Portsmouth have won 6 of their last 7 in all competitions and scored 18 goals in that time. That will be a real test and a draw would be a great result especially as we will be missing Inniss
Any Watson doubters - look how we controlled that game when we went down to 10. I imagine he was a major contributing factor to that - it's almost like we got better when we had 10.
On the other hand he was pretty invisible in the first half, and could have easily got another yellow. He played well when we went down to 10 men, but then so did everyone else in the field, and they contributed more elsewhere during the game
It's a fair enough point, but I would argue its not Watson's job to contribute elsewhere on the pitch. Its his job to be the shield in front of the defence breaking up play, by making tackles and interceptions and then distribute the ball to a player like Shinnie or Smyth who can then link up the attack.
And whatever you think of him, he clearly does that very well - as well as adds something even more important and what Bows wants - leadership and experience.
But he wasn't doing that shielding job very well in the 1st half, Oxford carved us open several times
Sure, so if you apply that logic that they carved us open several times I suppose that also means that Famewo, Innis and the rest of the defence are also not very good as well?
Oxford United had pace, energy, man-to-man marking, professional fouls but no real quality. Our experience and superior quality told, particularly in the taking of the couple of real chances we had, and, in riding out the last 25 minutes.
It's early days but I'd say we look a good bet for promotion.
Saturdays game will be a real test, especially without Innis against Marquis, but we’ve put ourselves in a great position. After Saturday we have a nice run of games.
Portsmouth have won 6 of their last 7 in all competitions and scored 18 goals in that time. That will be a real test and a draw would be a great result especially as we will be missing Inniss
They hint played against a defensive unit like ours though.
Easy win really. Will be interesting to see how we go vs Pompey with Watson and Innis missing. Gunter in the middle with Matthews RB I guess. Shinnie looks a great signing.
Barker in the middle
Think I would start Barker leave the rest of defence unchanged and leave Pratley in the middle. I've given up trying to predict LB though
Portsmouth have won 6 of their last 7 in all competitions and scored 18 goals in that time. That will be a real test and a draw would be a great result especially as we will be missing Inniss
They hint played against a defensive unit like ours though.
Put three past Sunderland on the weekend who had the best defensive record in the League
What does give me hope is the fact that Bowyer does seem to know how to beat a Kenny Jackett side
Any Watson doubters - look how we controlled that game when we went down to 10. I imagine he was a major contributing factor to that - it's almost like we got better when we had 10.
On the other hand he was pretty invisible in the first half, and could have easily got another yellow. He played well when we went down to 10 men, but then so did everyone else in the field, and they contributed more elsewhere during the game
It's a fair enough point, but I would argue its not Watson's job to contribute elsewhere on the pitch. Its his job to be the shield in front of the defence breaking up play, by making tackles and interceptions and then distribute the ball to a player like Shinnie or Smyth who can then link up the attack.
And whatever you think of him, he clearly does that very well - as well as adds something even more important and what Bows wants - leadership and experience.
But he wasn't doing that shielding job very well in the 1st half, Oxford carved us open several times
Sure, so if you apply that logic that they carved us open several times I suppose that also means that Famewo, Innis and the rest of the defence are also not very good as well?
It's the midfield's job to provide the shield in front of the defence
Another good result. 4 victories in a row and 4 clean sheets. Happy with that. Very happy to see a Karl Robinson team leave the Valley with nothing.
Oxford pushed up on Charlton and held a high line. This made it difficult for the midfield but left them vulnerable at the back. Great to see hard working Connor Washington score very cleanly and quickly followed by a terrific Shinnie free kick. It was maybe a little harsh on Oxford, who pushed forward but this Charlton defence is excellent.
Usual Watson yellow by a card happy to Charlton referee followed by an unnecessary sending off from Inniss. Farmewo excellent at the back. Charlton were a lot better in the first half of the second half. After Inniss was sent off, Charlton weathered a couple of attacks but the defence stood firm.
I was non plussed by the Pennington for Bogle subsitution but he combined well with a very good Maatsen, who maybe should have gone for goal for himself.
Up to 6th. Excellent run. Still lots to come from this team, if / when everyone is back fit. Onwards and upwards.
Pennington?
Another new signing!
Deary me, I thought I was the only Person with fat finger predictive text!
Recovering from a double root canal and am full of pain killers / antibiotic. More brain fog than fat finger predictive text unfortunatley
Doncaster lose to Plymouth, Sunderland draw 2-2 at Rochdale.
