occasional possession.  Full backs Maatsen and Chris Gunter were sound, with Forster-Caskey continuing his recent improvement as midfield organiser. From Omar Bogle up front to Amos in goal, each Addick contributed to a tireless defensive operation which, while hardly attractive, was effective. But it couldn’t last.

Had Gunter netted a straightforward headed chance soon after the break, the Addicks might have sealed  an unexpected victory over close promotion rivals. His miss denied them the clear water they needed to see them home and an old, familiar feeling of inevitability greeted Posh’s equaliser and their eventual winner. That both goals resulted from defensive howlers fails to mitigate the deep disappointment felt in countless living rooms in South London and North Kent. It suggests that Charlton are a decent League One side, whose Championship ambitions are currently so much pie in the sky. And as for the trumpeted five-year plan to “get back where we belong” in the Premier League, that should perhaps be filed under “temporary insanity.” There’s nothing wrong with mindless optimism. Trouble is that a withering dash of reality is often served as dessert.

In the shorter term, the Addicks will be seeking some sort of redemption against Swindon Town at The Valley on Saturday. It’s not too late to make a run for the play-offs. That particular optimism is grounded, not mindless. And we’re not too bad at play-offs.

Peterborough: Pym, Butler, Thompson, Beevers, Kent, Taylor, Clarke-Harris, Dembele, Symodics, Kanu (Burrows 58), Hamilton (Brown 64). Not used: Gyollai, Eisa, Broom, Jones, Mason. Booked, Pym, Kent, Symodics.

Charlton: Amos, Gunter, Oshilaja, Pearce, Maatsen, Smyth (Gilbey 79), Pratley, Forster-Caskey (Shinnie 71), Millar (Williams 79), Bogle (Aneke 67), Washington (Schwartz 67). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Harness, Matthews. Booked: Forster-Caskey, Millar, Smyth, Pratley.

Referee: S. Purkiss. 

Bristol Rovers 0 Charlton 1 (Liam Millar 64).

By Kevin Nolan observing press box etiquette from home.

Past masters in the dark art of torturing both themselves and their hypertensive supporters, Charlton at least ended their recent mini-slump in less than imperious fashion. A first clean sheet since October 31st and their streakiest goal of the season were enough to deliver this sorely needed victory. It wasn’t always pretty but the result was potentially pivotal.

It hardly needs mentioning Lee Bowyer’s boys were at pains to prolong the agony before all three points were nailed down. Yet again they were reduced to ten men, with Albie Morgan the latest Addick to see red but fortunately had enough about them to withstand a wave of late pressure from desperate Rovers. And had Omar Bogle finished an added time chance with greater aplomb, those last uncomfortable minutes might have been avoided. Let’s start at the end and work backward.

Caught on the break while understandably flooding forward, Gas were split open by an artfully judged through pass from Ronnie Schwartz which sent fellow substitute Bogle through on his own to confront Joe Day. With possibly too much time to consider his options, Chris Gunter’s left-footed shot was alertly saved by the advancing keeper. It was then Schwartz’ turn to frustrate Bowyer, his inadvertent goalline block of Gunter’s piledriver denying the visitors breathing space. The Addicks should have been punished for their profligacy but Alfie Kilgour may find it hard to explain to his manager Paul Tisdale how he managed to direct a point blank header over rather than under Ben Amos’ bar. An equaliser then and Bowyer’s sunny post-match mood might never have seen the light of day.

Charlton’s 64th minute match-winner relied on the old advice that if you can’t be good, be lucky. It arrived via a right wing corner taken by setpiece guvnor Jake Forster-Caskey, who declined Liam Millar’s offer to improve his angle and drilled a head-high delivery along the right byline. On his way towards the near post, Millar made a game, twisting effort to help it on its way but missed. His feint did succeed in bemusing a slow-on-the-uptake home defence, which stood transfixed as the ball wriggled inside the near corner. Millar’s hopefully tongue-in-cheek attempt to claim credit never really gained popular support. It was the otherwise outstanding Forster-Caskey’s goal and reward for his dramatic improvement in form.

The goal, by the way, was saluted by a gathering of ecstatic Addicks around the corner flag from which Forster-Caskey had delivered his decisive flagkick. In flagrant contravention of the unofficial dictum deploring physical excess, they cavorted and capered in the usual manner, with not so much as a mask among them. In Grove Park, meanwhile, we kept our heads and celebrated a little more decorously. A hearty old-fashioned “Hip-hip-hooray” was quickly organised and elbow bumps were exchanged. We even remembered our manners enough to clap plucky Rovers off the field at the end. As someone with previous in away press boxes (most memorably among them an unfortunate misunderstanding which followed a late equaliser by Johnnie Jackson at Ipswich), I was anxious we behave appropriately. I’ve mellowed appreciably since the post-match unpleasantness at St. Andrews after we’d clung on to a 4-3 nailbiter all those years ago. Anyone who knows me will vouch for that. I’m not currently barred anywhere in the country, not even at Hartlepool, where a 4-0 thumping didn’t sit well with the locals and led to some regrettably heated exchanges.

Until Forster-Caskey’s fortune-favoured goal ignited the closing stages, a fairly routine game had chugged along with the visitors in charge but never quite secure. His hand forced by injury and suspension, Bowyer deployed a solid-looking side to face struggling Rovers. Without four centre backs, he moved Gunter inside from right back, continued with Deji Oshilaja alongside him and brought in Adam Matthews to replace Gunter. Old pros Gunter and Matthews were dependably steady while Oshilaja was excellent. Never giving anything but his best, Deji was inspirational, his tackling and interceptions backed up by a willingness to put his body on the line in a warrior’s determination to block goalbound shots at source.

Chances were few and equally shared. Ex-Addick Brandon Hanlon squandered Rover’s most promising opening, scuffing wide a perfect cutback from the left byline supplied by Jonah Ayunga. Both he and Ayunga blasted efforts into the sidenet before Ben Amos came to the visitors’ rescue by denying Luke McCormick in one-on-one confrontation. Charlton were hardly explosive themselves, being restricted to early long range shots from Chuks Aneke and Forster-Caskey. An earnest but dull encounter was heading for goalless stalemate until luck positively beamed on the Londoners. The task of protecting their advantage seemed straightforward enough until Albie Morgan picked up two yellow cards, the second of them a needlessly late challenge on Jack Baldwin. Sensing an unexpected opportunity, Rovers rallied and made the closing minutes unnecessarily awkward. Five added minutes hardly eased the strain but there was no repetition of the late reverses which have blighted Charlton’s season.

There’s a promotion contender striving to surface in this injury-depleted squad. When -and if – Bowyer is able to name a full-strength team, it might assert itself. It’s important until then to stay in touch with the pacesetters, none of whom appear to be impregnable. Tuesday’s daunting trip to home specialists Peterborough might tell us more… nobody said it would be easy.

Rovers: Day, Leahy, Grant, (Rodman 90), Upson, Westbrooke, Hanlon, McCormick (Barrett 76), Kilgour, Ayunga, Hare (Harries 58), Baldwin. Not used: Van Stappershoeff, Little, Ogogo, Koiko.

Charlton: Amos, Matthews, Gunter, Oshilaja, Maatsen, Williams (Smyth 69) Gilbey 82), Morgan, Forster-Caskey, Millar, Aneke (Bogle 69), Washington (Schwartz 69). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Purrington, Barker. Booked: Oshilaja, Morgan (2) – sent off.

Referee: P. Wright.