I thought the Doncaster support was very poor today, reasonable numbers but amongst the quietest away fans I've heard at The Valley. How many time will an away support be so comprehensively outsung by the home end?
One of the worst referees I have seen for a long time and ruined the game for me. Couldn’t count out 10 yards, gave free kicks for great tackles, gave free kicks if you stood too close to the keeper and stopped play when he could have allowed the advantage.
He was one of the better, if not the best ref we've had this season. He got a handful of decisions wrong (arguably), including the foul given against Aribo.
Among the many positives I take from the comments of those who watched, the one that strikes me is the number of rave reviews for Bielik. People wer understandably nervous about the public comments Bowyer made about him last week. But it seems to have worked well. A good day for our rookie manager.
Doncaster afforded us a lot of space and we have the quality to hurt teams when they do that. Grant and Aribo, in particular, were very good, Ward and Reeves good, also, and Cullen makes us tick very nicely. Once ahead we took the foot off the gas a bit, sensible after a high octane first half and with another game in 3 days. We also saw the effect losing Taylor would have on us, the ball stopped sticking up front and while Igor is a goal threat from crosses he just doesn't have the same desire and aggression to get amongst it like Taylor does.
The defence looks a lot less shaky now too. Bielefeld brings balance, Sols is showing class is permanent by being just as solid on the wrong side and Iron Willy looks up to speed now.
Marshall ran around and has played worse but didn't really muster a meaningful attacking contribution. Reeves is becoming one of those players who you notice the most when they are gone.
Steer made a decent save first half a took a couple of crosses. I think he's improving, but still don't really see what's so fantastic about his distribution.
The key for us now is to find a way to break down teams more intent on defending deep and stopping us play. Grant and Taylor have been brilliant, but part of fixing that problem will be them (and the rest of the team) being more clinical - we're missing 1 or 2 really good chances every week at the moment. Not such a problem in a game like this where you get 4 or 5 good chances, more of an issue the weeks we only make 2 chances. Ward, Cullen and Reeves also all overdue a goal.
This is such a weird league. How the hell were they 8th before today’s game, yet last week we lost to 17th placed Rochdale??
Today we had Biekek at the back. Last week we didn't.
Not to mention Rochdale came out all guns blazing and didnt let us settle on the ball - Doncaster on the hand didnt press us quite so much which gave the likes of Reeves / Cullen / Ward time to pick their passes
One of the worst referees I have seen for a long time and ruined the game for me. Couldn’t count out 10 yards, gave free kicks for great tackles, gave free kicks if you stood too close to the keeper and stopped play when he could have allowed the advantage.
Seriously?
One of the best this season for me. I wish we could have him every week.
What?? He wasn’t the worst but every week? No thanks. The fact it took about the third foul on Taylor for anything to be done, the reluctance to book any Donny players after fouls, even when they blatantly walked away from him and the ridiculous booking of Ward after he’d been wrestled to the ground are just a few things that spring to mind. He had no authority and their players didn’t take him seriously hence why they continued to play as they did with no consequences. The booking of their player who walked forwards before we could take a FK at the end of the first half was about the only good thing he did.
No weakness in the team today - what a difference it makes when you have a solid back four with two excellent centre backs.
I would also like to see Bielik play in front of Bauer and Pearce upon BFG’s return as Bielik is so good at forward runs and will make things happen.
Donny were not at their best, or we stifled them and didn’t let them play - or a bit of both.
We should have won by a bigger margin as we were so dominant and we need to punish teams when the rare opportunity arises.
Our support play and movement were excellent today and that makes it so much more difficult for the opposition to press as Rochdale apparently did last week.
Not a classic performance but a competent one and a comfortable win against a potential top 6 side.
Bielik excellent - really bossed it. Cullen - best I’ve seen him play and he reminds me of a young Alan Curbishley - must be the West Ham culture that still prevails. Cullen also wins a lot of aerial ball for such a little fella.
Reeves goal-stopping tackle was priceless and I like the lad and hope they offer him a contract, if not already done.
Our recovery was really good today - both shape and ball-winning/error forcing.
I really hope that Igor can find his mojo which has been missing since his major injury a couple of years ago - we need him to come good while Lyle is out. However, I fear we have a problem if Lyle is out for any length of time.
Solly was solid today and Karlan’s movement into space to receive the cross from Lyle was worthy of the goal. Karlan was a handful today and should have scored again.
Ward was best I’ve seen him today - as he gets stronger and match fit I’d like to see him link up more with the front men and Aribo to create chances for them, rather than shooting himself as that’s not a strength of his, from what I’ve seen.
Marshall said he felt like he was making his debut again and he looked like it - he needs to do that every game, as they all do if we are to stand any chance of reaching the promised land.
