Same old Charlton: winning 3-0

Our most common result this season has been 1-1. But our most common winning score is now 3-0, all three victories achieved with Guy Luzon as coach. This was the result against Huddersfield Town this afternoon in front of a 'football for a fiver' crowd of over 25,000.

Charlton opened their account just before the half hour mark with a great free kick by Gudmundsson opening the scoring and in the second half Tony Watt scored two goals, the second goal a superb one. Despite being a network player, Charlton fans have quickly taken to Watt with his attractive attacking style and real skill with the ball.

Guy Luzon claimed in the programme that he is trying to create an attractive attacking style. Although we were dangerous in the opening five minutes, we had not really threatened until the set piece. However, we attacked with increasing pace, although the Terriers were capable of threatening on the counter. Henderson made some first class saves, keeping the clean sheet. 'Now don't cock it up,' yelled the Bloke Behind Me when we went 2-0 ahead, but we increasingly took charge in the game.

Charlton have gone up to the top half of the table again in 12th position and are 11 points above Millwall who lost at Rotherham. So what's going on? The explanation in CAS Trust News, distributed at the ground, was that the Head Coach has 'momentarily turned things around.' So it's a blip, but it's a decent blip and looks increasingly like keeping us out of League One.

I rang Derek from Dymchurch who has been at the UKIP convention in Margate and he told me, 'Clearly it's all down to the fighting spirit of the players. It's nothing to do with Luzon.' So if we had lost 0-3 today, what would he then say? 'Oh, in that case, it would be down to Luzon. I don't begrudge him his bit of luck, but these Belgian geezers always get found out in the end.'

Chris Powell got appropriately warm applause on his return, with many fans also applauding at the third minute. I was particularly pleased to see Richard Rufus walking round with the Academy players after all his troubles. My late wife was his kit sponsor for many years and he heard and acknowledged the shout of 'Roofus' from our row.

Player ratings

Henderson was certainly a close second for man of the match. He was particularly tested by Wallace's close range shot, but dealt with everything. The 17-year old Gomez was a great advert for the Academy in the centre back role. The yellow card he received was harsh. Giving Johnson a 8 this morning the Football League Paper said 'Four games, three clean sheets for Charlton since Johnson arrived at The Valley.' He wants to get his career back on track and that works for us. Of course, fans will say, 'why did we hold on to Morrison?' but I would think his wages were higher and we are losing £7m a year. I thought that Fox had a decent game, even though Scannell did get behind him once. Solly put in a very solid and professional performance, once again showing that his more mature than his years (something discussed in his interesting exchange with Johnnie Jackson in the programme).

Gudmundsson took his free kick well and he was active in midfield, but he didn't take a great part in open play. Even so, I was a bit surprised when he was the first player to be substituted, but maybe he was fading a bit or perhaps had picked up a knock. Cousins was very active in midfield, always available to receive a ball and pass it on well. In my view he is becoming a class act, a Lee Bowyer without the petulance. There was some debate around me about whether the yellow card was deserved. I think there was a shove, but the player shoved made the most of it. Bulot had some good bursts down the wing and provided some quality crosses and got warm applause when he was substituted. Buyens comes in for a lot of criticism from fans, but I thought he was better yesterday. The FLP gave him a 8 and said, 'Nothing flashy, but his neatness and protection enabled team mates to flourish.'

Igor combines well with Watt and provided the assist for both of his goals. Watt got a rare 9 from the FLP and was clearly man of the match. Luzon was impressed with him at the mother ship and wanted him at Charlton.

Wilson was energetic when he came on and didn't do anything wrong. Diarra looks a bit of a lump, but he can move the ball around nicely and knows how to pass to a Charlton player. Eagles moved the ball around confidently.

I know we don't do 'Hiss of the Match' any more, but I certainly would have given one to Vaughan who abused the referee for some time after a yellow card was finally given to a visiting player. He was lucky not to get booked for dissent.

