Nigel Adkins excited by first Valley game as Charlton boss – even though fans won’t be there

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Nigel Adkins is looking forward to his first home game as Charlton Athletic manager even though it will be at a fans-free Valley.

Lee Bowyer’s final 10 months in charge during lockdown at least had two matches in front of 2,000 supporters as part of a trial to ease restrictions on attending sporting events during the Covid-19 pandemic.

But a rise in coronavirus cases saw behind-closed-doors fixtures again become the unwanted norm.

The earliest date that fans can be at ‘non-trial’ matches is from the middle of May. If Charlton reach the League One play-offs, the first semi-final fixture is on May 18 with the Wembley showpiece on May 30.

Five of Charlton’s remaining seven regulation games are in SE7, something that would usually be a big advantage.

But while their 39 away points can only just be bettered by league leaders Hull City (40), they are 17th in terms of their return on home turf – the big impediment to promotion.

Charlton and Sunderland set a virtual attendance record for a League One match with 14,000 UK passes – 5,795 were sold by the South London club. The previous record was 10,363.

“It’s a real shame for everybody that they are not in the stadium at the moment,” said Adkins. “But I know that everyone has been right behind us watching the stream on Valley Pass.

“For the next few games there won’t be people physically in the stadium, but I know they will all be supporting and there in spirit.”

Adkins admits it is easier to communicate with his players in a sterile environment.

But he quickly adds that it should not really be a factor when it comes to a team being tactically tuned in.

“We try and do as much work as we can on the training ground, so if you are screaming and shouting from the sidelines all the time then I view it that we’ve maybe not done enough work on the training ground,” said the former Southampton, Scunthorpe and Reading manager.

“I know it’s an emotional game and you’ve got to affect games in different ways.

“But you can still get your message across – if people want to listen in different ways. Even in a full stadium, I’ve used signals before to get a message across to players.”

It feels like a pathway to the play-offs has properly opened up for Charlton.

Not only are they unbeaten in their last eight matches – taking 18 points from a possible 24 to put them second in a form guide for that period – but their rivals no longer have matches in hand.

Portsmouth’s 0-0 draw at Crewe on Tuesday means the South Coast outfit, in sixth, are only three points ahead and have played an extra game. Fourth-placed Lincoln are only four points ahead. The gap was 13 points after Charlton’s last loss, a dispiriting 3-0 reverse to Blackpool.

Ending Sunderland’s run of 14 matches undefeated last weekend was a surefire indicator that Charlton have recovered from their struggles between mid-December and the end of February.

There remains a chance that the Black Cats could once again await in the play-offs, as they so memorably did in May 2019.
“To go and win at Sunderland is an excellent result for us,” said Adkins. “There is a good buzz around the training ground. The players and staff are working extremely hard.

“We’re trying to introduce things all the time – that learning environment – so that we keep improving.

“Momentum can take us a long way. We’re in the race with a bit of momentum coming behind us, that all bodes well moving forward. The players are building confidence all the time.”

Alex Gilbey completed back-to-back 90-minute shifts for only the third time this season and opened his goal account in the second half at the Stadium of Light.

“I really like him,” said Adkins. “When I watched him at MK he was really good. He did really well there.

“Sometimes it is a challenge when you join a new football club, things can take a little bit of time.

“I can only talk about the players from since I joined. He’s one, of many, whose attitude has been first class.

“Maybe that happens when a new manager comes in, people think it is a new start for them.

“He has done great, scored his first goal and you can see he can be a very important player for us.

“He’s got a great work ethic. He can also break the lines in the attacking third. He’s going to be a goal threat for us. That’s what you need from a midfielder.

“You have players with different attributes and you’re trying to help them bring the best of their game.

“One of his things is to be able to run forward, get in the box and create and score goals.”