Could we do it? Emerge from our three-game mini-series undefeated, having secured three (more?) points from it, remain outside the relegation zone? At half-time last night you would have got long odds on us coming away from Derby with anything (while other results were not to our advantage), but the game changed (as did others) – and how. We picked it up in the second half, made key substitutions, got back level, and that seemed to really spook Derby, who made the mistake which led to our winner. Three months since we’ve been able to use such words. Delight was unbounded at the end, for all of us. The players may need to get down to some training, but we’re entitled to bask in that one through to Saturday at least.
The team showed changes, one enforced, others the result presumably of some tired legs and rotation. In front of Isted would be a back three of Edmonds-Green, Thomas and Gillesphey (with Jones suspended for two games, Ness back in among the subs), while Watson(T) and Small kept their places as the wing-backs. The main surprise was in midfield, with Coventry coming in to start in place of Dobson, who moved to the bench, while Camara would start and it was Bakinson’s turn to go from starter to not making the squad. Anderson after his impressive displays against Bolton and Portsmouth was retained, although it remained to be seen if he would keep a more forward position or drop deeper alongside Coventry to free up Camara. Up front Ladapo and Kanu were chosen to start, with Aneke and May on the bench.
My scribbled notes had just ‘survived first 10’, then ‘survived first 20’, etc. Perhaps not surprisingly we’d gone out with the priority being to stop them scoring, to stay in the game. And that side of things did work well enough for most of the half as Derby were kept at bay. Trouble was we were able to do next to nothing when we had the ball, with the wing-backs focused on defensive duties, Camara struggling to make a creative impact, and the front two not able to feed off the scraps.
For the first 40 minutes very little happened, the ball being thumped forward at every opportunity, a lot of head tennis, plenty of tackles, hard work, no serious chances created. We were seldom caught out of position and when we were players got back quickly to cover. But at The Valley in early February they hadn’t blown us away, rather they kept working and when a chance came took it, then never looked like giving the lead away. And as our thoughts were turning to getting to the dressing room on level terms, job done so far, we went behind. You have to say it was a set piece they’ve worked on as from a corner their guy at the near post shoved and pulled and when the ball was delivered ensured that a couple of defenders were unable to get off the ground. On cue another guy ran into the spot late and unmarked, to get the touch to send the ball into the net.
To say that changed the mood would be an understatement. The stats at half-time showed both sides had three attempts on goal but only one had been on target. We were losing and giving no sign of being able to create a decent chance – although we also knew that substitutions, most obviously the introduction of Aneke, might change the picture. The mood was not helped by Port Vale being 2-0 up at home to Fleetwood – although I kid you not I texted around our group of Addicks that there was no problem, Stockley was on the bench and would get on to save us.
There were no changes by us at half-time, but on the hour they came, with Aneke and May introduced for Camara and Ladapo, with May going into the hole behind the front two. The two taken off had struggled to influence the game, with probably too much expected of Camara to make things happen in the first half.
Absurdly, Aneke was almost on the scoresheet within seconds. A corner was flicked on at the near post and Chuks at the far one stretched to make a meaningful contact but only succeeded in diverting it against the post and out. That woke everyone up and we only had to wait a few minutes before we did draw level. On the turn in the middle of the pitch Coventry hit a lovely ball into the channel for Kanu to run on to. The keeper came out but Kanu got to it first, touching it forward and then taking the contact. No question about the penalty (pity it was only a yellow for their keeper but so be it). Now May had only been on the pitch for a few minutes but he stepped up to the plate and converted it cooly, shooting low into the corner. He deserved a serious pat on the back for that, well aware of the significance of the kick.
Not surprisingly Derby responded and we were under the cosh more clearly for a period. But we managed to prevent them creating a real opening, albeit with some periodically desperate defending, especially from set plays (long throws as well as corners/free kicks). Watson went down injured for a second time and this time was replaced, by Ness, with Edmonds-Green moving to wing-back. But with Derby pressing forward and seemingly getting a little rattled, perhaps unnerved by the pressure put on them by the home crowd as well as our greater attacking threat, we were getting more space in their half and with around 10 minutes of normal time left we took the lead.
Derby players were being pressed as they tried to move the ball around and eventually one of them miscontrolled the ball, with Aneke able to pounce and advance towards goal. He slid in an ideally weighted pass for Kanu to his right. The shot came in but was well saved by their advancing keeper. Just as we were about to bemoan our luck the rebound was slammed home from around the edge of the box by Anderson. I doubt there is an Addick who wasn’t out of his/her seat.
10 minutes or so plus stoppage time, which proved to be eight additional minutes. With hindsight, aside from a header from a decent position planted too close to Isted, and a shot wide at the death, we held on fairly comfortably – another thing in stark contrast to previous experience. We might even have extended the lead as May advanced only for Kanu to take the ball off him having come back from an offside position. It mattered not. The final whistle came and now the joy was compounded by the news that Stockley had come on and grabbed two late goals to deny Port Vale the win.
My partner this morning asked me what has gone right, both compared with the performances prior to Lincoln and between the first and second halves last night. You have to attribute the former to a number of factors. First, we have more available component parts able to be slotted into the same system, especially now we have four forwards to use. So often this season we’ve suffered late on due to players running out of steam and not having suitable replacements. Now, Jones is able to say ‘go out and bust a gut and if you get tired I’ll take you off’, as well as alternate it seems Dobson and Coventry, Bakinson and Camara, as well as defenders. There’s probably also an element of the team thrown together in January learning to play together with a new formation.
Along with that, Jones has to take the credit for certain decisions, most obviously the faith shown in Kanu and Anderson. With Coventry and Bakinson introduced in January, Camara becoming available, Dobson ending up staying, and Watson(L) retained, I doubt many Addicks would have seen a role for Anderson. The first game in which he was brought back to start, against Lincoln, you can’t say was a great success. But at Bolton, then against Portsmouth, then last night he has shone, the goal being the proverbial icing on the cake. And personally I was really impressed with his post-match interview for CATV. When asked about the goal I was anticipating the usual ‘it came to me and I just hit it and it went in’. Instead Anderson talked about technique, what was required in the moment. That indicates maturity and a cool head. I guess if your name is Karoy Zidane Lovebourne Anderson you have had technique drilled into you from an early age.
Five points from the three games is quite simply astounding, unexpected, and very, very welcome. Now we have another mini-series of a different nature: away at Northampton on Saturday, away at Cheltenham on Tuesday, home to Carlisle the following Saturday. Nothing is easy, Northampton left The Valley with all three points in January thanks to a very late winner, Cheltenham may have had the wind taken out of their sails last night but are at home to Burton on Saturday and if they win that will be close on our heels, while Carlisle are probably playing with no pressure now, which can be dangerous.
Quite frankly a repeat win and two draws from these three would look acceptable, two wins and a draw very good. Clearly Cheltenham is a ‘must not lose’ one for us (but may by then have become a ‘must win’ for them), all rather different from the rather low-key affair at The Valley in late November. The test now is to maintain the standard set, for drive and commitment, for concentration in defence. Fair to assume Jones will be drilling this into the players before Northampton.
That said, yes, let’s just enjoy last night a little longer. And with the change of mood, hands up those who had a quick check even now on just how far adrift of the play-offs we are?
Hallelujah!
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