Doncaster have now lost 2 in a row after looking really good. Sunderland had built their success on keeping clean sheets, and grinding out 1-0 and 2-0 wins, but have now let in 3 against Pompey and 2 against Rochdale.
Easy win really. Will be interesting to see how we go vs Pompey with Watson and Innis missing. Gunter in the middle with Matthews RB I guess. Shinnie looks a great signing.
Barker in the middle
Think I would start Barker leave the rest of defence unchanged and leave Pratley in the middle. I've given up trying to predict LB though
Barker isn't the "next cab on the rank" though is he? He only played, as well as he did play, because he wasn't a pro.
There are at least 2 u23 center backs in front of him. But I wouldn't expect either of them to play either, maybe one on the bench?
Another good result. 4 victories in a row and 4 clean sheets. Happy with that. Very happy to see a Karl Robinson team leave the Valley with nothing.
Oxford pushed up on Charlton and held a high line. This made it difficult for the midfield but left them vulnerable at the back. Great to see hard working Connor Washington score very cleanly and quickly followed by a terrific Shinnie free kick. It was maybe a little harsh on Oxford, who pushed forward but this Charlton defence is excellent.
Usual Watson yellow by a card happy to Charlton referee followed by an unnecessary sending off from Inniss. Farmewo excellent at the back. Charlton were a lot better in the first half of the second half. After Inniss was sent off, Charlton weathered a couple of attacks but the defence stood firm.
I was non plussed by the Pennington for Bogle subsitution but he combined well with a very good Maatsen, who maybe should have gone for goal for himself.
Up to 6th. Excellent run. Still lots to come from this team, if / when everyone is back fit. Onwards and upwards.
Pennington?
Another new signing!
Deary me, I thought I was the only Person with fat finger predictive text!
Recovering from a double root canal and am full of pain killers / antibiotic. More brain fog than fat finger predictive text unfortunatley.
Blinking eck, not nice, sorry to hear that, hope you make a swift recovery.
Portsmouth have won 6 of their last 7 in all competitions and scored 18 goals in that time. That will be a real test and a draw would be a great result especially as we will be missing Inniss
Another win, another home win which will only breed even more confidence too. Winning at home is going to be so important this season, more so without us at The Valley to help make it a fortress.
Another clean sheet too, 5 on the spin for a new look defence, a new look team, with some very young and inexperienced players included, add in the two times we have been down to 10 men for large chunks of either game, both being defenders, it makes it all the more impressive.
Oxford are a better side than they showed and will be fine this season, so it's a good win.
Washington getting another goal, his first for over a month so that'll do his confidence the world of good too. Thought Bogle worked hard up front, held it well, and was a bit unfortunate not to be played in a couple of times when he could've gone on and scored.
Shinnie was MOTM, no question. Clever pass for the first, excellent strike for the second, even if the keeper should've done better on that side. He also showed some real classy touches and experienced play in the second half.
Real shame about Inniss and Watson being suspended for Saturday, that's a big game to miss them both. Nothing really Inniss could've done for the second yellow, his first was a bit silly. I think the same in a way with Watson, it wasn't cynical, it was just a normal foul on the edge of their box. Ref was a bit card happy when it came to us but a few questionable ones when he didn't give anything to an Oxford player.
Overall, another win and you've genuinely got to be happy with that. Up in the top 6, averaging 2 points per game already.
Portsmouth having a good win tonight will make it harder on Saturday, but if we were to get another win and make it 5 straight wins, other teams will really sit up and take notice.
Yes our wins are part of the reason they're down there, but it's worth noting that Wigan, Blackpool, Northampton and Oxford are all in the bottom 7, before we get carried away about winning 4 in a row and 5 clean sheets.
We've shown we can efficiently dispatch the strugglers, but Pompey will be a much sterner test
Easy win really. Will be interesting to see how we go vs Pompey with Watson and Innis missing. Gunter in the middle with Matthews RB I guess. Shinnie looks a great signing.
Barker in the middle
Think I would start Barker leave the rest of defence unchanged and leave Pratley in the middle. I've given up trying to predict LB though
Barker isn't the "next cab on the rank" though is he? He only played, as well as he did play, because he wasn't a pro.
There are at least 2 u23 center backs in front of him. But I wouldn't expect either of them to play either, maybe one on the bench?
