Burton the visitors to the Valley this afternoon looked to avenge the reverse fixture earlier this season, which saw the Addicks take all three points after an early double sending off. Perhaps that accounts for the cagey start for both teams. Charlton found it difficult to get the ball down and play a passing game. But looked bright on the counterattack, with Washington marking runs in behind. Charlton got off the mark after MacGillveray pinged the ball quickly out to find Washington running at the full back. He took possession and lobbed the keeper—who came, stopped, and then came again and found himself in no-man’s-land— expertly. Burton really didn’t get back into it.
The second goal came from a bit of bright play from CBT, who cut inside and surprised everyone when he tucked the ball into the back of the net, through a gaggle of players.
It was on the fifty minute mark that we saw any passage of passing football from either side. And it was the Addicks that found space to probe. We had a few chances from then on to extend the lead, but we couldn’t. Burton had a few counter attacks, but Lavelle, Purrington, Clare, with Dobbo in front, held fast and Burton failed to have a shot on target. A clean sheet capped off a decent performance, even if the match wasn’t much of a spectacle for the beautiful game. Still, back-to-back wins is encouraging.
Charlton 2 Burton 0
Over to you.
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Comments
For all their possession, never had a shot on target did they?
But a win is a win so I'll take it all day long.
We certainly look a much better side with our two main strikers up top and Washington's goal was a beauty.
Not having Leco in the starting 11 is also a major plus.
Hopefully we've seen the last of him.
Anyway onwards and upwards.
Only then did I read your opening epistle.
A pretty atrocious first half, with Charlton unable to put more than 2 or 3 passes together. The ball was treated as a hot potato and our one tactic was to try to release Washington in behind with the early long ball. It worked perfectly for the first goal - with an excellent assist from MacGillivray - but I lost count of the times that we unnecessarily conceded possession. Fortunately for us, Blackett-Taylor produced a bit of inspiration before half-time, giving us a totally undeserved 2-0 lead at the break.
We were better in the second half - we could hardly have been worse - although we understandably lost something when Blackett-Taylor went off. DJ has some good attributes but crossing and the final ball isn’t one of them. We dropped deeper as the game wore on and largely ended up playing a 5-3-2 and looking to spring them on the break. That said, Burton didn’t manage any shots on target and, content to rely upon their ineptitude, we saw the game out reasonably comfortably.
Defensively, I thought that Lavelle was very solid. Clare made a couple of good interceptions but his distribution was diabolical.
Dobson misplaced a number of passes like the rest of the team in the first half but more than made up for it with several trademark interceptions to get us out of trouble. In contrast, Gilbey and Fraser were fairly quiet and we never controlled the midfield area.
Up top, Washington played very well, although I thought that Stockley was poor, albeit he made his usual fine contribution defensively.
A mediocre game but two clean sheets and 6 points in a week are not to be sneezed at, given some of the rubbish served up in previous games. Let’s just hope that, now any residual relegation concerns have been banished, we can relax and turn in a couple of genuinely entertaining performances.
Just got in and never seen so few comments on the match thread or on this one 30 minutes after full time.
Is everyone out enjoying the sun or was today so nondescript everyone had just given up and can't wait for the season to end?
Burton were poor. But unlike Tuesday with Gillingham where they're in the relegation places and lost their best player in January and can't name a full bench, Burton are a point above us (we have a game in hand). We barely got out of second gear, even in the second half, and we won comfortably.
For me it really shows just how much this team had underachieved this season. Washington and Stockley make a huge, huge difference. But for large stretches under Jacko and Adkins we have played far below our level.
Sign Washington up tomorrow and give Dobbo an extension. I think it's possible both are playing in the Championship next season but at least with Washington it would mean we'd get a fee and with Dobbo it would increase the fee. And for those that still don't rate Washington, I don't know how else to convince you of how important he is to the team.
I'd give Clare MOTM just over the above two and Lavelle. He had some crucial defensive moments. Not his best day on the ball but that was true of everyone.
We're safe, start building for next season.
On a serious note though, another 3 points and a clean sheet, so whilst it wasn't a great performance, it's a job well done.
Attendance: 11,348
Is that our lowest ever 'Football for a Fiver' crowd?
Burton made it very difficult for us today crowded mid which stopped Gilbey and Fraser space and time so we had to work really hard for these 3 points today .
Fantastic ball from McG fir the first goal well taken by Washington although the keeper on both goals will be asked questions and the first real run by CBT and second goal .
Apart from hitting the bar that was Burton only effort on target in 95 mins there only danger cane from long throws which defensively we dealt with very well with MOM Laville having another string game at the back .
A win a win may not be has a good performance as Tuesday but it’s another 3 points and another clean sheet … only black spot another injury to CBT .
Also need to be realistic on how quickly a team can improve - we’ve gone through a poor run in which we had no senior strikers and missing CBT, our main attacking threats. You don’t go from losing every week and players lacking any confidence to dominating possession and playing exciting attacking football. If we go on a decent run now then it’ll be partly due to good management and coaching because we’ve seen this group of players can quite easily struggle at this level.
OK it's League one, but they're still professional footballers ffs. The amount of unforced errors and misplaced passes is through the roof. The game as a spectacle - zero rated.
Gilbey flatters to deceive. I just want him to impose himself on the game. Come on Alex get the ball, give and go, move into space, make yourself available, threadle through that killer pass! What about you Fraser ... anyone???
See the problem?