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POSTMATCH THREAD: League 1 Play-off Final - Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient | Sunday 25th May 2025
Comments
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Ref should really have consulted VAR twice if not three times. Especially when TC got smashed in the face with an outstretched arm. Then we lose the ref for 10 minutes because his VAR audio wasn't working... Was that all game?3
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For those saying TC didn’t show up, without him we don’t win the free kick for the goal51
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I was in level 2 row 15, and the row behind ,16 was empty. Looks like the Wembley policy was not to sell the seats immediately below the hospitality boxes.JamesSeed said:So happy now that we've won, but that was such a tense, nervy affair that I couldn't say I enjoyed it at all. Apart maybe for the five minutes after the goal, and maybe from about thirty seconds before the ref blew the final whistle.
And it felt so different from 2019, perhaps because we were favourites to win, but mainly I think because we've just endured five miserable years in League One, which has seen the club's standing diminished, especially when compared to our south London neighbours; and losing out today would have been a crushing blow. There was so much at stake today.
Right from the start you could tell that it wasn't going to be a classic, and the atmosphere never reached the levels of the Valley semi second leg imho, but today was all about winning. I never had to drop a beta blocker, which I'm supposed to do if the heart rate goes too high 😂
I also couldn't believe that the entire row behind us was empty. We were in the second tier, just below the hospitality boxes. They have their own seating, but the row below their area was deserted, as far as the eye could see.
There were also empty blocks in the upper tiers, up the Orient end. You could see where they separated the sold seats from the unsold areas. There should be some sort of investigation in the why there were so many empty areas when there seemed to be so many Charlton fans unable to buy tickets.
But I had a nice surprise after the match. I thought I'd only backed us for auto promotion, but discovered I'd also backed us for promotion full stop. And I'd also forgotten that I'd backed Macca to score anytime.
The game itself doesn't really need analysis. We did what it took to win the game, and little more.
Haven't seen a replay of the goal yet, but it looked like a solid strike. I had a premonition he'd score from a free kick.
The defense was excellent again, and Ramsay pulled off one of his blocks in the first half when we were under a bit of pressure. Jones won so much in the air, Edwards was solid, and Gillesphey had a very good game again.
And it was amazing to see the players mingling with the fans on Wembley way after the game. Shook Lloydy's hand and said thank you, and had a pic with Mannion (who had a great game, catching everything!) It all felt a bit surreal, so soon after such an important match.
My overriding feeling now is relief rather than joy. There's a lot of work to be done before the next Championship season starts on the 8th August. Much as I love this team, I wonder how many of them will be in the starting line up on that day.
Wish I could say I did not have to take my beta blocker, but popped 2.5mg tablet.2 -
Or we have someone that doesn't go to ground on every tackle or confuse themselves when running at the full back, or check their run when they've got the opportunity to run at goal if they keep their sprint going.fenaddick said:For those saying TC didn’t show up, without him we don’t win the free kick for the goal0 -
Just backpedalling a touch here but we also have to remember the ages of Small and TC, not at the races today really, but they're young and stepping up a level might just be what is needed for them to shine.3
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Amazing day, knackered, going to bed.0
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Three edgey playoff games however no goals conceded across those three game. Fantastic defensive effort to be admired even if not pleasing on the eye
Poor game this one but relatively even imo, neither team really created much. The one bit of quality in the game won it.. TBH we’ve been spoilt in the previous two playoff finals with high drama.This one less so but whatever way you do it, it’s the same result. Enjoy it and let’s hope we give the championship a good go.7 -
The pain of going through the lead up to a playoff final is awful. The whole day is draining. And that’s just us as supporters.
So glad we won, momentum is with us and we have to capitalise.10 - Sponsored links:
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To quote the late great Bill Shankly, "The best team always wins, the rest is just idle gossip".Southbank said:
The best team did win. More shots on target, more goals, more clean sheets. All that matters.raddickle said:Well on the day the best team didn’t win , but who cares. Once again our defence saved us. The Championship awaits!
For all the new fancy talk in football of XG, possession and whatever else, there is only one statistic that counts at the end of a match.9 -
Really sorry to be petty but, I really hope Dan Agyei enjoyed doing the Mendonca celebration in the pointless cup game earlier in the season, didn’t really work out for him since12
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Back home.
