Sven-Goran
Eriksson may have more on his mind after being sacked by Leicester -
but the former England boss will surely be proud of his managerial
protege, Chris Powell, after he led Charlton three points clear at the
top of League One.
Powell's men, whose 12-game unbeaten start to
the season was the longest in London, have bounced back smartly from a
1-0 buffeting at Stevenage with six points from two games to start
another run.
And Stevenage should beware because Bradley
Wright-Phillips, whose brace sunk Wycombe last night, says their visit
to The Valley on February 25 is already pencilled in as a date for
revenge.
The 26-year-old, who has made his best start to a season
with 10 goals in 14 matches, insists Charlton are still angry about
letting Stevenage end their record by outmuscling them.
They were
cruising at 2-0 last night against a Wycombe side whose only home win
this season was a 1-0 triumph over Sheffield United but the hosts hit
back through Stuart Beavon and gave the visitors an uncomfortable last
27 minutes.
Wright-Phillips said: "That Stevenage defeat made us
really angry, especially for when we play them at home - let's just say
that!
"They are very physical and, no disrespect, but it's not the
football that catches your eye. That hurt us, because it ended our
unbeaten run. However, I think it helped us because we take no game for
granted.
"The boys learnt from that and we showed a good performance here."
Wright-Phillips
yearns for a hat-trick that has been denied him twice this season by
Powell taking him off near the end of matches.
He said: "The
gaffer did it tactically, putting Scott Wagstaff on to give us fresh
legs. It let us run them into the corners as they were putting a lot of
pressure on us. I understand why he did it.
"I tend to think a bit greedier on two goals, wanting the hat-trick but it helps your confidence."
Charlton
couldn't have asked for a better start last night, as new French
striker Yann Kermorgant's spectacular overhead kick in the sixth minute
hit a post before Wright-Phillips netted the rebound. But the second, in
the 41st minute, was pure class as Kermorgant gave Danny Hollands the
chance to whip in a telling pass and Wright-Phillips dispatched it in
the left-hand corner in deadly fashion.
However, from looking easy winners, Charlton allowed a spirited Wycombe side to get back in it.
Goalkeeper
Ben Hamer did well to keep out efforts from Joel Grant and Matt
Bloomfield in the build-up but had no chance as Beavon pounded the
rebound into the far right-hand corner of the net.
Powell, a coach
under Eriksson at Leicester before taking the Charlton job in January,
said: "We have real character in our squad, especially away from home
when you have to dig deep. Sometimes you have to leave your passing game
behind and make sure you see games out.
"This young squad have added that to their armoury this year."
So
why did Charlton let Wycombe back in to the match? Powell added: "They
didn't listen to me! They say that 2-0 is a tough scoreline, do you go
for it or sit back? Sometimes teams get caught in between."
Wycombe's
15-year-old prodigy Jordan Ibe - who is being watched by Manchester
United and Chelsea - came on as their youngest-ever League player for a
late shot that Hamer dealt with well. The keeper also tipped over a
screamer from Beavon.
Andy Hughes, who has stepped in for Dale
Stephens in the heart of midfield, showed the work rate needed to stem
Wycombe's comeback.
Comments
Why is Andy Hughes (?) doing the black power salute in the background as BWP knocks it in in the pic? ;-)