CLASSY ADDICKS IN CRUISE MODE
CHARLTON sent out a clear message of their intention this season with an impressive win at Rotherham that left boss Karl Robinson purring.
The Addicks made it three wins out of four League One games thanks to a goal in either half from Patrick Bauer and Josh Magennis. They were in complete control at the AESSEAL New York Stadium against a side that hammered Southend 5-0 in their last game there.
Robinson laughed at the prospect of Charlton being among the promotion favourites, but admits he liked what he saw.
“This was a difficult game, they steamrollered Southend here and they were unplayable at times,” he said.
“When you come to places like this you need a bit of luck and in the second half a few balls into their box fell to them and not us. You can’t say we were conclusively better, we were just organised, very disciplined and when chances came along we took them.You could see how delighted we were at the end.
“We are not get carried away. We looked a real classy outfit today. We looked resolute and strong in possession and we looked like we could hurt teams on the counter-attack.”
They took in the lead in the 16th minute when centre-half Bauer sent a looping header into the far corner from Jake Forster-Caskey’s flag-kick.
Rotherham had chances to level, Semi Ajayi heading wide from inside the six-yard box, before Charlton scored a decisive second midway through the second half – though it was shrouded in controversy.
There looked to be a clear foul on Jamie Proctor, but referee Trevor Kettle, despite putting the whistle to his mouth, played on and Magennis headed home the impressive Ricky Holmes’ cross from close range.
Proctor was writhing in agony and suffered a serious looking knee injury. While Robinson did not feel the game should have been stopped, his counterpart Paul Warne did.
“I don’t think it was a foul, I will watch it back,” Warne said. “I knew it was something serious because he was writhing in pain. The ref, if you see the player in that amount of pain, you have to get the medical team on quick.
“He has gone to hospital, he has done something to his knee. He was in a lot of pain, I would expect him to be out for some time.
“I don’t think it’s the ref ’s fault we lost today.” The Millers were nowhere near the level they reached in their demolition of the Shrimpers, which left Warne concerned.
“It is always disappointing when you lose, especially at home,” he added. “We ran out of ideas at the end which
is surprising.”