Big day at The Valley

It's Football for a Fiver day at The Valley and most seats should be filled (some season ticket holders may not make it). For those who resent casual supporters turning up, it should be pointed that this is the only occasion when many families with tight budgets can come to The Valley. In this connection, it is good news that season ticket prices are to be frozen next year.

I would also point out that Crystal Palace had difficult selling out their allocation at West Ham and had to extend their eligibility categories. Glaziers received an e-mail from Alan Pardoo urging them 'to leave the sofa for this one. We're still short for Saturday. It's a massive game for us, if you can get there, please get there.' Prices are a bit higher than at The Valley, £43 for adults and £25 for children.

It's clearly going to being an emotional day, particularly for those who venerate Chris Powell or simply think that he was badly treated (which he was). However, we do need to take three points off Huddersfield Town who are close to us in the real and form tables. Away from home they have won four, drawn four and lost eight. They have conceded more goals than us away from home, but also scored more.

Jordan Cousins is expected to return after recovering from a muscle complaint. This is great news as he has been a key player in midfield, showing energy, skill and real commitment. He is, as the Covered End sings, 'one of our own.' New signing Alou Diarra and Chris 'Red Robin' Eagles could make their full debuts, while skipper Johnnie Jackson remains sidelined with a leg problem.

The last two home matches against them have been drawn. We also drew away at the beginning of the season. We last beat Huddersfield at home in League One in 2011. Odds are: Charlton 9/5, Draw 9/4, Huddersfield 13/8.

Chris Powell remembers

On my way back through London today, I picked up a copy of the Sub-Standard (which actually has improved) and there was a full page article by Chris Powell talking about what happened when he left Charlton. The article speaks for itself, and although some of the material is familiar (at least as a subject of speculation), it is interesting to have his perspective all brought together in one piece: Chris Powell

Chris Powell has also given an interview to the CAS Trust magazine which will be distributed around the ground today: Preview

Estuary-style tacky?

Southend on Sea: I seem to find myself in League 2 cities and towns on Friday morning. Last week it was Plymouth, this week I have a view over the Thames estuary. It reminds me of when branding consultants hired under the previous regime suggested that the club should be re-named 'Estuary' to reflect where most of the support now lives (albeit on the Kent side).

So it turns out that the sex video was a publicity stunt and you can vote on whether it was tasteless or not: Tacky?

I can't imagine that either Roland or Katrien dreamt this one up, but no doubt there will be a piece in the next VOTV by Rick Everitt saying 'it wouldn't have happened in my day.'

I've got a busy day ahead, so won't be able to focus on the match until tomorrow. I am all for showing our respect to Chris Powell when his name his read out and when he comes on to the pitch but not during the game. We are not out of the woods yet and we need three points off Huddersfield.

Pitch sex video

The current regime at Charlton has talked of providing a broader range of attractions at The Valley rather than just football. It has never been quite clear what they have in mind, but the intention was to provide family oriented entertainment.

They certainly did not envisage a couple appearing to score on the Valley pitch. The video, which has been widely circulated, is now under investigation: Enquiry

Rumours that the male in the video was top fan Jonathan Acworth appear to have no foundation.

In any event, it makes a change from Charlton fans being accused of being anoraks, train spotters or even Onanists.

Charlton lose to league leaders

The early exchanges between Derby County and Charlton Athletic were not decisive for either side, but then Derby County got an easy goal after nine minutes with a tap in from Hendrick after it had seemed that a home player was offside, but Bent had been given free scope. No one expected it to be easy, but such an early setback was disheartening.

A Johnson header was required to deal with a Derby attack. The front three of Ince, Lingard and Bent were giving Charlton problems. A Derby shot went not far wide. Cousins, out injured, was being missed in the middle. Derby were flooding forward once they got the ball with a five man attack and Lingard buried Derby’s second. Roger Johnson was furious. It was all too easy. Charlton needed to tighten up in midfield. One pass and Buyens was out of the game.

