Charlton Athletic 1 v 0 Derby County

Saturday 6th August 2022, Kick-off 15.00
EFL League One

The Valley, Charlton

Admission: Season Ticket

Programme (incorporating club handbook) £5.00

Attendance: 17,046 (3,072 away)

Despite what was, for the most part, a soul destroying season last season, I decided to sign up for another season at The Valley, and like at the start of every other season, I was like a kid at Christmas looking forward to a new season, full of hope (more than expectation) of a decent season ahead. 

Having relieved Swindon Town of their manager, Ben Garner, as well as one of his assistants, first team analyst and three players, in goalkeeper Joe Wollacott, defender Mandela Egbo and midfielder Jack Payne, the Addicks’ squad has certainly undergone a major overhaul, with some apparently quality additions in Conor McGrandles, Eoghan O’Connell and Steven Sessegnon. There is a feeling that the squad is still light of a striker and a left back, but there is still plenty of time for that to be addressed by the end of this transfer window. After finishing 13th in the table last season, and considering the quality in League One, I think a play-off berth is possibly beyond the Addicks as things stand. Today’s opponents would certainly be an interesting test, against a team newly relegated from the Championship following a very turbulent time off the field, but there is very much a feeling that they have a Championship standard squad, and will be roared on by a sold out away end today - not usually the case in League One.

On a warm and sunny afternoon, this was very much a game of two halves. Charlton were awful in the first half, with players seemingly struggle to implement Garner’s passing style of football, with so many passes going astray and players being dispossessed on the ball. That the Addicks were not two or three goals down at the break was mainly thanks to new keeper Wollacott pulling off some fine saves and claiming ball well. Somehow, the scoreline remained level at the break.

Whatever Garner said at half time certainly did the trick, with a much improved performance, and Charlton opened the scoring on 62 minutes when Charlie Kirk guided the ball into the path of Albie Morgan running towards and into the left side of the penalty area, and his eventual shot on goal from an angle was parried by the keeper into the path of an unmarked Corey Blackett-Taylor, who touched the ball home from close range. Although the Addicks continued to dominate the second half for the most part, Derby really should have equalised when Jason Knight headed wide from a great position. But the Addicks held on for three points that looked most unlikely at half time, and was an excellent result against a team that will surely be “there or thereabouts” come the end of the season.

Video highlights can be viewed by clicking here

An official match report from the Charlton website can be viewed by clicking here, and copied and pasted below :-

Charlton 1 Derby County 0

Charlton kicked off their 2022/23 Valley campaign in style on Saturday afternoon as Corey Blackett-Taylor's second-half strike earned the Addicks victory over Derby County.

The newly-relegated Rams dominated proceedings early on in SE7, but the Addicks soon came into their own and took a deserved second-half lead through Blackett-Taylor, who converted a lightning Charlton counter-attack on 62 minutes.

Summer signing Conor McGrandles was handed his Addicks debut as one of two changes made by Manager Ben Garner, with Charlie Kirk starting on the left flank.

The visitors made the brighter start of the two sides and forced Joe Wollacott into two smart stops in the opening exchanges.

First, Wollacott denied James Collins from close range before producing a superb reflex save to keep out Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's deflected back heel from the resulting corner.

That trend continued as Wollacott flew to his right to keep out Mendez-Laing's curler.

McGrandles was forced off after 31 minutes as a concussion substitute, with George Dobson replacing the midfielder.

Having weathered an early Derby onslaught, the Addicks grew into the half and soon enjoyed a flurry of chances of their own.

Kirk was the beneficiary as Rams skipper Curtis Davies ceded possession 35 yards from goal, but the winger opted to try and catch stopper Joe Wildsmith off his line and fired well wide.

Kirk was involved again moments later, this time delivering a pinpoint cross for Jayden Stockley to meet, though the skipper was denied by Wildsmith at close quarters.

On the stroke of half-time, Collins latched onto Wildsmith's long ball forward in a promising position, only to fir against Wollacott's right upright on the angle.

The Addicks started the second period with real intent, with two chances falling to Stockley.

Having met Blackett-Taylor's centre, Charlton's number nine saw his header saved by Wildsmith before dragging an effort wide from the edge of the 18-yard box.

The roof was raised at The Valley on 62 minutes when Blackett-Taylor stroked home in front of the Covered End. A deft touch from Kirk sent through Albie Morgan, whose initial effort was saved but only as far the advancing Blackett-Taylor who converted from close range. 

The visitors spurned a gilt-edged chance at the other end, as Jason Knight somehow nodded wide from Max Bird's cross with the goal at his mercy.

Garner's men continued to threaten and Morgan very nearly caught out Wildsmith at his near post, though the goalkeeper scrambled to his left to turn the ball behind.

Garner introduced a trio of substitutes late on as Miles Leaburn, Jack Payne and Diallang Jaiyesimi all entered the fray, with academy graduate Leaburn and summer signing Payne both making their Valley debuts.

Charlton: Wollacott; Clare, Inniss, O'Connell, Sessegnon (Lavelle 90+2); Morgan, McGrandles (Dobson 31), Fraser (Payne 81); Blackett-Taylor (Leaburn 80), Stockley (c)  (Clayden 90+2), Kirk (Jaiyesimi 81)

Subs (not used): MacGillivray

Goal: Blackett-Taylor 62

Booked: Sessegnon 73 (foul on Mendez-Laing), Morgan 76 (foul on Sibley)

Derby County: Wildsmith; Knight, Davies (c), Cashin, Roberts (Forsyth 84); Smith (Sibley 55), Bird, Hourihane; Mendez-Laing, Collins, Barkhuizen (Dobbin 70)

Subs (not used): Loach, Oduroh, Stearman, Thompson

Booked: Mendez-Laing 51 (foul on Sessegnon)

Referee: Chris Pollard

Attendance: 17,046 (3,072 from Derby)