Very positive and if Bielik and Marshall are watching this forum - the work ethic you showed today needs to be the norm.
One aspect I liked today was how Bowyer dealt with the Doncaster subs... Wilks (fake Taylor) came on and instantly went up against Solly, fouled him and a little while later switched flank to face Dijksteel as he was getting zero luck against Chris
Might not have been the reason for the sub yet Bowyer took Anfernee off later on yet when that happened Solly naturally switched and so did Wilks
Dijksteel came off because he felt his hamstring and indicated that to the bench, as soon as he did, Lapslie and Sarr warmed up. Naturally it was the right call to bring Sarr on at left back and switch Solly to his preferred and best side.
I think Sarr left back and Solly right back is a better bet personally. Good performance against a disapointing Doncaster side. I think they played the way most crap teams do against us in this league, but we got the second goal. These teams know they can't go toe to toe with us. Even when they are two goals down they hope for the goal out of the blue and the resultant panic! You could see the eye move towards Walsall in the second half.
Today was all about the 3 points and arresting our slump in form. We managed that so all is well with the footballing world.
It wasn't perfect but it would be churlish to be too critical of a win. However was I alone in having my heart in my mouth every time Sterr tried to clear the ball with marquis bearing down on him? As it was he put in a couple of touch kicks the England full back at Twickenham today would have been proud of under pressure. My fear though is that the ball would hit Marquis and rebound into the net.
I was concerned when Doncaster turned us round. Hate us kicking to the Covered End first half and was even more concerned when the first ten minutes or so was ll Doncaster. However we gained a foothold and dood old 'never gives the ball away' Aribo duly did the business from a corner after approx 20 minutes. That settled the nerves and Grant clinically finished the best move of the match when Taylor slotted over a pinpoint cross having been released by a fine crossfield ball from Reeves. (There I can be nice about Reeves sometimes). Karlan might have scored a few minutes earlier when he got a touch to a low pass cum cross from Aribo but it trickled agonisingly the wrong side of the post.
Second half I was expecting the Alamo and a nervy time as we defended deeper and deeper but it never really happened and we looked as comfortable as I can remember in a while. A rare experience for a Charlton fan!
Overall a professional team performance and no one individual stood out as good or bad particularly. Very hard to pick a man of the match today. They all put in 6.5 or 7 except Steer who gets 6 for the reasons outlined above.
Today was all about making sure of the the win and Seb's magnificent achievement. COYR
I though Sarr was safe when he came on - he is tall and part of it is a deception.
Agreed. I like him and is very good on the ball. If he was a new signing within the last couple of seasons, many would be a big fan I think. Instead, I feel that people remember too often the first few months in the season he joined. He’s a decent player.
Had to tell someone to wind it in when he came on for Dijksteel, saying Bowyer doesn’t know what he is doing and is wasting a substitution. This particular ‘fan’ is a proper odd ball, overly aggressive with his family and generally does my head in. Anyway, that’s off my chest.
All in all, genuinely believe it’s a shame that Sarr has our captain in front of him as he would probably get into every other side in this division.
Reeves and Aribo came of age yesterday – they matured to intelligent midfield players: quick and incisive, probing to attack.
Reeves sent cutting balls up the channels – perfectly weighted – for Taylor and Grant to scamper and receive. Aribo was superb: we all appreciate his deft skill and close control, and yesterday he bloomed: available precisely to receive, then sending the killer pass to cleave the defence.
Bielik is an extraordinary young talent: winning aerial balls under pressure and nodding them away to the exact space for a team-mate to receive, clear, and advance. Bielik is always looking forward, from defence to attack. Pearce was essential, as always: muscular and irresolute, to block any danger from Donny. As with Barnsley a fortnight ago, he made the opponents impotent. Snuffed and neutered.
Bowyer was right in his mid-week exhortation: Up the tempo, pass quickly, sprint to receive. For us old lags in the Covered End, it quickens the pulse and stirs the blood. In the second half: a lethal cross, Grant flicking on – and shaving the post…
We are smarter now than at any time since 2012, since Kermorgant and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Those barren years of sideways balls, back-passes, one up front and hoofs to the stands! Grant’s pace is a revelation. Yet, should Taylor be drawn to hustle the man on the wing? He scored 150 goals before joining us; should he be more central, anticipating laser-sharp crosses?
When we pass, sprint, control and send like yesterday, we play in Bowyer’s own image – visceral, urgent and dangerous. That is good.
There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t terrify every single team in this league.
