Charlton 3 Stoke 1 – Addicks enjoying Championship life as they maintain 100 per cent record
BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Charlton Athletic maintained their 100 per cent start to life in the Championship with Lyle Taylor, Chuks Aneke and Conor Gallagher on target at The Valley.
It is the first time since the 1999-2000 season – when Alan Curbishley’s side won the title – that the Addicks have recorded two victories at the start of a campaign in the second tier.
And if you exclude the League One play-off semi-final tie against Doncaster, Charlton are now unbeaten in 18 regulation home matches.
So much of the talk had been about the future of Taylor in the final hours of the transfer window but their number nine stayed in SE7 despite Brentford’s best attempts to land him and he notched his second goal of the campaign on 25 minutes.
Debutant Jonathan Leko chipped a ball into the striker’s path and he stepped inside his marker to send a right-footed effort past Jack Butland.
That was the hosts’ only shot on target in the opening period and Stoke would go on to fashion the other big scoring moments in the first 45 minutes.
Scott Hogan and Lee Gregory hit the crossbar and post respectively.
And former Millwall striker Gregory had a hand in Stoke’s leveller. He got enough of a touch on a ball forward for it to pop up nicely for Tom Ince, who produced a rising strike which beat Dillon Phillips at his right post.
Gregory produced a poor finish in the 49th minute. Sam Clucas teed him up from close range but he failed to even test Phillips, producing a snatched strike over the bar.
And that miss proved costly as Charlton went back in front on 76 minutes. Josh Cullen was clever with his cross – banging it in with real pace in the hope of at least a deflection and that was exactly what happened as it nicked out to substitute Aneke, who calmly tucked the opportunity away.
The pick of the goals was still to come – and looked one that had been formulated on the training ground.
Cullen’s low corner to the near post was flicked on by Taylor into the path of Gallagher and the on-loan Chelsea midfielder drove sweetly into the top left corner of the net. Game over.
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