Every time Charlton got the ball they couldn’t get into the Derby half and the Rams were threatening every time they came forward. As soon as Charlton went forward, there were three men on the ball and it was unsettling the Addicks.

Henderson had to pluck a Derby free kick out of the air. The movement from the Derby players was very fluent. Charlton tried to launch an attack, but the momentum disappeared and they went backwards.

Charlton got a corner after Bulot threatened, following a loose pass in midfield snapped up by Buyens. The ball was eventually cleared from the corner. Derby did seem to have taken their foot off the pedal. Charlton were recovering their organisation which they had had at the beginning of the game.

Sloppy work by Ben Haim gave Derby a shooting chance, but fortunately it went just left of Henderson’s goal. The keeper would not have reached it.

A shot from Solly needed a save from Grant. Charlton had managed to put some serious pressure on the Derby goal. Watt was fouled and Charlton got a free kick in a promising position. Gudmundsson’s effort from 25 yards out needed a save at full stretch from Grant. It was panic stations at the corner, but ultimately it was unproductive. After a disastrous first fifteen minutes, Charlton were getting into the game.

Darren Bent got in behind the defence, but the move was unproductive. With one minute of injury time, Charlton found themselves under pressure after a poor ball by Wilson. Derby then hit the crossbar. It was a frantic last minute. However, the Addicks had recovered well from a disastrous first fifteen minutes.

Rams 2, Addicks 0

Wilson had not a good first half in midfield and Diarra was brought on. Buyens had to make a good tackle to break up a Derby attack.

Diarra put in some excellent defending with an excellent tackle to win the ball back for Charlton. An attempt by Diarra was blocked by Keogh after a free kick. The Derby tried to rally their team after Charlton applied some pressure.

Diarra put in another excellent tackle, he had won three or four challenges. On 68 minutes Bulot went off and Chris ‘Red Robin’ Eagles came on.

Lingard went off and Dawkins came on. Charlton brought on Harriott and Watt, who may have taken a knock, was taken off. Derby brought on Mascarell. Derby took off Hughes and brought on Bryson.

Charlton got a free kick five or six yards outside the penalty area, but Gudmundsson’s effort went just over the bar. Perhaps the ball should have been directed to Harriott.

Harriott did well to win the ball back for Charlton. The Addicks made a good move, but the ball was collected by the keeper.

Ben Haim put in a good tackle and then a shot cannoned off Diarra to give the Rams a corner. Henderson took the ball comfortably.

Three minutes were added on, but they were uneventful. Word came through that Millwall were losing 0-3 at home to Sheffield Wednesday (final score 1-3).

All the damage had been done in the first fifteen minutes, but at least it was not a rout at the hands of the league leaders. Charlton fell back to 16th, but were eight points above the top relegation spot occupied by Millwall.

<>The local Derby fan has commented: 'You gave our young talented midfielders far too much space in the first twenty minutes by standing off and defending deep. Once you pushed up and crowded midfield it stopped the flow for us but killed the game for your as well. To be honest on the first half it looked as if they were trying to waste time to get in only two down. Charlton were much better second half doubling up on our providers but actually the best chances came in the first half. The last hour was a bit of a damp squib to be honest.'

It should also be noted that the only top eight side we have left to play is Bournemouth (on the last day of the season).

Fans divided on Diarra signing

Fans have expressed divergent views about the signing of Alou Diarra. One commented, 'We are his 12th club in the last 15 years - a player at 33 who has been criticised for lack and effort of application and cannot settle down anywhere or hold a regular place in a team (Lyon, Rennes and West Ham) and has played less than twenty games in the last three years. Does not look like a great signing, but you never know.'

The contrary view is that there is more to him than his Wikipedia entry which you can read here Diarra. 'Those of us who remember him as a fine, deep-lying midfielder for Bordeaux in the Champions League not all that long ago, may perhaps view the statistics as, at best, only half the story (as they would appear to have been with Watt, and Bulot recently).

In my view, he's needed cover, no more, no less.