Was at the match yesterday and thought we gave a professional if unspectacular performance. The difference yesterday was that we got the all important 2nd goal. That meant that instead of hanging on nervously in the latter part of the game we were able to see the match out comfortably. Plus points for me were keeping a clean sheet and Aribo scoring that will do his confidence the world of good. My only gripe is that I thought Taylor was obviously carrying an injury as you could tell the way he was moving that he was struggling. When we went 2.0 up I expected him to be substituted a lot earlier than he was. Bowyer is now saying he will miss the next couple of matches. Let's hope that is all he will miss.
I thought the Doncaster support was very poor today, reasonable numbers but amongst the quietest away fans I've heard at The Valley. How many time will an away support be so comprehensively outsung by the home end?
a terrific if expected win against a side which has lost a bit of form .. let's hope that we can (once again) keep this good form going. Next week at Walsall and Mansfield will be another good test of our durability
I think Bowyer deserves credit for yesterday. Picked the right team, made the right substitutions, and managed the second half like the great Alan Curbishley would have done. Doncaster were much better than us first 25 minutes, and the travelling fans were probably looking at the league table and working out where they could be at 5pm. Our midfield munchkins still worry me, I feel we need a Pratley type player in there somewhere. Aribo is a real talent, and Reeves does keep improving. Tuesday now critical to this season.
Hopefully Igor and Grant can lead the line effectively against Warsaw, I reckon Fosu will play instead of Ward too and possibly Sarr in at the back? (Sollys knee, Bielik got a knock near the end, Dijksteel looked tired) and then a chance to further rest first teamers for the cup game
We seem to struggle against the poorer teams and do well against the better sides , so all set for another good one on Tuesday night. If we win there, we're be back in 6th place and things won't be looking so bad.
We seem to struggle against the poorer teams and do well against the better sides , so all set for another good one on Tuesday night. If we win there, we're be back in 6th place and things won't be looking so bad.
I think it is more that Barnsley and Doncaster play a more open and attacking game and that suits us more than the horrible spoiling sides like Oxford.
Plus we are just too inconsistent and don't hold onto a lead.
We have lost 15 points from winning positions this season which I read is a league high.
Just scoring a 2nd goal against Oxford & Coventry would have given us another 5 points I reckon (don't think either team would have got back into it) and into 5th place & if we won our game in hand most likely 3rd. And that's just 2 games in the past month where we should have gone on and won. Not even counting games earlier in the season against Sunderland & Peterborough where we let in last minute goals as that happens...........its getting that killer 2nd that makes all the difference.
Comments
He got a handful of decisions wrong (arguably), including the foul given against Aribo.
Doncaster afforded us a lot of space and we have the quality to hurt teams when they do that. Grant and Aribo, in particular, were very good, Ward and Reeves good, also, and Cullen makes us tick very nicely. Once ahead we took the foot off the gas a bit, sensible after a high octane first half and with another game in 3 days. We also saw the effect losing Taylor would have on us, the ball stopped sticking up front and while Igor is a goal threat from crosses he just doesn't have the same desire and aggression to get amongst it like Taylor does.
The defence looks a lot less shaky now too. Bielefeld brings balance, Sols is showing class is permanent by being just as solid on the wrong side and Iron Willy looks up to speed now.
Marshall ran around and has played worse but didn't really muster a meaningful attacking contribution. Reeves is becoming one of those players who you notice the most when they are gone.
Steer made a decent save first half a took a couple of crosses. I think he's improving, but still don't really see what's so fantastic about his distribution.
The key for us now is to find a way to break down teams more intent on defending deep and stopping us play. Grant and Taylor have been brilliant, but part of fixing that problem will be them (and the rest of the team) being more clinical - we're missing 1 or 2 really good chances every week at the moment. Not such a problem in a game like this where you get 4 or 5 good chances, more of an issue the weeks we only make 2 chances. Ward, Cullen and Reeves also all overdue a goal.
I would also like to see Bielik play in front of Bauer and Pearce upon BFG’s return as Bielik is so good at forward runs and will make things happen.
Donny were not at their best, or we stifled them and didn’t let them play - or a bit of both.
We should have won by a bigger margin as we were so dominant and we need to punish teams when the rare opportunity arises.
Our support play and movement were excellent today and that makes it so much more difficult for the opposition to press as Rochdale apparently did last week.
Not a classic performance but a competent one and a comfortable win against a potential top 6 side.
Bielik excellent - really bossed it.
Cullen - best I’ve seen him play and he reminds me of a young Alan Curbishley - must be the West Ham culture that still prevails.
Cullen also wins a lot of aerial ball for such a little fella.
Reeves goal-stopping tackle was priceless and I like the lad and hope they offer him a contract, if not already done.
Our recovery was really good today - both shape and ball-winning/error forcing.
I really hope that Igor can find his mojo which has been missing since his major injury a couple of years ago - we need him to come good while Lyle is out.
