Not Hard To Take Positives This Time

The tough start to the season continued with the visit to The Valley of Plymouth. Our home win over them last season in November at the time fuelled thoughts of a glorious, sustained run under JJ to make the play-offs despite our dire start, hopes which were pretty much dashed by Christmas. Last night was rather more about whether following Saturday’s reverse (in terms of points) we could deliver another home win and a bounce back in the table (for what it’s worth at this stage of the season), with things still very much up in the air after mixed performances (and results) from our first three games. Plymouth, having already seen off Barnsley and Peterborough (but lost to Fleetwood), would be looking to cement a position in the top six.

In the event we turned on the style, delivered our best, sustained performance to date, pulling Plymouth apart pretty much from the start. We did wobble after taking the lead, with Plymouth also looking dangerous going forward forward and enjoying decent spells of possession. They also had a shout for a penalty which merited looking at again. But helped by a penalty to extend our lead, plus a perhaps technically correct but very harsh red card, and then a piledriver into the net, the game was effectively over by half-time. We take the points and the plaudits, Plymouth will just want to forget this one and move on.

The team news ahead of the match was that there would be no return yet for Aneke, which seemed to leave the door wide open for Rak-Sakyi to at least make the squad, with one unnamed injury doubt from Saturday. In the event Garner opted for a bit of a shuffle, presumably with freshness in mind. Inniss and Sessegnon (either perhaps the one with the knock) moved to the bench, replaced by Lavelle and Clayden, while perhaps surprisingly it was Blackett-Taylor eased out of the starting XI to make way for Rak-Sakyi, with Jaiyesimi not making the squad.

Fair to say Rak-Sakyi’s impact was immediate. He’d already caught the eye with penetrating runs forward and intelligent use of the ball when after 10 minutes Morgan played a delightful chipped ball into the box for Stockley to run onto. His header was well saved by their keeper who thrust out an arm; but, like against Derby, the ball dropped kindly to an incoming wide man, this time Rak-Sakyi, who like CBT before him turned it into an empty net.

The following 30 minutes were pretty even. We created more chances, with Stockley ending another fine move with a header straight at their keeper followed by Rak-Sakyi intercepting a pass and moving into their box, turning their guy inside out, only to shoot over the bar. Plymouth had their moments too, less in the way of clear-cut chances but good possession and plenty of menace, including the shout for a penalty as their guy appeared to be tripped in the box.

The game changed for good in the final five minutes of the half. Plymouth again paid the price for sloppy play out of defence as Stockley read the situation and intercepted with his head. His chip to the far post was deflected by the keeper but landed for Kirk. He connected well enough but the ball into the net was met by a defender’s outstretched arm. Then it was just down to the letter of the law. A penalty for sure. Now the guy’s arm was held out, but he’d just tried to intercept a cross and then swivel around, only to face a shot from a yard or two away. Perhaps the rules now say straight red, but there was nothing deliberate about the handball and it’s hard to see how their guy could stay on his feet without using his arms for balance. So be it. Stockley scored from the spot to open his account for the season.

Very nice we all thought for the cup of tea at half-time. But there was more. In stoppage time the ball ended up with Kirk, who played it across the box to Clare. He decided to have a strike – and it couldn’t have gone better. Screamed into the net off the far post, all reminiscent of Steve Brown’s daisy-cutter some years back (against Bradford if memory serves correct).

3-0 up against 10 men. Not surprisingly the second half was mostly a subdued affair. Changes were made (for us McGrandles came on early for Clare, with Morgan kind of going into the right-back space, Leaburn and Payne came on for Rak-Saki and Fraser, and later Inniss for O’Connell), chances came and went. Plymouth did get one back as we rather casually allowed their guy to run past a couple of challenges and put in a shot just inside the post. But there was no real prospect of an unlikely comeback and instead Kirk finally got on the scoresheet at the far post, then the evening was rounded off by a Payne cross being blocked but falling nicely for Leaburn to fire home. Cue many celebrations (which were to be rounded off for those of us watching on Charlton TV as proud dad Carl was on the mobile with Ronnie Mauge after the game).

Now stats don’t mean a great deal at this stage of the season. But it’s well worth taking a look at those for League One’s leading scorers. Leaburn may not (yet) have scored the most, but he has by a distance the best goals per minute ratio (he is scoring every 42 minutes on the pitch) and has a 100% rating for both goal conversion and shot accuracy. No wonder Dad is proud (and Mum).

It was a night when most things clicked for us. Rak-Saki made the debut that we all hoped for and made a huge difference in terms of goalscoring threat, while Kirk had his best game in a Charlton shirt. Along with Blackett-Taylor, we carry a major threat, even if we are still over-reliant on Stockley while Aneke is sidelined (as asking Leaburn to start as a No.9 is a big ask at this stage). Clayden impressed on his first start, Clare continues to make a much better fist of filling in at right-back than most of us thought possible, and Morgan’s emergence is continuing. Fraser adds intelligent movement and passing, hopefully also more goals.

Perhaps the danger in the wake of a match like that is over-confidence when it comes to Cambridge visiting us on Saturday. They are unlikely to be as open as Plymouth were last night, or to offer up so many opportunities from their play out of defence. It may be an altogether different challenge. But that’s for BG and his staff to worry about.