Barker has a slight advantage over Vega and Mingi though; Bowyer knows he's "solid" enough for League One Football
Another great result - and this team is only going to get better and better.
It's a shame to lose Inniss and Watson but looking at the players we have available then we should have more than enough cover for them.
In our last season in League One we were routinely putting four or five kids on the bench but tonight we had Purrington, Williams, Forster-Caskey, Aneke and Maddison on the bench with the likes of Matthews, Doughty, Gilbey, Pearce and Oshilaja not even involved.
If Pearce is not fit for Saturday then Pratley will drop into centre-half and Forster-Caskey into midfield or I suppose Gunter could play centre-half and Matthews right back.
You know exactly what you will play against with a Kenny Jackett team, it's going to be direct and physical football - that's why Inniss will be a big miss - but we should have enough about us to still get a win there or at least a point.
Another win, three points and up the table we go with a game in hand. More than that, another consecutive clean sheet.
Conor Washington with a cool finish after Shinny masterfully slipped him through, only to score a goal himself minutes later from a superb free kick.
Never thought we looked like conceding. Solid at the back. Unfortunate to lose Inniss to two yellow cards. He put his head on everything that came towards him. With Watson’s yellow card, he’ll also be missing for Portsmouth.
Happy Addicks, over to you!
Charlton 2 Oxford 0
Inniss got himself carelessly sent off with the two fouls
Gorrin committed more fouls than that after he'd been booked himself but he didn't get a second yellow.
Comments
Shame about all the yellow cards.
Saturdays game will be a real test, especially without Innis against Marquis, but we’ve put ourselves in a great position. After Saturday we have a nice run of games.
Of course nothing to say that it wont simply be Charlie Barker who comes back into the team
I've given up trying to predict LB though
Pompey beat Northampton 4-0 tonight so we "could" be looking at a 2-0 defeat.
But I'm going for a sequence- building
0-0, 1-0, 1-0, 2-0, 2-0.....2-0 to the mighty Addicks.
We'll see.
What does give me hope is the fact that Bowyer does seem to know how to beat a Kenny Jackett side
Doncaster have now lost 2 in a row after looking really good. Sunderland had built their success on keeping clean sheets, and grinding out 1-0 and 2-0 wins, but have now let in 3 against Pompey and 2 against Rochdale.
There are at least 2 u23 center backs in front of him. But I wouldn't expect either of them to play either, maybe one on the bench?
Another clean sheet too, 5 on the spin for a new look defence, a new look team, with some very young and inexperienced players included, add in the two times we have been down to 10 men for large chunks of either game, both being defenders, it makes it all the more impressive.
Oxford are a better side than they showed and will be fine this season, so it's a good win.
Washington getting another goal, his first for over a month so that'll do his confidence the world of good too. Thought Bogle worked hard up front, held it well, and was a bit unfortunate not to be played in a couple of times when he could've gone on and scored.
Shinnie was MOTM, no question. Clever pass for the first, excellent strike for the second, even if the keeper should've done better on that side. He also showed some real classy touches and experienced play in the second half.
Real shame about Inniss and Watson being suspended for Saturday, that's a big game to miss them both. Nothing really Inniss could've done for the second yellow, his first was a bit silly. I think the same in a way with Watson, it wasn't cynical, it was just a normal foul on the edge of their box. Ref was a bit card happy when it came to us but a few questionable ones when he didn't give anything to an Oxford player.
Overall, another win and you've genuinely got to be happy with that. Up in the top 6, averaging 2 points per game already.
Portsmouth having a good win tonight will make it harder on Saturday, but if we were to get another win and make it 5 straight wins, other teams will really sit up and take notice.
We've shown we can efficiently dispatch the strugglers, but Pompey will be a much sterner test
It's a shame to lose Inniss and Watson but looking at the players we have available then we should have more than enough cover for them.
In our last season in League One we were routinely putting four or five kids on the bench but tonight we had Purrington, Williams, Forster-Caskey, Aneke and Maddison on the bench with the likes of Matthews, Doughty, Gilbey, Pearce and Oshilaja not even involved.
If Pearce is not fit for Saturday then Pratley will drop into centre-half and Forster-Caskey into midfield or I suppose Gunter could play centre-half and Matthews right back.
You know exactly what you will play against with a Kenny Jackett team, it's going to be direct and physical football - that's why Inniss will be a big miss - but we should have enough about us to still get a win there or at least a point.
No consistency from the ref.