Charlton Fans worship at the Church

Pre-match Entertainment

Tuesday evenings at the Valley usually start with a relaxing pint at the Anchor & Hope, watching the planes descending into City airport and wondering how Powell will mix up the team from the usual match day squad.  They usually also end in a humiliating defeat to lower league opposition such as our opponents that night Oxford United in the Capital One Cup.

I was pleased to see Joe Pigott making the starting line up.  Having seen him play in a number of pre-season matches, he deserved his first team place and made the most of it with a calm and assured manner on the pitch.  He started alongside Simon Church who also made the most of his Valley debut with two goals in the 4-0 win.

The 700 odd Oxford fans were in fine form chanting “We're gonna win 4-1” when Church banged in the first goal from close range.  This was a reference to the game on Saturday when they conceded the first goal to Portsmouth only to win by the same score line.  Incidentally, Portsmouth were playing our own victors on Saturday, Bournemouth.

Church scored one more before being substituted but should have made it a hat-trick when Pigott, who could have taken the shot, unselfishly passed over the ball to him only for it to be shot wide!  Pigott’s unselfish act was acknowledged by Powell who gave a big thumbs up to the debutant.

Cook and Evina played well down the left hand side combining neatly when going forward and proved themselves a match for regulars Harriott and Wiggins in that direction.  However, the Oxford right wing proved a strong match for them and it took a number of heroics from Leon Cort to save their blushes.

My only criticism was that the team at times tried too hard.  Danny Green’s crosses were viciously hard on ball, meaning that many of his lobs were well wide of the mark, although I suspect that he was actually trying to score, which he eventually did with a freakish daisy cutter of a free kick.  Others were trying to anticipate runs into the area by fellow players which would have been spectacular if they had come off.  However, against this opposition there was time to wait and pass with a more certain outcome.

Celebrations as Piggott scores

It was pleasing to see Pigott get on the scores sheet after being given the opportunity to convert the late penalty won by fellow academy player Jordan Cousins who came on in the last few minutes.

Despite the 5,000 crowd, the covered end choir in the North block made the most of the game with loud renditions of old favourites during the second half.  Let’s hope we can keep it up when Middlesbrough visit the Valley on Saturday who have now lost both their first two games.

Also of note that evening was Yann Kermorgant’s Cantona’esque hair style.  While Yann's place is pretty much assured, with four recognised strikers now in the team, the competition for a starting berth is heating up and he’ll be hoping to ensure that he keeps banging them in like Eric.   

Bring on the Smoggies, the Valley is waiting !