Those of us who enjoy tuning into Newsnight or Question Time are fully aware that 'a week is a very long time in politics'.
It's fair to say the same is definitely the case in football.
Last weekend, Charlton looked a very poor side and had to rely on the gods of bad weather to curtail a game that seemed for long periods to have embarrassing home defeat stamped all over it.
This week, well, it's all sunny in the garden isn't it?
Enjoying a few drinks in the Rose of Denmark pre game, I cut a rather pessimistic figure.
I freely admitted I was expecting a 3-0, or worse, defeat.
Only chirpy Hungry Ted said he fancied us to pull off a decent result.
We discussed 'that' Cardiff game last season and how important the support from the stands had been.
Could something similar happen again?
Charlton started the fixture really well and it was plain to see that Chris Powell had asked the team to go for it.
Leicester didn't really get started for the first quarter of an hour but as the half progressed, they looked dangerous when counter attacking, often with blistering pace.
Despite this, most of the attacking play was from Charlton, especially from set pieces.
Morrison stuck his head onto a corner and we were 1-0 up.
YEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!
Despite the celebrations, Charlton were good value for the one goal advantage.
Yann Kermorgant had been booed (and BOOOED) by the majority of Foxes fans so it was rather gratifying in the second half, to see him score his customary goal against his old employers.
 |
| Sssssssssssshhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!! |
Leicester blasted themselves back into the game within moments, Hamer given no chance with the rasping shot.
Two Leicester players stood out for me today, one for positive and one for negative reasons.
The positive player was Kasper Schmeichel.
My oh my!
In my humble opinion, if he had only been on 'ordinary' form as opposed to 'form of his life' today, then Charlton would have been runaway winners.
Schmeichel made three saves that were so good, I was already celebrating the goal!
He was by far the best Leicester player on show.
The silly boy Matty James was at the other end of the scale.
Already on a yellow card, he raced after the referee to complain and (from our angle) looked to get right in the referee's face and push him, earning himself a red card.
Doh!
Just the kind of behaviour his grumpy manager should be concerned about, rather than trying to blame the officials for Leicester not turning over little old Charlton.
The statistics don't lie Nigel.
Let's bask in the joy of being an Addick again.
Every single player in red played a part today. A proper, old school team effort.
These are the days that remind us why we love the club and keep supporting when with minimal effort, and short distances to travel, we could join the sheep and glory boys cheering on one of the capitals Premiership big guns, (not including Palace of course who are resolutely low rent).
We can now go into the International Break feeling all warm and cosy before we reconvene at Watford in two weeks time.
There were no changes at the break, and Kermorgant went close early on, bringing a superb save from Schmeichel with a low free-kick that the Dane somehow managed to turn around the post but the pivotal moment of the game came on fifty minutes when a Leicester break saw Ben Hamer block well from Danny Drinkwater, Matty James the first onto the rebound and tripped by a Charlton defender. No penalty, and a second booking for James, although it is uncertain whether it was for simulation or dissent.
ReplyDeleteAs if to rub salt into City’s wounds, Deadman then completely ignored a two-footed challenge by Pritchard, the riled Foxes though going close with a Nugent drive which Hamer had to be at his best to turn away soon after.
Leicester misery was complete in the 58th minute though, the Frenchman who’s selfish penalty cost City a play-off trip to Wembley barging into Kasper Schmeichel while Liam Moore was floored by Simon Church as Kermorgant nodded into the net.
No surprise that the Peterborough official gave nothing, he was only interested in awarding soft yellow cards on the day, but the wounded Foxes at least slavaged some pride with a ten-man display which will hopefully kick-start their patchy performances to-date, Drinkwater finishing a move which made it 2-1 just four minutes later.
Seriously think Yann tried to miss the penalty?
ReplyDeleteOdd bunch up north
Obviously I don't know much about Leicester and their fan base but I'm assuming they have a perverse hatred for Martyn Waghorn (who also fluffed his lines in the same penalty shoot out?)
ReplyDeleteM.