Charlton finally found their shooting boots as they stormed Northampton Town at Sixfields. Here’s the lowdown on the match.
THE LINEUPS
Northampton Town: Tzanev, Guinness-Walker, Odimayo, Eyoma, McGowan (Baldwin 76), Guthrie (Licorish-Mullings 86), Pinnock, McGeehan, Hondermarck (Chouchane 76), Eaves (Obiagwu 83), Roberts (Dobson 75). Subs not used: Dadge, Wyatt.
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Gillesphey, A. Mitchell, Jones, Berry (A. Campbell 81), Coventry (Edmonds-Green 86), Docherty (Anderson 75), Edwards, Small, T. Campbell (Ahadme 75), Leaburn (Hylton 75). Subs not used: Mannion, Godden.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
The Addicks took a two-goal lead when strikes from Greg Docherty and Tyreece Campbell put them in control with twelve minutes on the clock. Two became three just after the half hour mark as Miles Leaburn drilled home from the area.
Luke Berry pulled back for Docherty to score the fourth midway through the second period, sparking a mass exodus of home fans. And Danny Hylton topped off the cake with his first Charlton goal in extra time.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Nathan Jones stuck with the 3-5-2 formation, with Tyreece Campbell playing up top again, as he had done at times this season. Thierry Small was asked as right back.
Shoemakers were there to catch and Charlton took advantage of that: he played through it with ease at times, but used the long ball when necessary.
He made a triple change as the match finished 4-0, before making a few more changes later as the Addicks finished the match with absolute ease.
STAR MAN
Greg Docherty. Two very successful finishes. Gotta move on from here.
BEST MOMENT
Danny Hylton’s goal against his former team. Nathan Jones promised ‘tomfoolery’ when he signed the ex-Northampton Town man and for him to score for Charlton at Sixfields, having never done so there for the Cobblers, was objectively very funny.
groaning from the match
Why can’t all the teams in League One be as bad as injury-ravaged Northampton Town? It would make things a lot easier.
A TALKING POINT IN THE PUB
Where has this been? Charlton finally showed a clinical side as they broke down a very poor Cobblers team. They scored as many first-half goals this afternoon as they had all season as a brutally fast start immediately turned the match into a contest.
Greg Docherty and Luke Berry excelled in midfield – two players who simply need to use that performance as a platform after a disappointing start to their Charlton careers. Tyreece Campbell scored his first League One goal since January. Miles Leaburn’s finish line had been reached.
We already know they can defend their area well and they made it look easy against a managerless side that looked in disarray. It will take quite a few more results to convince anyone Charlton can get back into contention, but Nathan Jones will be hoping this is the start.
WHAT TO SAY BOSS
“If we score first, we don’t lose. I’m proud of the level of performance because when you play for Charlton you’re under a lot of pressure. There is expectation, there is pressure on the club, there is pressure on you when you come here. It’s not a normal club to play for in League One. And they have had to suffer a bit lately.”