EFL League One
The Valley, Charlton
Admission: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.50
Attendance: 13,456 (1,272 away)
Although I have long been hoping for a Charlton home game to be chosen for Sky TV coverage, it was a move to a lunchtime or evening kick-off on the Saturday, so that I could take in a game of either Meridian VP or Bridon Ropes at the Meridian Sports & Social Club. My heart sunk when this game was moved to the Monday evening, making it three midweeks in a row that I had to make the trip from the South Coast to The Valley straight after work.
After Charlton's surprisingly entertaining and, in the end, quite comfortable home victory against Exeter, and after the rest of this gameweek's fixtures were played on Saturday, Charlton came into this game in 14th place, following three wins and seven draws from 13 league games, but three points this evening would elevate Charlton to tenth in the table - a point, to twelfth. Although Charlton have had a good record recently against Portsmouth, it would be a tough ask to get anything out of tonight's game, if for no other reason than Charlton's record in televised games borders on the abysmal. But as well as that, Portsmouth have started this season strongly, coming into this game in fourth place in the table, following six wins, four draws, and just the one defeat from their opening 11 league games. Whilst they were seven points adrift of third placed Sheffield Wednesday, they have three games in hand on all three clubs above them, and are seven points behind second placed Ipswich, and 12 points adrift of leaders Plymouth - who Charlton quite ridiculously (with hindsight) thumped 5-1 back in August. Portsmouth have had a slight blip, picking up just two points from their last three league games, after dropping just four points from their opening eight league games.
An official match report can be read by clicking here, and copied and pasted below :-
Charlton 3 Portsmouth 0
The Addicks’ fantastic home form continued with a 3-0 demolition of Portsmouth in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Charlton pressed with intensity and attacked with speed with Ryan Inniss and Corey Blackett-Taylor scoring first-half goals before Eoghan O’Connell netted his first goal as an Addick after Portsmouth were reduced to 10 men in the second period.
It was an excellent team performance with Scott Fraser imperious in central midfield alongside the hard-working George Dobson, ensuring Ben Garner’s side controlled much of the game.
Garner opted for one change from the side that beat Exeter City 4-2, with Blackett-Taylor coming in for the injured Miles Leaburn, meaning Charlie Kirk played closest to Jayden Stockley in a very fluid 4-4-2 formation.
Portsmouth began the game brightly and Colby Bishop forced a smart save from Joe Wollacott in the ninth minute.
After that half-chance though Garner’s team really took charge with a physical press cheered on by a loud home crowd.
The combined pressure paid dividends with Charlton taking a 17th-minute lead with a well-worked short corner. Kirk fed Fraser who whipped in a curling cross from the right with his left foot into a dangerous area. Inniss, attacking the back post, was not to be stopped, powering a header past Josh Griffiths.
The second goal was a direct result of Charlton’s press, with Fraser intercepting well and the ball landing into the path of Kirk. The 24-year-old weighted his pass perfectly towards the rapid Blackett-Taylor wide left. The winger made no mistake, collecting at speed and advancing towards goal before opening up his body and nutmegging the onrushing Griffiths.
After a Charlton-controlled first half Danny Cowley made two changes at half-time but the Addicks maintained their advantage.
Griffiths kept Portsmouth in the game with an outstanding tip over the bar in the 54th minute after Kirk had again fed Blackett-Taylor on the counter attack, with the winger’s shot destined for goal.
Portsmouth went down to 10 men in the 66th minute when Marlon Pack was given a second yellow card for a foul on Fraser. The Addicks took immediate advantage, with Fraser again the provider, curling in the resulting free-kick for O’Connell to nod home his first goal for Charlton.
The Addicks saw the game out to secure an important and well-deserved three points.
Charlton: Wollacott; Egbo, Inniss, O’Connell, Sessegnon (Clare 77); Rak-Sakyi (Payne 70), Dobson, Fraser (McGrandles 79), Kirk; Stockley (c) (Aneke 77), Blackett-Taylor (Morgan 70)
Subs (not used): MacGillvray, Campbell
Goals: Inniss 17, Blackett-Taylor 31, O’Connell 67
Booked: Sessegnon 70 (foul on Mingi), Dobson 84 (foul on Mingi), Morgan 88 (foul on Mingi)
Portsmouth: Griffiths; Ogilvie, Morrison (Swanson 46), Raggett, Robertson (c); Dale (Mingi 68), Pack, Morrell, Koroma (Jacobs 46, Curtis 63); Bishop, Scarlett (Hackett 68)
Subs (not used): Oluwayemi, Pigott
Booked: Pack 30 (foul on Rak-Sakyi), Morrell 70 (reaction to Sessegnon’s foul)
Sent-off: Pack 66 (second-bookable offence - foul on Fraser)
Referee: John Busby
Attendance: 13,456 (2,374 from Portsmouth)
Video highlights of the goals can be viewed by clicking here
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