The lowdown on Charlton’s 2-1 win over Northampton – Matty Godden a ruthless League One sniper
Charlton Athletic made sure of their League One play-off place after a 2-1 win over Northampton Town today.
The victory also moved the Addicks up to fourth in the table.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay, Jones, McIntyre (Aneke 54), Small, Coventry, Docherty (Gilbert 69), Berry (Anderson 89), Edwards, Campbell (Watson 89), Godden (Mbick 88). Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Ahadme.
Northampton: Burge, McGowan, Mbete (Dyche 46), Odimayo (Magloire 69), Eyoma, Pinnock, McGeehan, Perry, Roberts (Wilson 83), Fosu (Hondermarck 70), Costelloe. Subs not used: Tzanev, Dadge, Baldwin.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
All hail Matty Godden. The 33-year-old’s 18th goal of the season sealed the victory – finishing confidently after he raced on to Chuks Aneke’s flick in the 71st minute. Route one and highly effective. Luke Berry volleyed the Addicks ahead early on before Tom McIntyre’s blatant handball was punished by Dara Costelloe’s penalty. Northampton provided resistance and some problems for the hosts. Former Charlton man Tariqe Fosu produced a dreadful miss early in the second half and from there Charlton finally built up a head of attacking steam.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Lloyd Jones returned to the Charlton backline but Macaulay Gillesphey missed out with a tight hamstring. Gillesphey’s distribution skills were missed with the Addicks often wasteful with the ball, particularly in an unimpressive opening 45 minutes. Jones made a change early in the second half – McIntyre replaced by Aneke – and it led to some more serious questions being asked of the Cobblers backline.
STAR MAN
Matty Godden. Some strikers would not feel it was going to be there day when a close-range header comes back off the crossbar. Matty Godden is not one of those strikers. Clinical when it counted. Eighteen goals this season and his importance to this Addicks side cannot be understated, particularly with Chuks Aneke’s minutes needing to be managed and Miles Leaburn ruled out of the run-in.
BEST MOMENT
The winning goal. There were more than 20,000 in attendance at The Valley and the eruption of noise after Godden finished past Lee Burge was something to savour.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
McIntyre’s handball. Fosu’s cross was excellent but the Portsmouth loanee seemed to panic as his upraised arm gave referee Ollie Yates one of the easiest penalty decisions he will ever have to make.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Who do Charlton want to face in the play-offs? The top two is still just about achievable but, in reality, it looks like the knockouts for the Addicks. If Charlton hold on to their current position or can even improve it to third then it guarantees the play-off second leg will be at home. It’s now 23 points from their last 10 matches – the only League One club that can match that total over the same period is already-promoted Birmingham City.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“We are a work in progress. We’ve had to go through some tough times – we came from 18th in League One and not having won in 18 games – to where we are now. But what a run we have been on.”
PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS
