Charlton’s six-hit

Thursday, 26/01/2012

by Daniel Tyler, Shoot's Charlton blogger

“One Johnnie Jackson, there’s only one Johnnie Jackson”!!

That was the song ringing round the Valley as the Addicks captain’s left foot claimed a massive three points for the second successive week.

A fortnight ago his magical first half free-kick ended Sheffield Wednesdays unbeaten run at Hillsborough, this week he well and truly punctured a tyre in the promotion bus of the Owls' city rivals.

United had entered the game having won eight of their last nine league matches leaving them perched and ready to pounce just four points behind the Londoners.

However Danny Wilson’s side had played a game more so only a win would be sufficient in their pursuit of Chris Powell’s men.

But Jackson saw that the Yorkshire side let empty-handed in a match that had a case of de ja vu about it.

Chances were few and far between with the shape and defences of both sides acting as the morphine in the body of entertainment.

But Jackson’s sharp left-foot drilled through the wall of anaesthetic, as the 29-year-old proved to be the pain in the backside to Charlton’s promotion rivals.

Prior to the two outings, Powell probably would have taken two points, which would have still kept the chasing back behind with the added bonus of not suffering a defeat.

So to take a maximum of six was absolutely terrific and to take six while not playing their best shows as well as having quality this year the squad has a tremendous amount of character and determination.

And as Mr. Powell rightly says it’s not about the performance at the moment it’s all about the three points.

The manager knows they can play good football because they have done so most of the season, but with half the season gone it’s not going to be how many passes you execute which gain promotion, but a desire to fight and grind out results.

On a separate note striker Danny Haynes became Charlton’s 23rd signing of the season, making the move from Barnsley.

I think this a good signing by Powell because if Bradley Wright-Phillips were to pick up an injury the replacements lack the pace to get in behind and worry the opposition, something Haynes has in abundance.

The Peckham-born man was highly thought of as a youngster at Ipswich Town, being touted as a big star for the future.

However it hasn’t seemed to work out for him since then with moves to Bristol City and Barnsley proving less than successful.

But at just 24 years of age he has the luxury of starting again and with Powell at the helm there is nobody better to help reignite his career (similar to Yann Kermorgant and Michael Morrison).

However he will have to get his head down and work hard from day one if he is to secure a place in the starting eleven, with Kermorgant and Wright-Phillips proving an unbreakable partnership to date.

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