Charlton 1 Derby 1

It hasn't all got much better in the three days since the Ipswich capitulation, but at least there was some fight, bite, and honest endeavour about yesterday's performance. With Jackson and Pritchard starting, it was Frimpong, Green, and Seabourne who were banished not just from the side, but the matchday squad as well. Doubtless this will be explained away as rotation, but the reality is that heads needed to roll after the Boxing Day midfield performance particularly. Seabourne just had a mare on Wednesday, but it was good to see one of our own left backs in the shape of Evina back in action again.

There was very little to be cheerful about in the first twenty minutes, as Derby pretty much passed us off the park, but the response was a goal that will be difficult to better this season. There was some debate after the game as to whether he meant to do what he did, but as there was nobody at the far post to cross to anyway, I am very much of the school of thought that Haynes absolutely meant it, and what a purler it was, crossing the keeper and burying itself top left of the Derby keepers goal. Even at 1-0 up though, I was still pretty sure Derby would be able to get one back, which they duly did from the penalty spot. This brings me to the subject of Morrison, and referee Boyeson's part in his downfall.

I had been warned before the game that Boyeson was a game changing referee, and not in a good way. Those Addickted who went to Huddersfield away last year testify to an official of bewildering ineptitude who cost us a player that day in the shape of Russell, and although nobody of my acquaintance argues that he didn't deserve to go, they do contest that the two Terriers who were involved in the incident should have gone as well. They got yellow instead. Nothing if not consistent is Boyeson, as he again sent off a Charlton player, Morrison this time, for a second bookable offence. The signs were there that it was coming from way back in the first half though.

Having been booked for an offence in the ninth minute for a foul on Derby youngster Hughes, the referee also gave Morrison a last chance talking to later in the half for another challenge. It was a scenario that he played out with Keogh from Derby as well after his booking for a foul on Kermorgant, so a certain pattern was well and truly emerging, that here was a ref that did not like physical contact in the game. There were many around me urging Powell to replace Morrison with Dervite, and I must say I agreed with them. It seemed obvious that Morrison was on the edge from Boyeson's perspective, and having seen him in action before, there was a certain inevitability in what played out later in the game.

It is a difficult one to call, as the referee is not supposed to be a game changer. Powell had put out a team to beat Derby, and so was he now supposed to change his tactics because of Boyeson? My own feeling is that he should have, but I do understand the strength of the contra argument. If I may lift a quote here from the Charlton official site, “I was thinking of bringing him [Dervite] on earlier than half time,” Powell said. “I asked Michael at half time to play safer, which he did, to be fair. I said to him ‘you have to play with your mind now and make sure that you don’t get yourself in any difficult positions’ but sadly he did with the penalty. Perhaps next time, Powell may make a different decision, but I am not going to criticise him for the one he took against Derby.

Elsewhere, Hamer had flashes of brilliance, and occasional panic in turn. Some brilliant shot stopping to keep us in it, was matched by some flapping punched clearances when the team was under heavy pressure after the Morrison dismissal. Evina showed an understandable ring rustiness, and almost caused Charlton problems early doors, but he improved markedly as the game went on. Apart from his wonder goal, Haynes caused Derby problems all afternoon, until he pulled up with yet another hamstring strain. Speaking of wonder goals, we almost had a second, when a sweeping movement involving Hamer, Solly, Wright-Phillips, and Kermorgant, left Pritchard to lift one over the Derby keeper and into the net. Unfortunately he crashed it off the underside of the bar instead, which was a shame, as it would have been a fabulous team effort from one end of the pitch to the other.

So, a draw to end a run of three successive defeats. Let's hope we have our best away day head on for Tuesday at Watford, as we will need to do far better than we have of late if we are to get anything from the high flying Hornets.

