To the Engerland 2-0

This was the chant of the Addickted as Charlton beat Swansea 2-0 at The Valley today in front of a crowd of 21,675 (not all of them present in the ground). Charlton opened their account with an early goal from new skipper Mark Hudson and completed the victory with a late goal from Andy Gray. Earlier in the second half, Swansea's Garry Monk, who was anything but, had been sent off for a second bookable offence.

Swansea played some fluent football with some good passing, but were unable to take the chances they had. They also relied on a rather physical style of play which may get controlled more in this division than League 1.

On the train back an Addick approached me and asked me to accentuate the positives. Well, we started the season with a win in a difficult fixture. But the Charlton team is clearly still a work in progress. The players still need to play as a team more rather than as individuals. The two forwards were often isolated up front and got insufficient service from a midfield who also failed at times to protect the defence.

Coming down on the train, I noticed a blue double decker bus in a scrapyard bearing the ambiguous slogan 'Let 'em all come down to the Den.'

A Charlton corner was taken by Shelvey and Hudson converted with a decisive header on two minutes. Jerome Thomas overhit a cross. Racon provided a good ball forward. Thomas went on a run down the left. Sam made a good run down the right. Youga provided good defensive work.

Weaver made a save. A Swans free kick was pushed out by Weaver, but another free kick was awarded. Charm merchant Matthew Collins was spoken to by the referee. Incidentally, Swansea have some appropriate names in their squad, fielding a Gower, but Owain Tudor-Jones was unfortunately not on the pitch.

Shelvey had the ball taken away from him. Bodde was given a yellow card for a foul on Thomas. A move that started with a good header by Shelvey found Sam with an opportunity in front of goal but his header was saved. Racon provided good defensive work.

A Charlton corner led to a shot by Sam that was tipped over by de Vries in the Swansea goal. Varney forged away on a run and I thought he was fouled but referee Beeby, whose decision-making was somewhat inconsistent, gave a free kick to the visitors. This was followed by another free kick for the Swans who put in a shot that went wide. The Covered End broke into a chant of 'That's why you're going down.'

Swansea won a corner. A handball was ignored by the referee and Swansea were given a corner. Charlton were falling too easily into the offside trap set by the visitors. Weaver made a save with his outstretched hand. Weaver prodded the ball out and Swansea won a corner.

Half time: Addicks 1, Swans 0

Charlton were awarded a free kick, but it was not well taken by Shelvey. Swansea looked stronger after the break (or Charlton less certain) and Bauza shot just wide after being presented with an open goal. Shelvey was beaten again and Pards replaced him by Holland. The stalwart provided a good ball almost right away that led to a throw in by the corner flag. Swansea gave themselves a tot by taking off Bauzia and bringing on Brandy.

Varney advanced but was brought down by Swansea skipper Monk who received his first yellow card. Monk repeated his offence by scything down a player and was duly shown red.

Varney won Charlton a corner which was taken by Lloyd Sam. Eventually Thomas put in a good cross from the resulting play. Lloyd Sam won the Addicks a corner, which wsa followed by another. Good defensive work by Youga broke up a Swansea attack. Swansea took over Gower and brought on their secret weapon Jason Scotland. Thomas was withdrawn in favour of Basey.

Weaver made a great save, keeping Charlton ahead. Pratley was taken off by Swansea and replaced by another of their Spanish journeymen, Jordi Gomez. A Charlton corner was taken by Grant Basey. Sam was taken off and our new Algerian signing from Fulham was brought on for a ten minute cameo. Swansea put in a good cross across the goal.

Gray converted from a free kick to make it 2-0. In time added on, Varney stormed through but De Vries made a good save. The crowd broke into a rather tentative and fragmented chant of 'Super Alan Pardew'. Swansea were awarded a free kick in front of the 'D'. Weaver did not deal with the ball well and Swansea won another free kick, but then it was all over and the points were in the bag. I enjoyed the company of the Hampton Magna Addick on the train home.

Match analysis

Ivy the Terrible had to ring Emeritus Match Analyst Hooch the Pooch to ask how you awarded the Silver Bone when no player was really outstanding, but the canine mentor explained that that often happened at Charlton. Ivy decided to award his first ever Silver Bone to Therry Racon who did nothing wrong and showed some nice touches. Weaver made one crucial save, but fumbled the ball a couple of times, but it was a slippery ball and a slippery surface. Hudson had a dream debut and looks as if he will be solid as a rock at the heart of the Charlton defence. Fortune was very solid throughout. Semedo was not in his natural position at right back, but he did well enough. Youga has been declared Public Enemy No.1 by the Bloke Behind Me. He does make a few errors, but he defended well and also combined effectively with Thomas in attack. Shelvey still lacks what is needed at this level and was rightly withdrawn. Sam got forward well a number of times, but then didn't know what to do with the ball, particularly when he found himself in front of goal. Thomas was lively, but there was little end product and he faded as the match went on. I'm not sure that Gray and Varney combined all that well, there often seemed to be big gaps between them, but Gray redeemed himself with his goal and Varney was willing to give it a go. Holland steadied the ship after he came on. Basey did not make a great impression on the match and Boazza had little chance to show what he can do.

Juneau the Soccer Cat awarded the Hiss of the Match to the Bloke Behind Me who was in full negative flow throughout the match. His companion did not even applaud when we scored our second goal and the BBM declared it would be a travesty if we won, saying when three minutes were added on 'Three more minutes of this to suffer!'

Crowd rating The Taffs were in loud voice and expressed their low opinion of the intensity of the Charlton support on a number of occasions. We weren't in the greatest of voice. 6/10.