Potted report for our Green Man.
Charlton are an underperforming side with some talented players. Give them a big stage and they decide to play. And sure enough, in midfield they were initially quicker, bigger, stronger and had a couple of real footballers.
After their good start, aided by some dozy United defending, we switched from 3-5-2 and put Basham in front of the back four. It was an unfamiliar formation and we were slow to find attacking rhythm. Our goal was from our first spell of quality football, though we did finish the half a lot better.
Second half we played pretty well and our strong bench told as Carruthers' silky touches opened them up. The winning goal was a good move and great cross from Freeman to his opposite fullback (that's how positive this team is). We could have had a couple more, but Charlton were always capable of asking questions and they had a few chances to equalise, but lacked composure in front of goal. By the end we were utterly knackered and getting men behind the ball to hold onto the win.
To those who fault Basham - how many other players can step out of the back four into midfield and shore up the game, enabling us a turn the game around? Those who fault Hanson - whoever starts out of Hanson and Lavery will always make way for the other to finish the game. Note how exhausted our XI was at the end of the game. I doubt either can do 90 minutes just now.
Scores on the doors:
Moore - 7 - Good solid game - made a couple of saves and handled flawlessly in the wet.
Freeman - 7 - Started poorly and perhaps was overly adventurous when we went to back four. But he set up the winner and you have to love his bombing forward.
EEL - 7.5 - Made some tremendous challenges and positionally was much improved.
JOC - 7.5 - Really solid and had plenty to do. One great burst forward second half.
Basham - 8 - MOTM. Put a lid on Charlton's dominance, quietened their hugely impressive no.11 and was surprisingly classy in possession.
Lafferty - 7 - Scored the winner, ran a marathon. Good lad.
Fleck - 6 - Quiet game as the midfield battle was tight, but still a few classy touches.
Coutts - 6 - As above.
Duffy - 6 - As above. Our midfield is much better in possession than they are at protecting the defence.
Hanson - 6 - Worked hard, won a few headers, and nearly slid home a Sharp cross in the first half. Not the greatest game but he needs our midfield to dominate in order to threaten.
Sharp - 7 - Could barely move at the end. Huge shift for no reward.
Carruthers 8 - Silky little bugger isn't he?
O'Shea - 7 - Didn't have too long but gave us much needed legs and was handy on the ball.
Lavery - 7 - Not what the Charlton defence wanted to see, but ended up defending with the rest.
Wilder - Early tactical change to turn the game in our favour. Can't fault that.
Ref - Really unwilling to book anyone, and gave Charlton a lot of 50/50s early on which helped them get a grip of the game.
Linos - Made a few poor calls, and as a result got stick from the crowd even when they made fair ones.....
As an impact sub he really did make an impact.
