Visitors Exeter arrived at the Valley in poor form and on a five match winless streak against the Addicks. Charlton started very well, a departure from previous matches where we’ve taken a full half to warm up. A starting Chuks Aneke led the attack, flanked by Alfie May and Slobodan Tedic, and supplied by a hardworking duo of George Dobson and Louis Watson, who all imposed themselves and gave Exeter something to think about. Unfortunately, we’re still a side that has a calamity in us. On 23 minutes our centre backs parted like the Red Sea to allow Scott through on goal in acres of space slotting easily past the returning Ashley Maynard-Brewer to give Exeter the lead. Charlton heads didn’t drop and the team worked themselves back into the game. Just before half-time, a chance fell to Corey Blackett-Taylor when he burst into the box and got on the end of a Chuks Aneke header that ricocheted back off the crossbar and into his path.
Charlton continued brightly in the second half, but it wasn’t until sixty-five minutes before the deadlock was broken. Tennai Watson was brought down in the box and awarded a penalty. Chuks Aneke wrestled the ball from regular penalty taker Alfie May, only to have his tepid shot saved by the keeper. Yet, Alfie May was determined to score and followed up on the resulting rebound, tapping it in past the desperate defenders. Not long after, Exeter’s Aimson was sent off after a reckless challenge on Alfie May resulted in a straight red. Exeter managed to work themselves back into it a bit, but Charlton made changes, bringing on, among others, young Miles Leaburn. On seventy nine minutes, he scored with a rocket from his right foot a yard out from the penalty spot. Alfie May followed it up some ten minutes later with a second goal, cleaning up in the box to seal the four one win.
We’re far from a well-oiled-machine, but we’re picking up points, we’re better than we’ve been in a long time and, if we can keep scoring, we’re showing glimpses of a team that can compete at the top end of the table.
Charlton 4 Exeter 1
Over to you.
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Comments
And Alfie May’s chasing down is relentless. He always looks like he’s having a ball out there.
The only thing I would say is that he does have the luxury of a bolstered & near fully fit squad that Holden never had
Lump on 5-1 at the weekend.
We won ok, lets just rejoice in our game eh
great result and we had a ref in our favour for a change.
Have to keep this momentum going and win our next match as well.
Appleton has picked two players for that role now: Tyreece Campbell & Alfie May.
Probably our two most energetic players with pace. Picking players that suit specific roles rather than sticking rigidly to what positions players have traditionally played and trying to make that work is a sign of a very mature manager that's confident in his ability IMO.
Says he's pleased with level of running without the ball. That the players ran hard.
I reckon he's getting the fitness levels better, and we seem stronger towards the end of a match. I saw that at Shrewsbury and tonight.
Also…I heart Alfie May. Runs his bollocks off and is a winner.
And finishes like a proper bastard.
COYRs
3 homes wins in a row. Let’s make it 4 on Saturday and we will be right back in the hunt.
Louis Watson was excellent. Technically very good but his work rate was also great to see.
Defence still worries me but I do like the look of Jones. Just need to cut out the silly mistakes overall
The difference Aneke can make is massive and even if he can't play a full 90 if can can contribute to most matches we'll be much better off for it.
Not getting carried away but we had good options on the bench tonight and this is a better squad than they have shown so far. Will be tougher tests to come but promising signs are there.
Overall..good performance! Tough test on Saturday but confident we can give them a game and make any team earn there 3 points.
If it was 4-1 fair enough but not at 1-1.
Someone deserves a real bollocking from Appleton for the decision.
Our goal and the timing of changed things.
Louis Watson set the tone. They should all follow it.
All in all a good result
It'll certainly be entertaining if we keep playing like that, but it puts a massive workload on the 2 central midfielders.
I thought May was too deep in the first half, and Thomas too advanced, May seemed a bit further forward in the second, and was rewarded with 2 poachers goals. L Watson and Chuks were excellent too.