Talking points from Charlton’s 2-1 win over Peterborough: Birmingham trip holds no fear for the never-give-up Addicks

Charlton have won four of their last five League One matches after a 2-1 victory over Peterborough on Tuesday night.

Here are Louis Mendez’s talking points from the game at The Valley.

A DESERVED WIN

For 89 minutes, it had ‘one of those nights’ written all over it.

The Addicks took 20 minutes to really get started but could and should have led by the break.

The Posh have been rather unsophisticated at the back this term – conceding more goals than anyone else in League One. But they were throwing bodies on the line as if they had a point to prove in that first half.

Former Charlton loanee Jed Steer looked unbeatable as he made a string of saves from Matty Godden and Tyreece Campbell.

When he was beaten, the post denied Luke Berry and a last-ditch goal-line clearance thwarted the aforementioned Godden.

We did not have to wait long after the restart though for the scorers to finally be troubled.

Campbell’s shot collided with Sam Hughes’ arm – unnaturally positioned in the view of referee Lee Swabey. Godden struck from the spot to make it four goals in four for him. That came nine minutes after the restart.

Four minutes later the Posh were reduced to 10 players as Emmanuel Fernandez was sent packing for a studs-up lunge on Thierry Small.

But the visitors rounded off a frantic eight-minute spell by drawing level with a penalty of their own.

Kayne Ramsay clipped Ricky-Jade Jones in the vicinity of the edge of the area. Swabey pointed at the spot, but only served up a yellow card for Ramsay.

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson felt that was a turning point. It was not – Charlton had been and remained dominant even after Malik
Mothersille levelled from 12 yards.

The visitors resorted to the type of timewasting but just as it seemed Greg Docherty’s blocked header could be a final chance squandered to keep all the points in SE7, Macaulay Gillesphey managed to thread a header of his own through a heavily congested six-yard box and inside the post.

Another win at The Valley – that’s four on the spin. There will be many more to come if Charlton continue to dictate play, as they have done on home mud over the course of the last two months.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

Compared to Small’s 96th-minute winner against Shrewsbury last month, Gillesphey’s 89th-minute header was practically still in the opening salvos.

But it’s another nod to the impressive never-give-up mentality that Nathan Jones has instilled in this side.

No team has scored more than the 13 that the Addicks have in the final 10 minutes of League One games this season.

Only Bolton Wanderers have equalled that feat – but they’ve conceded 10 goals in the same window while the Addicks have only let in three.

Charlton’s average goal time this campaign is the 58th minute. That’s the latest in the division as well.

These statistics paint a picture of a team that both are as fit as 11 fiddles but are also headstrong.

You can say the same about Gillesphey. He could have easily crumbled after his error cost the Addicks two points at Blackpool. But he recovered. And to widen the analogy – take a step back two months. This Charlton side were on their haunches. A run of one win in nine left them floundering in mid-table.

But they’ve grown stronger as the season rumbles on and now are slap bang in contention for a top-six finish – if not even more.
What a turnaround from Nathan Jones.

NOTHING TO FEAR AT ST ANDREWS

Tomorrow’s trip to take on Birmingham is set up beautifully.

The Blues might have a wallet so thick it needs its own postcode, and they certainly will win League One at a canter this term but Charlton have matched their results stride for stride over the last few weeks with both sides locked on 16 points from the last six games.

And there’s no forgetting than the South Londoners are one of only two sides to inflict defeat on the Second City spenders in the third tier.

Charlton’s latest win moved them up a spot to fifth in the table, although Huddersfield and Leyton Orient, the two clubs directly below, have a match in hand.

Birmingham are 16 points ahead of the South Londoners – and have played two games fewer. Runaway leaders.

You can look at this as a free hit if you want.

But you can guarantee that Jones will be going there to bloody a few bluenoses.

MAIN PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD