Wednesday Woes

Undoubtedly, the most complete all round performance of the season. The Addicks came out of the blocks fast and had a real hunger about them. Any number of players turned in good performances, Francis, Semedo, Racon, Benson and Anyinsah to name but a few.

Alan Irvine, like Phil Parkinson, is a naturally cautious manager and his side were at their most dangerous when Jermaine Johnson was introduced for Gary Teale on the hour mark.

Returning former Addick, Nicky Weaver kept his side in it with three top quality saves to foil Fry, Jackson and Benson. As so often happens in games like this, when the goal came, though well deserved, it had an element of good fortune about it. After having an effort blocked, the ball found its way back to Scott Wagstaff who drilled a shot beyond Weaver’s right hand from just outside the area. Wagstaff’s goal saw him join Paul Benson as Charlton’s top league scorer with five goals.

The Addicks had dominated procedings and continued to hold the whip hand for rest of the opening period. Wednesday came into the game far more after the break but despite one or two errors, the host’s defence looked solid. The central midfield duo of Semedo and Racon had their best game of the season in tandem with the latter being particularly impressive.

The late introduction of Lee Martin nearly brought an exquisite goal. Martin’s trickery down the left saw him deliver a low cross that Benson put just over.

A thoroughly satisfying afternoon that saw the Addicks rise to sixth place in the table, just a point off an automatic promotion spot. The reaction at the final whistle could not have been more different to the one that followed the Brighton game. Lee Martin’s late booking was his fifth of the season meaning he will serve a one match ban and miss Tuesday night’s game at Swindon.