The lowdown on Northampton Town 0 Charlton Athletic 5 – Rampant Addicks trounce awful Cobblers outfit
Charlton finally found their shooting boots as they thumped Northampton Town at Sixfields. Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Northampton Town: Tzanev, Guinness-Walker, Odimayo, Eyoma, McGowan (Baldwin 76), Guthrie (Licorish-Mullings 86), Pinnock, McGeehan, Hondermarck (Chouchane 76), Eaves (Obiagwu 83), Roberts (Dobson 75). Subs not used: Dadge, Wyatt.
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Gillesphey, A. Mitchell, Jones, Berry (A. Campbell 81), Coventry (Edmonds-Green 86), Docherty (Anderson 75), Edwards, Small, T. Campbell (Ahadme 75), Leaburn (Hylton 75). Subs not used: Mannion, Godden.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
The Addicks raced into a two-goal lead as strikes from Greg Docherty and Tyreece Campbell had them in control with 12 minutes on the clock. Two became three just beyond the half-hour mark as Miles Leaburn drilled home from inside the area.
Luke Berry pulled back for Docherty to make it four midway through the second-period – sparking a mass exodus of home supporters. And Danny Hylton iced the cake with his first Charlton goal in added-time.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Nathan Jones stuck with the 3-5-2 formation – with Tyreece Campbell playing up top again as he had done at times this season. Thierry Small was asked to fill in at right-wing-back.
Cobblers were there to be got at and Charlton exploited that – playing through them with ease at times but utilising the long ball when needed.
He made a triple change with the game done at 4-0 before making a pair of further changes late on as the Addicks saw the game out with absolute ease.
STAR MAN
Greg Docherty. Two very accomplished finishes. Must kick on from here.
BEST MOMENT
Danny Hylton’s goal against his former side. Nathan Jones promised “tomfoolery” when he signed the ex-Northampton Town man and that he scored for Charlton at Sixfields, having never done so there for the Cobblers, was objectively very funny.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Why can’t all League One sides be as bad as an injury-ravaged Northampton Town? It would make things a lot easier.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Where has this been? Charlton finally exhibited a clinical side as they picked apart a very poor Cobblers team. They scored as many first-half goals this afternoon as they had done all season as a relentless quick start killed the game off as a contest immediately.
Greg Docherty and Luke Berry excelled in midfield – two players who simply must use that performance as a platform after disappointing starts to their Charlton careers. Tyreece Campbell bagged his first League One goal since January. Miles Leaburn’s finish was accomplished.
We already know that they can defend their area well and they made it look easy against a managerless side who looked in disarray. It will take a fair few more results than this one to convince anyone that Charlton can play their way back into contention, but Nathan Jones will be hoping that this is the start.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“When we score first, we don’t lose. I’m proud of the level of performance because when you play for Charlton, you’re under a lot of pressure. There’s expectation, there’s a weight on the club, there’s a weight on you when you come here. It’s not a normal club to play for in League One. And they’ve had to suffer a bit lately.”