Charlton Athletic showing signs of promise – a far cry from at the same stage of last season

It’s always foolish to make any major judgements on how a club is going to go early in a campaign – or in the warm afterglow of a particularly impressive result – but Charlton Athletic look in much finer fettle than they did a year ago.

Tuesday night’s 5-1 drubbing of Plymouth was a seriously good display by Ben Garner’s side. The only shame was that just 12,392 were at The Valley to watch a comprehensive whipping of an Argyle side who had started the season well.

Charlton’s quality on the ball was matched by their ceaseless industry off it. They were already proving impossible to subdue even before James Wilson’s 39th-minute dismissal. The hosts effectively had the contest wrapped up by the interval but refused to take their foot off the gas.

A number of travelling fans headed for the exits with 20 minutes remaining. Stephen Schumacher’s players would have dearly loved to have joined them by starting the long trip back home early.

At the same stage of last season the Addicks had one point on the board and were already out of the EFL Cup. They did not pick up their second victory until October 2. It left them with insurmountable ground to make up.

Fast forward to the present day and Charlton are sixth in the table and just two points behind second-placed Peterborough United.

Nobody needs telling that the season is yet to get into full swing. But the South Londoners have made a more than decent start.

After the 1-0 loss at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday all the talk among supporters was that Charlton needed to add to their striking options after a lack of cutting edge to make their superior possession and terrrorial advantage count.

But the Addicks were scalpel sharp on Tuesday, aided by a hugely encouraging debut from Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. The Crystal Palace winger gave Plymouth’s backline a torrid time and needed just 11 minutes to open his goal account.

The 19-year-old was a devastating outlet down the right and his markers must have been delighted when he made way shortly after the hour mark.

But the bad news for the visitors was that Charlton had so many threats. It was like trying to put out a fire with an egg cup of water.

Charlie Kirk and Charles Clayden tag-teamed down the left with Scott Fraser and Albie Morgan finding the passes to sent their team-mates romping forwards time and again.

Sean Clare’s goal was the pick of the bunch. The man in the mask, worn after summer surgery to remove a birthmark on his face, needed treatment after being hammered into the hoardings. But he got his revenge as he found the top left corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Kirk’s display will be food for thought, in more ways than one.

The former Crewe attacker’s shot was only kept out by the arm of Wilson – Jayden Stockley’s successful spot kick making it an even heavier punishment – and he also provided the assist for Clare.

Kirk, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Blackpool, deservedly got his first goal for the club and went close on another couple of occasions.

A performance like that could draw interest before the window closes, especially with talk lingering that the Chester-born wideman would favour a return to his roots.

Garner admitted prior to this match that Charlton were likely to only add one more player to the squad if there were not outgoings to balance the books.

In an ideal world, you imagine that would mean the likes of Alex Gilbey and Jake Forster-Caskey, once again omitted from the matchday 18, finding somewhere else to play their football.

But this isn’t a game of Football Manager, where transfers are just a simple few clicks away. Players have the final say and clubs also need to be willing to take on enough of their wages to make it worthwhile.

Stockley led the line astutely in midweek and his desire to win a 50-50 helped create the spot-kick that he converted. He also had at least a couple of headers that, on another day, he sticks away.

But Chuks Aneke’s continual injury woes, with a fresh setback as he looks to return from a calf problem that has sidelined him since pre-season, is a concern when you only have one senior striker available.

Miles Leaburn once again came off the bench to score late on, as he did at Accrington Stanley, but the 18-year-old needs to be dipped in and out at the right times. Mason Burstow’s struggles once injuries bit underline how important it is to be selective with minutes.

STAR MAN
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi. So many standout performers, but the Eagles loanee was superb.

BEST MOMENT
Sean Clare’s thunderbolt of a finish on the stroke of half time.