PIGS CAN FLY AT THE VALLEY!
CHARLTON boss Russell Slade praised his side’s focus as they ran out comfortable winners at home to Coventry, despite protests causing a temporary delay in proceedings.
The game was delayed only seconds after kick-off as Charlton fans threw miniature pigs on the pitch in protest against their owner Roland Duchatelet, but the game restarted five minutes later.
As the occasional pig found its way onto the pitch, the hosts broke the deadlock through a clever Ricky Holmes finish, before doubling their advantage with just ten minutes remaining through Ademola Lookman.
Josh Magennis rounded off the game with a delightful chip over Lee Burge, and Slade insisted the international break had paid dividends with his side’s development.
“Protests, that’s what we do in this country isn’t it? We’ve done it for centuries,” he said.
“Whether it’s a local protest or a national protest, the important thing is that any protest is done in the right manner and there’s safety attached to it.
“We showed what a strong group we are with real focus and concentration despite certain stoppages in the game.
“It’s been a frustrating time for us but the international break gave us an opportunity to put some things right.
“We possibly could have scored more goals but I was thrilled with the clean sheet and that we did the basics better.”
The hosts broke the deadlock on 31 minutes through Holmes, who beautifully controlled a lofted ball from Fredrik Ulvestad before poking it past Burge with the outside of his right foot.
Holmes’ goal temporarily quietened Coventry but they flew out of the traps in the second half, although Charlton doubled their lead just before the 80-minute mark as Magennis robbed Jordan Turnbull off the ball and squared it for Lookman to tap in.
Turnbull will have nightmares about Magennis for a while as he bullied him throughout the day, before he capped off his performance with a lovely chipped finish over Burge to wrap up all three points for the Addicks.
But despite the scoreline, Coventry boss Mark Venus insisted he was pleased with certain aspects of his team’s performance.
“I enjoyed the game and the way we played,” he said. “I didn’t enjoy the goals we conceded, they were pretty basic goals and mistakes and if you give those kinds of goals away you’ve got a problem.
“I thought we created enough chances in the game to score a goal, but we didn’t and that epitomises where we are after 12 games.
“We got into some really good positions and apart from the goals I thought it was an alright performance.
“I don’t think we quite know to score a goal. We don’t know how to finish off good opportunities.”