Charlton are Kings

A suburb of Cheltenhm is called Charlton Kings and so it proved yesterday in the Carabao Cup with the Addicks convincing 3-1 winners.  Negativists searching for a narrative pointed out that it was Cheltenham  not Chelsea.

Nathan Jones' side opened up a three-goal lead before half-time, with Matty Godden, Sonny Carey and Tyreece Campbell on target.

Godden fired wide with the first chance in the fourth minute but two goals in two minutes put Charlton firmly in control.  Godden charged down a clearance from Robbie Cundy, allowing Carey to set him up for a finish which bounced in off the post in the 22nd minute.

Carey then fired in the second almost immediately to make it 2-0.  And Campbell was teed up by Conor Coventry before curling a fine shot inside the top-right corner from outside the penalty area, giving goalkeeper Joe Day no chance in the 37th minute.

Day denied Karlan Grant with a fine stop just before half-time and Cheltenham pulled one back 10 minutes into the second half.

Joe Tomlinson's in-swinging corner was nodded in from close range by George Miller.

Will Mannion denied Tomlinson after Shaun McWilliams' cross in the 59th minute as Cheltenham nearly pulled another one back.

But Charlton had done enough and only two late saves from substitute goalkeeper Wyll Stanway denied them a fourth.

Kayne Ramsay is out for for a few weeks with an ankle injury.

Steve Cotterill, the Cheltenham Town manager, was full of admiration for the quality of Charlton’s attackers - and claimed to know about transfer interest in them. “Their finishes have been incredible,” he said. “We’re talking about a good few million pounds that those goals are worth.

“You’ll probably see, in a short space of time, a couple of those players…..there’s already been bids in for them, I know that. They are going to be going for big money soon.

What we are to make of Ramsay rumours?

I'm not sure what to make of rumours that Torino are interested in Kayne Ramsay who has one year left on his contract at Charlton.

The story seems to have started on the Currant Bun website and has then echoed around various advert heavy clickbait sites.   However, the fact that Richard Cawley has referred to it suggests that it may have some substance, although it could have started with the player's agent trying to stoke interest in the UK.

Ramsay had a rather stuttering start to his career before being signed by the Addicks from the Sulphurites.

A dependable figure across the back line, he helped the Addicks earn promotion and cemented his place as a regular Championship starter. Now 25, Ramsay has amassed more than 200 senior appearances.

As an athletic, versatile defender, these are qualities that make him an attractive, cost-effective target for clubs such as Torino. The Serie A outfit may be looking to replicate the success of Brooke Norton-Cuffy after he made the switch to Italian side Genoa.

Left-wing back search continues

Nathan Jones has told Richard Cawley that the search for a left-wing back continues with four possibilities in the frame.  However, the injury plagued position has been a problem all season and Jones says that its is proving difficult to fill.

Jones says there has been considerable League One interest in Isaac Olaofe, but the supremo sees him as an impact player and is reluctant to let him go.

Jones is also not amenable to Karoy Anderson going on loan to Wycombe Wanderers.

Jones has said that he has no interest in selling Kayne Ramsay and would like him to sign a new contract.

Ramsay says sorry

Kayne Ramsay took to Instagram on Saturday night to apologise for his sending off.  “Devastated about my decision-making today,” he posted. “I cost the team three points. I’m sorry to all the fans and my team-mates, especially with the magnitude of the game. Learning curve, for sure. I’ll be back.”

The right-sided centre-back could have no grievances over his two cautions -both on Aidomo Emakhu, Millwall’s only dangerous attacker with Josh Coburn and Mihailo Ivanovic both subdued.

Ramsay’s first booking on 56 minutes was for cynically halting the Irishman and then he mistimed a sliding challenge in the 74th minute. Referee Robert Madley showed no hesitation in one again reaching for his yellow card before brandishing a red.

By the time Nathan Jones reached the written media press conference he had toned down his criticism of Ramsay, which appeared to be stronger in his interview with broadcaster Sky Sports.

“It was going to take something - like a set-play or a moment of madness to concede and we got a moment of madness,” said the Welshman. “When you are on a booking and you lunge in then you know you are risking something. You have to be cleverer than that. Top defenders stay on their feet and make people work for something - when they go to ground it is a last resort or they know they can win it.”

It is so hard though in the moment. Players make decisions in split seconds and Ramsay, who had already made one clean challenge seconds earlier on Emakhu, clearly felt he could do so again.

But the risk-reward ratio was out of kilter says Richard Cawley.   Why?  You need to subscribe to his first rate Substack account.  This extract is posted as a taster.