Charlton 2 Huddersfield 0

The R.N.L.I are better off by $20 this morning, the result of a bet with a "Terrya" friend based in Montreal, and it was Huddersfield who were all at sea in need of rescuing last night. (I am sorry, I promise I will not do cheesy openings like that ever again). I won't repeat the plaudits, as you will have seen the performance, or certainly read about it, but I will say this; for me, there have been two season defining games this year.

The first was at Sheffield United, and the second was last night. Both were immense performances, and the message they have sent to the rest of the division is that Charlton are in the driving seat, and intend staying there. Not a weak link to be seen in the Charlton team last night, and I hope Powell wraps most of them up in cotton wool, and gives them this weekend off. I know it is the FA Cup, but I still don't care whether we are in it or not.

Powell is of course correct to damp down all those indulging in premature celebration, as there are after all twenty seven games to go. Had Charlton lost last night, the R.S.P.C.A would have been $20 better off, but as it turned out we were the dogs. (I am sorry, I promise I will not do cheesy endings like that ever again). I am just a bit happy today, that's all.

Charlton 0 Huddersfield 1

This season, Charlton have more or less got out of a game exactly what they put in, win, lose, or draw. For the first time I felt that we didn't get that yesterday. We simply did not deserve to lose that game. This should have gone down as an entertaining 0-0 draw, by two average teams in this division. There was a better cohesion to Charlton's passing game yesterday, as well as no shortage of opportunity, but ultimately we were undone by a Gudjonsson strike.

If only the East Stand lino had made the decision not to flag Wright-Phillips offside, when both the Huddersfield goalie, and a defender were on the line, maybe our number ten would have scored. We will never know, but the chances would have to be rated as high. The other decision that looked dubious at the time was down to the ref, and I must admit that I thought it was harsh when the free kick that had thundered into Reid, and more importantly his hands was moved forward ten yards. It looked to me that the player was protecting his face, but Powell agreed with the referee that he had deliberately handled, so I will have to go with the manager, who pressumably has had the benefit of a playback of the incident.

Like many fans, I can't wait for this season to end. I Just hope that we don't finish below 14th, and beat our previous historic low, but if any team can, this one is it. On the balance of play yesterday, it would be a bit unfair, but I am now more interested in seeing what happens during the summer. To that end, please see the latest squad status below. I have Ketts to thank at Doctor Kish for the update on Jackson's contract, and we now know that Nouble and Sullivan will be with us on loan until the bitter end.

Contract End 2011

Anyinsah
Dailly
Fortune
Jenkinson
Llera
Racon
Semedo
Stewart
Youga

Contract End 2012

Benson
Doherty
Elliott
Francis
Jackson
McCormack
Wagstaff
Wright-Phillips

Contract End 2013

Solly

Contract Length Unknown

Reid
Worner

Loan

Bessone (May 2011)
Eccleston (May 2011)
Nouble (May 2011)
Parrett (May 2011)
Sullivan (May 2011)

Charlton 2 Huddersfield 1

Well, we wanted a Plan B, and we got it. A week late admittedly, but very pleasing to see it nevertheless. Parkinson got this one just about spot on, so well done to him, and the players involved. I am not entirely convinced that we have the quality of personnel up front, to go 4-4-2 on a consistent basis, but this attempt was overdue, and reaped a deserved, if at times, fortunate reward. The most telling moment for me, was the substitution of Semedo for Spring. You could just see the trust and belief flow back into the team, knowing that our favourite Portugeezer was protecting the back four. Youga continued his immense form of late, and was my man of the match, by quite some distance.

So, what else? I am happy to put on record here and now, that I have no problem with a Sullivan led bid for the club. I had business dealings with the Golds', David, and his brother Ralph, many years ago, and always found them very straightforward to do business with, albeit it that most of the business was done through David's two daughters, Jacqui and Vanessa. If David Gold is involved, then I don't believe that Charlton would have better owners to follow in the mighty footsteps of Richard Murray. Just don't bring Karren Brady with you please.

P.S. - I should add at this time, I have always held a torch for Vanessa :-)