Charlton v AFC Wimbledon post-match views 28/10/17

PWR.

We are entering that attritional stage of the season where grinding out results matter a lot, and points won or lost may seem of little consequence at the time but are hugely significant. To repeat a CL mantra we would have lost or drawn that last season under Slade, but we have recently had 1-0's against Doncaster, Bradford and now today, and while the goal numbers are not sexy, three points each time are very juicy.

To their credit AFC set up to frustrate and make things difficult and hope to nick one. Their gilt edged opportunity was blazed over, and the inevitable spell when we were on the back foot defending a series of set pieces, we didn't crumble.

Robinson has said previously that we can adapt to the type of game on offer, expansive, yes we can do that, a battle, we can do that too. That's what happened today, it was a gritty battle but we had the better quality players, and it was that and a moment of quality that made the difference.

AFC lost with little shame and we won with little glory, but our win was deserved in my biased opinion.

Most of the players were a good solid average, with some who brightened things at times. For a consistent good display for the whole game I will pick Konsa as my MOTM, but players who peeped above average were Solly, Kashi and Holmes, nobody was dreadful. I actually thought that JFC would be MOTM but his good performance drifted into unremarkable as the game went on. For those who wonder about Robinson having a plan B, or his in-game management, well his adjustment and deployment of Da Silva in the middle part of the game was creative and effective.

I think the longest memory from today will be Kashi's booking. Right by Robinson near the end of the game, and it was for obvious reasons but I will leave you to figure that out.

Great result, and I kind of feel that we are at a re-set moment given the forthcoming fixtures, and player availability. However I also believe we have more resources than a lot of others in this division at the moment, and a fresh look at ourselves needn't be because of desperation, but could be because of ruthless desire.

Great result in the end. We would have lost this last season. I have seen Charlton promotion sides over the years and all of them had the ability to grind out wins when up against teams of spoilers. In league 1 it's not how you win, it's whether you win. As the weeks go by this squad is looking more and more like they can get one of the automatic spots.

A lot of teams will come to The Valley and try to stop us playing. Away from home we have more freedom, hence why we have an excellent away record so far.