Charlton Athletic top scorer Matty Godden: No successful season is ever going to be all plain-sailing
richard@slpmedia.co.uk
Matty Godden has been in the game long enough to know that every season brings its bumps and bruises – with Charlton Athletic’s 2-2 draw against Lincoln City a prime example.
The Addicks had to fight back from two clinical James Collins finishes for the mid-table visitors with Macauley Gillesphey and Greg Docherty striking to haul Nathan Jones’ side back on level terms.
Godden thought he had won it for the hosts, only for Imps goalkeeper George Wickens to turn his goal-bound header around the bottom of his left post.
Charlton have not lost at The Valley in any competition since December 10, 2-0 to Leyton Orient in the EFL Trophy, but they failed to make it nine straight home wins for the first time since 1938 when the legendary Jimmy Seed was at the helm in the old First Division.
It also seemed to be the day that hopes, already slim, of a top-two finish were extinguished – Wrexham’s 3-0 victory over Burton extended the gap to eight points.
Before Tuesday’s round of matches the Addicks had taken 23 points from their last 10 games – a haul only matched by Birmingham and Wrexham.
Godden, at 33 and having plied his trade for eight clubs ranging from the Championship to Northern Premier League, is able to provide perspective.
“It is not all going to be plain-sailing,” he told the South London Press.
“We have got five games left and there are probably still going to be twists and turns along the way.
“We need to get our heads down, go about our business and keep doing what we have been doing – because we have been on an unbelievable run.
“You look back on the week and, alright, we drew on the Saturday – it wasn’t our best performance – but we take the point and it’s now a seven-point week.
“We had tough fixtures with Huddersfield (a 4-0 win) coming to The Valley and then us going to Mansfield (a 2-1 victory), they weren’t easy games. At the start of last week you would take that total. It’s just that the draw stopped us getting nine wins on the trot at The Valley.
“We didn’t really start like us – not as front-footed as we’d like to be. They came and sat in. We knew they’d play direct, but we probably didn’t expect them to sit as deep as they did and limit our space in behind.
“It is one of those things we had to deal with. Their first goal is a great ball in, to be fair.
“We can defend the corner a little bit better but it is an unbelievable ball in from the lad (Ben House) and a good header. The second goal, we know that we should have done better than that.
“But there was only going to be one team that was going to win it when it went to 2-2 – we got after them and they didn’t get out of their final third, really.”
Godden, who has netted 14 times in 36 league matches since a summer transfer from Coventry City, could be seen talking to Wickens immediately after his plunging stop.
“He had pulled off an unbelievable save and I told him that,” said Godden.
“As soon as the ball got set back, I knew my movement and what I wanted to do.
“I got such a clean header right into the bottom corner. It was heading just inside the post and I was thinking it was a goal.
“The keeper is 6ft 6ins as well, so to be able to get down like he did was a top save.
“Hendo (Stephen Henderson), our goalkeeping coach, came up to me afterwards and said you’d probably do well to see a better save in League One this weekend – maybe even this season.
“There is nothing we can do about it. He had a great game and made a couple of saves from Chuks (Aneke) as well when he came on. We showed good character to get back into it.”
Godden has one promotion under his belt – in his first season after signing for Coventry in a £750,000 deal in 2019. The Sky Blues were crowned League One champions in June 2020 – but the outbreak of Covid-19 meant the campaign was not completed and instead settled on a points per game basis.
The silverware was lifted at their training ground with supporters invited to join a promotion party streamed online.
“It was very weird to win it that way but we were the best part of 10 points clear when the season was curtailed, with a game in hand,” said Godden, who was voted into the PFA Team of the Year by his fellow pros.
“I think we had an online presentation evening but then all the boys went to the training ground and social-distanced – we got our hands on the trophy and our medals.
“We had good moments when it mattered – just after Christmas – and went unbeaten, it was very similar to what we have done here.
“This time of the season is when it counts. We have hit form at the right time, hence why we’re in the position that we’re in.”
So do Charlton now need to accept they will have to go the play-off route to secure Championship football next season?
“Of course we know it is a difficult task (to get top two) but funnier things have happened in football,” said Godden.
“It doesn’t take a lot for a team to dip out of form – we are the team that is bang in form – and we have still got to play teams above us.
“They are the matches you are up for and want to be part of. A few results here and there, then who knows what can happen?
“Whatever the scenario is, we’re in a good place and the gaffer will make sure we stay in a good place so that we are coming at it head on.”
MAIN PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS
