THREE-SY DOES IT FOR ADDICKS
CHARLTON boss Karl Robinson is still dreaming of a place in the top two as Charlton beat Walsall to secure a third straight win.
Joe Aribo opened the scoring and although the Addicks were pegged back by Erhun Oztumer’s header, a Kory Roberts own goal and Stephy Mavididi’s close-range finish turned it round.
And with the eight-game winless league run that spanned part of November and the whole of December behind them, Robinson is eyeing League One’s front runners.
He said: “We’ve made nine points up on Bradford in three games, which is an amazing overhaul.
“We’ve put ourselves in a very good position not only to nick points but to try and drag the likes of (top two) Wigan and Blackburn closer.
“There’s no reason why we can’t aspire to that level and there’s no reason we can’t go and win a number of games.
“Our squad is getting stronger when everyone elses’ is looking tired, and that’s a positive.”
Charlton stay in sixth, nine points behind second-placed Blackburn, while Walsall slip to 16th – just three points off the relegation zone.
The Saddlers fell behind when Mark Marshall powered down the left and swung in a cross, which the unmarked Aribo volleyed home at the far post on 25 minutes.
The visitors were in danger of being blown away, as Mavididi turned Roberts and lashed a 20-yard drive against the bar, before a full-stretch Liam Roberts denied Marshall.
Walsall survived the onslaught, and punished Charlton for their profligacy when Luke Leahy’s cross picked out 5ft 3in Oztumer to nod past Ben Amos.
Minutes into the second half, Joe Edwards robbed Harry Lennon on the right, and hammered the ball against the bar.
Josh Magennis then found himself one-on-one, but Roberts stood tall to block before the stopper denied substitute Tarique Fosu and Mavididi from close range.
Following a corner, Magennis’ header rattled the post and Roberts pulled off yet another magnificent save to deny Aribo.
Yet the keeper’s valiant rearguard action was finally breached on 73 minutes, when Mavididi surged in on goal and Roberts could only poke the ball into the net when trying to clear.
At the death, Mavididi again drove through the Walsall defence and his weak toe-poke just about crept in at the near post. Walsall manager Jon Whitney cut a frustrated figure.
He said: “It was an outstanding game and it a shame one team has to lose it. The application and some of the football from our lads was excellent.
“In the first half we stayed in it really well. Charlton are always a threat but I felt we were a danger on the counter.
“Some of the energy from our lads was fantastic.”