Charlton 3 Yeovil 2

A promotion chasing team that still wins, even when it isn't playing well? Charlton certainly rode their luck today against a team in all sorts of trouble at the wrong end of the division. All I can say to Yeovil fans is that if your team continues to play like that, you have enough about you to avoid the drop. There are easily four teams worse than Yeovil in this division.

The fact that Charlton won this match, owes as much to good luck than anything else. Even before Jackson found the net with a scuffed finish from a peach of a cross from Martin, Yeovil could easily have been two up. It was obvious that they had been told to get in the faces of Charlton and test their resolve, and courtesy of an alarmingly creaky backline, it almost paid off.

I don't think I have seen the back four play as poorly collectively as they did today. Fry was probably the best of the quartet, but even he caused a collective sharp intake of breath on occasion. Doherty just seemed grateful to get something on it, and invariably leathered the ball back upfield straight to a Yeovil player, or on one occasion into his own net. I couldn't see whether Dailly elbowed the player to get sent off, but friends in the East stand were unanimous that although unintentional, he did indeed catch him with an elbow. This is bad news, as it means Dailly is now banned for the next four games, unless it is turned over on appeal, which I think is unlikely.

The worst performance though was that of Francis. Whilst I saw little to concern me in the first half, the second half was played out right in front of me, and quite frankly he was dreadful. In the space of ten minutes in the second half, he either got caught in possession, or leathered the ball to an opposing player in a dangerous position, or on one occasion decided to let the opposing player take the ball from near the bye line believing that it was going off for a goal kick. I don't know if Solly is close to returning, but Francis really does not merit his place on the basis of todays performance.

In between all this fragility at the back, Racon got the second from what was a fiercely driven cross from Fry, that our favourite Frenchman did extremely well to control. His turn was instant, and the shot into the inside of the far post was a joy to watch, the ball bending away from the keeper leaving him with no chance.

I also now know why we employ Sodje Jnr. In Toy Story, Buzz Lightyear comments that although he can't fly, he does do falling "with style". The same I believe can now be said of Sodje; more Buzz Lardarse than Lightyear admittedly, but fall with style he did, and Jackson dispensed the penalty in much the same way he did against Peterborough last week. He almost got a second as well.

Oh, and one other thing. If Breacker wants to do a repeat off the effing and blinding he decided to launch at a spectator directly behind the home dugout then fine, but expect a visit from the police next time. I have no idea what the guy said to spark the reaction that he treated us all to, but it took a panicking husband nearby to stop his wife reporting him straight away for swearing profusely in front of her children. I had never seen her before, and maybe she was persuaded to come by her other half, but whatever the reason, she did not appreciate the anglo-saxon language. I suggest he focus his "passion" towards the pitch next time.

Charlton 2 Yeovil 0

Well that felt better didn't it? When I heard the line up before the match, I felt that Parkinson had settled for the best side he could put out, and the players ultimately did not disappoint. This wasn't perfect, but with determination coming from every player, we got our just reward.

Man of the match for me was Elliot, who made no fewer than five match saving stops, so this wasn't a one sided regulation victory, far from it. Yeovil caused problems, and on another day we would have drawn or lost this game. Defensively we still look vulnerable, although Llera did not put a foot wrong, replacing the hapless Sodje Snr. who was confined to the bench, along with his younger brother. Now when was the last time two brothers sat on the same bench, and did not get a kick all game?

In the same way that Racon lost form, and has worked his way back, I would suggest the next player in need of a rest out of the limelight is Bailey. He had a poor game yesterday, albeit by his very high standards, he did not look too out of sorts, but out of sorts he certainly is. I am not sure I would be comfortable with a Semedo / Racon central pairing, but do feel that Bailey has been somewhat below his best recently. Jackson had a solid debut, and he and Reid look a well balanced pair down the left hand side.

Speaking of a well balanced pair, I don't believe a single bloke in the stadium didn't go "ouch" when Tudur Jones, the man with the double barreled name, almost lost his two veg blocking a cross from the Charlton left, that in fairness carried more venom from Reid than the shot that seemed to go through the Glovers goalkeeper in the first half. We rode our luck yesterday, but for once we got some, and hopefully it can continue on Tuesday night.

Driving Rain

As the rain and wind went horizontal, the first part of clothing to give up on providing any water protection was my trousers. My shins became cold and wet, quickly followed by the rest of my legs. The coat initially remained resolute against the onslaught, but then I started to feel dampness in the pockets and round my wrists. I could no longer see, as the driving rain had rendered my glasses more of a hinderance than a help. In the end I took them off, and scanned the field in front of me.

After what seemed like a cold and increasingly wet eternity, there he was. A slight, blonde haired lad of 12, running for his county for the very first time, and wearing only a vest and shorts against the elements came into view, the county name of Surrey emblazoned in black against the yellow vest. His finishing position wasn't great, but then again the majority of boys running were a year older than himself.

As we attempted to get dry afterwards, before getting into the car for the near 300 mile return journey home from Staffordshire, he quietly asked, "How are we doing at Yeovil?" Had it not been for the call up to run for Surrey, the Roon and I had marked Yeovil in the calendar as our one away trip of the season. "Well" I replied, "they can't have had weather as miserable as this".

Well I got that wrong didn't I? What is it about sport that makes normally sane people do this sort of stuff? Major respect to the travelling Charlton faithful that made the long trip down to the West Country, as all the reports I have seen tell me that my discomfort in a muddy field in Staffordshire was being shared in equal measure at Huish Park. As Roon and I made our way down the M6 in silence, the news came through on Five Live that Sodje had been sent off, and then that Yeovil were 1-0 up at half time. Spirits rose on news that Sodje Jnr. had equalised, and reading the reports later, we were unlucky not to have come away with all three points. Two points dropped rather than one gained seemed to be a common take on things, but satisfaction nevertheless that the team had fought well in appalling conditions.

Much like the Roon, Charlton fought the elements well yesterday, so who cares that I had driven 600 miles to see a race that lasted for 17 minutes, it was worth it. I get the feeling 1,500 Charlton fans will know exactly what I mean.