Monday 28 December 2009
Depleted but not deflated
Brentford 1 Charlton Athletic 1
It sounded like a very good game. Brentford impressed me at The Valley earlier in the season and have lost two of their last 12. Meanwhile it was pretty much our reserve team out there today and on the back of an exhaustive game on Saturday I feared that we didn't have enough in the tank to fight back after Carl Cort put the Bees ahead just after half-time.
Parky sprung a surprise by starting Dickson and selecting Wagstaff over Shelvey. Wagstaff struggled it appeared but Dickson did make his mark, not least winning the penalty that Bailey in the absence of Burton dispatched. With McLeod almost certainly off to Hearts this week, perhaps Dickson will join Burton up front at Walsall on Saturday, although the game is already threatened by the weather.
From the radio (and the two bloke co-commentators were a vast improvement) we had a lot of chances, Dickson sounded like he should have been less adventurous with a lob in the first half but similarly in the 2nd period Brentford rattled our bar from a free-kick and Llera cleared off the line late on.
With us looking uneasily over our shoulder in the table to me today's performance once again emphasised how much the players - led by Nicky Bailey - want to fight and battle for each other, the supporters and their manager. Three draws from three games when considered in isolation is not good enough but when each one of those games are examined individually then over a 46-game season these results will happen and happen to all clubs.
Pessimistically Leeds stretched their lead to 8 points, so frustrating after being just two behind them before the Millwall game. And both Norwich and Colchester are 3 points behind us with a game in hand. On a more upbeat note, it has been a thrilling first half of the season and the team have restored faith and desire. However we need to regain the momentum but you never know a postponement on Saturday will give Parky another week to get some players fit.
Brentford 1 Charlton Athletic 1It sounded like a very good game. Brentford impressed me at The Valley earlier in the season and have lost two of their last 12. Meanwhile it was pretty much our reserve team out there today and on the back of an exhaustive game on Saturday I feared that we didn't have enough in the tank to fight back after Carl Cort put the Bees ahead just after half-time.
Parky sprung a surprise by starting Dickson and selecting Wagstaff over Shelvey. Wagstaff struggled it appeared but Dickson did make his mark, not least winning the penalty that Bailey in the absence of Burton dispatched. With McLeod almost certainly off to Hearts this week, perhaps Dickson will join Burton up front at Walsall on Saturday, although the game is already threatened by the weather.
From the radio (and the two bloke co-commentators were a vast improvement) we had a lot of chances, Dickson sounded like he should have been less adventurous with a lob in the first half but similarly in the 2nd period Brentford rattled our bar from a free-kick and Llera cleared off the line late on.
With us looking uneasily over our shoulder in the table to me today's performance once again emphasised how much the players - led by Nicky Bailey - want to fight and battle for each other, the supporters and their manager. Three draws from three games when considered in isolation is not good enough but when each one of those games are examined individually then over a 46-game season these results will happen and happen to all clubs.
Pessimistically Leeds stretched their lead to 8 points, so frustrating after being just two behind them before the Millwall game. And both Norwich and Colchester are 3 points behind us with a game in hand. On a more upbeat note, it has been a thrilling first half of the season and the team have restored faith and desire. However we need to regain the momentum but you never know a postponement on Saturday will give Parky another week to get some players fit.
Talking to a mate at the game it sounded like another good old fashioned away trip as travelling Addicks got behind a much depleted side, but players nonetheless that have reminded us of what it means to wear the shirt.
Reports: Addicks Diary; New York Addick; Drinking During the Game; Croydon Addick; Hungry Ted; Post match views on Charlton Life.
Parky Quote: "We've lost two matches in 24 and that's a terrific return for us so far. Now we've got to kick on as a club and as a team."
¶ 23:11 Reports: Addicks Diary; New York Addick; Drinking During the Game; Croydon Addick; Hungry Ted; Post match views on Charlton Life.
Parky Quote: "We've lost two matches in 24 and that's a terrific return for us so far. Now we've got to kick on as a club and as a team."
