Charlton had an unchanged team against Burton Albion on a beautiful spring day at The Valley. Jason Pearce was struggling with injury and Akin Famewo replaced him on the bench. The attendance was 11,348 with 320 in the away massive, the lowest attendance in a football for a fiver game.
Charlton didn't get a lot of early possession in a scrappy start. Burton were trying to get forward as quickly as they could so as to turn Charlton.
Charm merchant Hamer put in a reckless challenge on Dobson, but referee Rebecca Welch showed just a yellow. The Addicks were still not getting a lot of the ball.
Washington advanced via Route One and put in a chip over the advancing keeper to make it 1-0 on 12 minutes. Macca flicked on from a long throw and kicked the ball straight up the field to Washington who scored with one touch. It was his 10th of the season, all in the league.
Burton won a second corner. Matthews cleared away and Charlton got a throw in.
Charlton conceded another corner. A free kick was given for a foul on Stockley.
The Addickted started a chorus of Valley Floyd Road. Burton won another corner. Matthews headed away. Charlton won a free kick for offside.
Charlton were struggling for possession and build up play. They needed to be more clever with their movement to stretch the Brewers defence. Niasse was booked for a high boot on Clare.
Lavelle had to head away a goal bound ball. An effort by Oshilaja came off the bar. He had time and space to pick his shot.
Garrett had to dive to make a save from his own player. Charlton continued to look uncomfortable in possession.
Blackett-Taylor was coming into the game really for the first time, created some space and made it 2-0. After some patient build up play, his ball dribbled in at the near post with Garrett's view obstructed by Stockley. When he was signed, one leading moaner said we were scraping the barrel.
Despite the score line it had not been the most comfortable first half, but Charlton took their chances. Hasselbaink was not happy and loitered to speak to the official. He still wasn't happy after the break. Steve Brown said there had been a lot of aerial bombardment. We needed to defend the long throws well, getting the second phase right. Scott Minto thought at times we weren't close enough. Steve Brown said we need to keep the ball a lot better than we had. Burton had shut us down quicker.
HT: 2-0
Oshilaja got a yellow card for a foul on Stockley. Fraser's free kick wasn't the best. An effort from Washington was blocked.
A Blackett-Taylor effort was over the bar. He came off as a precaution as he had played more than expected in midweek when returning from injury. DJ replaced him.
Charlton were looking more comfortable on the ball in the second half.
Gilligan was booked for an off the ball foul on Washington. Burton made a double substitution.
Fraser put in an excellent cross for Stockley but his header was saved by Garratt.
Burton won a corner at the Jimmy Seed stand. The ball was blocked away by DJ at the expense of another corner which was unproductive.
Dobson dealt with a moment of danger with a superb challenge on Chapman. There was a vigorous chorus of Valley Floyd Road. A shot by Niasse was well blocked by Matthews. Chapman was booked for a foul on Dobson.
On 81 minutes Fraser was replaced by Lee to provide fresh legs. Burton claimed that Clare had handled the ball, but a free kick was awarded for a push.
Clare intercepted a shot from Chapman.
Five minutes were added on. There were two opportunities for Charlton, but they were not taken. An attempt from Washington was blocked.
It wasn't a classic game, but it was another three points. It was the first double of the season.
Charlton are now 15th, Shrewsbury had a surprise win at Rotherham.
Johnnie Jackson said it was a good professional performance, not at our best, would like to have seen more goals. The conditions were difficult. There was a swirling wind and a dry pitch. We defended our lead well, they have that threat with the long throw. We dealt with double figures in terms of long throws coming into our box. We're scoring goals again and now we're looking more solid. I think we can manage it better at times, there was lots of space in behind them at times. The players have stepped up. They've all done that to a man.
Charm merchant manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink insists that Charlton were not better than his side and their defeat was down to individual errors. In a sense he may be right, but they only had one shot on target while we took at least some of our chances: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/you-cant-tell-me-charlton-were-better-burton-boss-hasselbaink-blames-defeat-on-individual-errors/
I am not pretending that it was a great performance but we are 13 points above the relegation zone and Crewe will find it very hard to overtake us now.
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