Had time to reflect & all I can say is.. ...you can't beat a clean sheet win 😀
Thought it was an even game. Yes, they came into it late on the 2nd half but only because we knew we could see it out. Lloyd Jones is head & shoulders our best centre half & he won all the headers he need to. If I was an Orient fan I'd be disappointed - they had a lot of the ball but did very little with it.
Imo the best team won because we scored & they didn't. And ultimately that is the name of the game.50 -
Who decided to play glad all over...4
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Did Orient really create much?
closest efforts were from deflections.One shot on target says it all.Never really felt ‘we got away with one there’ after any of their attacks.11 -
Bloody awful play offs.
Who gives a flying eff. Hard work was done before that.
Our defence though. Surely the best we've had in a very very long time. So solid and structured.
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PWR - I guess I would be lying if I thought it be so easy but our defence totally schooled the free flowing attack of Orient. Now I need to get back to my celebratory beer.COYR!!!!1
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Absolutely, we must have been watching a different game , we wasn’t, but neither was they !WHAddick said:
We had 3 on target, they only one. I would dispute that the best team didn’t win (in the pundits’ eyes), it did!kinveachyaddick said:Was a tough watch. Don’t think we had an effort on target except for the goal but that doesn’t matter.They wanted to win but we needed to… and we did.0 -
Brilliant day. Amazing support. Fantastic result. Once we went ahead I just knew we'd hold on to win, even if it was nervy at times. We just defend so brilliantly and don't lose when we go ahead.
How many headers did Jones win today? 400? Mannion was in complete control of his box all game. We kept Orient’s excellent attacking players at bay all game and limited them to shots outside the box.
We didn't play the best football by a long shot but we did what we had to do.
Managed to get over to where my dad was sat to celebrate at the end of the game which was superb. So nice to share a moment like that after the absolutely shit few years he's had.
What a day!5 - Sponsored links:
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Fate worse than death to wake up in Plumerff, mate 😆alan dugdale said:More emotional after this game than in 98 and 19, not sure why. Nathan Jones is the absolute nuts.
On train to Taunton now and hope I don’t wake up in Plymouth 🤷♂️
Believe me I know!
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I am absolutely shattered and I have an early transatlantic flight out of Heathrow in the morning. Worth every penny. Love this club.28
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fenaddick said:Think Tracey may be a wee bit sloshed
This is lovely from Lloyd as well11 -
What a day! We can and will play better in the Championship but that defence is awesome
3 Play-Off games no goals conceded. COYR !!2 -
There were a lot of unhappy fans at the ticket office after kick-off. I bought eight tickets, seven of us went in, and then the scanner told me that my ticket had already been scanned. I tried every ticket I bought, still couldn't get in. Had to run to the ticket office where there was a big queue with everyone having the same problem. People were being told that if their tickets were already scanned, there was nothing that could be done. Saw a lot of families going home devastated. Somehow, I got lucky, and the guy printed me a new ticket. (So obviously they hadn't all been scanned). I missed the first 30 minutes, but was pretty sure I wasn't going to get in at all!11
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On train home to Suffolk now… so pleased we’re back up to championship…… what a brilliant day…… finished it in weatherspoons next to Baker Street with great singing and loads of charlton…… playoffs next season…. why not 🤷♂️ But let’s just finish enjoying the day first…… 😄2
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Couldn’t sleep last night, was up at 3am, just got home, knackered, but who cares!
Football was clean sheet all day long, met CAFC fans from all over the world again and chatted to a fair few Orient fans, who were all Tottenham, West Ham and a bunch of Millwall in their mates box.What a day, Son is so pleased and already working out next seasons matches
Thank god for my lucky pants, back in to storage for the next time1 -
Sorry to hear that you had that experience @Chunes8
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The only game that matters is the game that matters DDOUBLEE, it mattered today for sure.DDOUBLEE said:Really sorry to be petty but, I really hope Dan Agyei enjoyed doing the Mendonca celebration in the pointless cup game earlier in the season, didn’t really work out for him since1 -
Winning was all that mattered. Jones made sure a football game didn’t break out & Orient were too powderpuff to do anything about it! I was expecting a 5 goal thriller!! 🤦🏻♂️1
