Charlton head in to Saturday’s game against 6th placed Notts County, following a frustrating result on Tuesday where they suffered their first home defeat of the season.
Only their first defeat of 2012, in a game that Charlton dominated for long periods ,but they were undone by a moment of class by Anthony Wordsworth and then a very fortunate break for their secondas a Ben Hamer kick was charged down by the persistent Steven Gillespie which looped in to the back of the net. But what would have seemed to be a bad night was lifted slightly with the news that Walsall had managed to beat Sheffield United 3-2 leaving the Addicks still 13 points clear at the top of League One.
We head in to the game with Notts County knowing they have beaten their opponents once this season following a 2-1 victory at Meadow Lane on match day two. But Chris Powell will know that they will have a much tougher challenge this time. County are a revitalised side under Keith Curle who in his opening 4 games has led County to three wins and one draw, conceding just the one goal.
This has taken them from a mid-table obscurity to currently occupying the last playoff spot. With talisman Lee Hughes suspended for Saturdays game, Notts County must now look elsewhere for inspiration, probably with Jeff Hughes, who is currently their top scorer with 15 goals, even if a number of those have come from the penalty spot. It may also be a return to his former club for Sam Sodje if he is the County backline. Sodje played for Charlton during 2007-08 season on-loan and then permanently during the 09-10 season being a key member of the play-off semi-finalists during our first season in league 1.
We will be relying on Captain Johnnie Jackson to carry on leading the way for the team. He is currently going through his best spell in his whole career, a career which started at Spurs and en-route to making it to the valley did include a short spell at meadow lane, with Notts County during the 09-10 season. Jackson is currently on 13 goals for the season and is fast become a set piece specialist for the Addicks scoring free kicks and penalties this season, plus being a key corner taker at times. It would be fair to say it would be a massive blow if the former Colchester man was lured away during the summer.
Powell’s Charlton now must make sure they get the 3 points this Saturday, to make sure Tuesday was merely a minor blip and not an end of season slump. Would it be fair to say maybe 5 more wins and the championship is ours? Certainly a major collapse would be the only thing to stop us getting our hands on that sought-after trophy. But they will not be taking anything lightly and until that (P) or (C) is next to their name, and must take ever match very serious to make sure they have no Cardiff City type collapse.
With Charlton leading the table since late September they look like worthy winners. It would be a travesty if they didn’t make it now so come on lads five more wins and the title will be ours.
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