Four takeaways from Charlton’s 4-0 win over Doncaster Rovers: Addicks out of the drop zone
Charlton thumped Doncaster Rovers 4-0 as Johnnie Jackson’s fine start to life in caretaker charge continued at The Valley. Goals from Elliot Lee and Conor Washington had the home side in control before the break. Jayden Stockley and Ben Purrington added the finishing touches in the second-period. Louis Mendez provides his four takeaways from the game.
DOMINANT ADDICKS
That was as one-sided a contest you’ll ever see. Doncaster were atrocious but Charlton put them to the sword. The visitors didn’t muster a shot on target, while the South Londoners were in double figures and could easily have scored more than the four they did. Donny were harried out of possession whenever they dared venture out of their own half, while the Addicks were expansive and tireless. What a difference from being outclassed by Accrington Stanley last time out in SE7.
JACKSON’S AT THE WHEEL
Whilst Thomas Sandgaard will rightly feel it’s too early to make a decision on who will be the long-term replacement for Nigel Adkins, this superb start will certainly have bought Johnnie Jackson some more time to show he is the perfect candidate. The turnaround he’s coerced from the Addicks has been remarkable and he’s the obvious choice to bring the fans back on side as well. Any more displays like this afternoon and the choice will be taken away from Sandgaard – it would be impossible to not give Jackson the job. Many will hope that this run does extend long enough for that to happen. Three wins out of three in caretaker charge if you include his solitary game between Lee Bowyer and Nigel Adkins last season. The Jackson train is in motion. I’m aboard. Let’s see what Rotherham brings on Tuesday.
OUT OF THE DROP ZONE
The victory saw the Addicks climb out of the bottom four on goal difference which will be a massive psychological boost if nothing else. There’s always been the feeling that the Addicks squad is way too strong to be in the position they were. Today’s game did indicate the gulf in quality between Charlton and Rovers. Indeed, the South Londoners have beaten three of the bottom four already this season. They shouldn’t be anywhere near the drop zone and hopefully won’t return.
LET’S HAVE ANOTHER ONE DOBSON
I feel like I’m cheating by including George Dobson in my takeaways two weeks in a row but he needs another mention today. He was superb once again. It’s baffling that he had been frozen out under Nigel Adkins but as Jackson said today, everybody in the squad has been given a clean slate to prove their worth once more. Dobson has done that. The midfielder consistently halted Donny in their tracks when they tried to play through the middle. He also threaded a lovely ball through to Alex Gilbey for the move that led to the penalty that made it 2-0. Really impressive.
PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD/ PAUL EDWARDS