However, I fear we have a problem if Lyle is out for any length of time.
Solly was solid today and Karlan’s movement into space to receive the cross from Lyle was worthy of the goal. Karlan was a handful today and should have scored again.
Ward was best I’ve seen him today - as he gets stronger and match fit I’d like to see him link up more with the front men and Aribo to create chances for them, rather than shooting himself as that’s not a strength of his, from what I’ve seen.
Marshall said he felt like he was making his debut again and he looked like it - he needs to do that every game, as they all do if we are to stand any chance of reaching the promised land.
Very positive and if Bielik and Marshall are watching this forum - the work ethic you showed today needs to be the norm.
COYR!
That's how we set up at Southend and it worked a treat
Today was all about the 3 points and arresting our slump in form. We managed that so all is well with the footballing world.
It wasn't perfect but it would be churlish to be too critical of a win. However was I alone in having my heart in my mouth every time Sterr tried to clear the ball with marquis bearing down on him? As it was he put in a couple of touch kicks the England full back at Twickenham today would have been proud of under pressure. My fear though is that the ball would hit Marquis and rebound into the net.
I was concerned when Doncaster turned us round. Hate us kicking to the Covered End first half and was even more concerned when the first ten minutes or so was ll Doncaster. However we gained a foothold and dood old 'never gives the ball away' Aribo duly did the business from a corner after approx 20 minutes. That settled the nerves and Grant clinically finished the best move of the match when Taylor slotted over a pinpoint cross having been released by a fine crossfield ball from Reeves. (There I can be nice about Reeves sometimes). Karlan might have scored a few minutes earlier when he got a touch to a low pass cum cross from Aribo but it trickled agonisingly the wrong side of the post.
Second half I was expecting the Alamo and a nervy time as we defended deeper and deeper but it never really happened and we looked as comfortable as I can remember in a while. A rare experience for a Charlton fan!
Overall a professional team performance and no one individual stood out as good or bad particularly. Very hard to pick a man of the match today. They all put in 6.5 or 7 except Steer who gets 6 for the reasons outlined above.
Today was all about making sure of the the win and Seb's magnificent achievement. COYR
Had to tell someone to wind it in when he came on for Dijksteel, saying Bowyer doesn’t know what he is doing and is wasting a substitution. This particular ‘fan’ is a proper odd ball, overly aggressive with his family and generally does my head in. Anyway, that’s off my chest.
All in all, genuinely believe it’s a shame that Sarr has our captain in front of him as he would probably get into every other side in this division.
Reeves sent cutting balls up the channels – perfectly weighted – for Taylor and Grant to scamper and receive. Aribo was superb: we all appreciate his deft skill and close control, and yesterday he bloomed: available precisely to receive, then sending the killer pass to cleave the defence.
Bielik is an extraordinary young talent: winning aerial balls under pressure and nodding them away to the exact space for a team-mate to receive, clear, and advance. Bielik is always looking forward, from defence to attack. Pearce was essential, as always: muscular and irresolute, to block any danger from Donny. As with Barnsley a fortnight ago, he made the opponents impotent. Snuffed and neutered.
Bowyer was right in his mid-week exhortation: Up the tempo, pass quickly, sprint to receive. For us old lags in the Covered End, it quickens the pulse and stirs the blood. In the second half: a lethal cross, Grant flicking on – and shaving the post…
We are smarter now than at any time since 2012, since Kermorgant and Bradley Wright-Phillips. Those barren years of sideways balls, back-passes, one up front and hoofs to the stands! Grant’s pace is a revelation. Yet, should Taylor be drawn to hustle the man on the wing? He scored 150 goals before joining us; should he be more central, anticipating laser-sharp crosses?
When we pass, sprint, control and send like yesterday, we play in Bowyer’s own image – visceral, urgent and dangerous. That is good.
There is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t terrify every single team in this league.
The difference yesterday was that we got the all important 2nd goal.
That meant that instead of hanging on nervously in the latter part of the game we were able to see the match out comfortably.
Plus points for me were keeping a clean sheet and Aribo scoring that will do his confidence the world of good.
My only gripe is that I thought Taylor was obviously carrying an injury as you could tell the way he was moving that he was struggling.
When we went 2.0 up I expected him to be substituted a lot earlier than he was.
Bowyer is now saying he will miss the next couple of matches.
Let's hope that is all he will miss.
A bit like the Rochdale game, teams are finding a lot of space to play through us.
We didn’t deserve to go 1-0 up but played some nice stuff after that, running out deserved winners.
Plus we are just too inconsistent and don't hold onto a lead.
We have lost 15 points from winning positions this season which I read is a league high.