Charlton and Wigan... an afternoon at the Athletics

EFL League 1. Saturday 15.3.25

Saturday 15th March 2025 - EFL League 1 - Charlton Athletic (2) 2 (Matty Godden 11, 38) v. Wigan Athletic (0) 1 (Chris Sze 84) - Attendance: 16,491 inc. 596 away fans.

A few days ago, Charlton Athletic’s CEO Charlie Methven, announced that he is leaving his role at the Valley, saying that: "With the club now on an upwards trajectory, it is time for me to pack my tent and give the owners and board the necessary time to appoint a replacement, in time to prepare for next season."

Methven is taking up a position with the Mount Pleasant Academy in Jamaica, which already comes under the auspices of the ‘From the Mountain to the Valley’ partnership with Charlton Athletic. Before commenting further on the news, pertaining to Charles Harry Finlayson Methven, I feel obliged to point out, that this is merely my own personal opinion:

Charlie Methven's done a bloody good job during his time at the club. The obvious turnaround in the Addicks fortunes, on and off the field of play, both in the full glare of public scrutiny and behind the scenes, throughout his two year tenure, is testament to the value of his input. Even those who have observed his time at the helm through a cynical gaze must, perhaps a little belatedly, now recognise and acknowledge that he's been one of the better things to have happened to Charlton Athletic, for quite a long time.

It's understandable that a large number of the Valley fan-base are suspicious (of just about anyone and anything) and nit-picking in extremes by nature, given the dubious calibre of some of the shit-house characters who’ve held administrative roles at the club in the distant (and also the not so distant) past.

But, even though Methven has been part of the process whereby several unpopular decisions have been made (and had to be made), I think that the eventual realisation, that everything was always done with at least one-eye on the longer term betterment of the football club, will offset any lingering reservations people might still have.

One can only hope that whoever steps into his (big) shoes (to fill), is inclined towards having as good a working relationship with the current manager, as the outgoing CEO evidently did. It took a while to convince some people, but the departure of certain popular players as a means to an end, i.e. funding team-rebuilding, can now be viewed as pretty smart piece of forward-planning.

But hey! I'm not here to blow smoke up anyone's backside. And, to be honest, I've never really understood the connotations of what that figure of speech actually means anyway. But well played that man, for steadying the ship when it mattered and for steering Charlton Athletic back on course, when sinking even further into a whole load of yucky brown stuff, was becoming a distinct possibility.

Through the conduit of football, at various levels of the game, I’ve had the misfortune to have met some hardcore cases of ego-masturbating, empire-building, dishonest and self-aggrandizing bullshitters. I’m happy to report, that Charlie Methven isn’t amongst them. If you want to know who most definitely is though, then all will be revealed in the 2025 edition of THE66POW Xmas Annual. I might even chuck in a free Methven fan-club ‘Charlie is mi’ darling’ pen apiece, for the first 50 issues ordered online. Watch this space.

It must be that time of year again, when wholesale personnel changes within the wonderful and wacky world of football take precedence across the back pages of the nation’s newspapers. The other Athletic, who feature heavily in today's match blog overview, have been undergoing a number of seasonal adjustments themselves too. This was Ryan Lowe’s first game in charge of Wigan, after having been successfully interviewed for the vacant manager’s job earlier in the week.

Glenn Whelan, Frankie Bunn and Graham Barrow have taken interim charge of the Latics team since Shaun Maloney was relieved of his duties last month. Huddersfield Town, whose recent blip in form saw them slip out of the play-off berths in recent weeks, have parted ways with their manager Michael Duff and promoted Jon Worthington from his role of youth team coach, to that of first team caretaker manager.

Charlton Athletic: Mannion, Small (Anderson 90+4), Gillesphey, Jones, Ramsay, Watson (A Mitchell 89), Docherty, Coventry, Campbell, Berry (McIntyre 90+3), Godden (Leaburn 76). Unused subs - Reid, Ahadme, Enslin. Wigan Athletic: Tickle, Mellish (Darcy 46), Kerr, Aimson (Robinson 83), Carragher, Norburn, Smith, Chambers (Smith 70, Weir (Sze 46), Dale (McManaman 83), Taylor. Unused subs - Sibbick, Watson.

Earlier today, Stockport County won 0-1 at Bolton Wanderers, which saw them nudge Charlton down the table to fifth, albeit temporarily. And elsewhere this afternoon, Wycombe Wanderers were hosting Wrexham. The Addicks were dominant this afternoon, so much so, that around the hour mark the visiting supporters broke into a celebratory riposte of “We’ve had a shot! We’ve had a shot!” When Dale Taylor drilled the ball wide of the upright.

The narrow margin of victory didn't reflect how the game had actually played out. Sam Tickle, the Wigan keeper had kept the score down to something like respectable looking, while Chris Sze’s late consolation goal provided a touch of jeapordy and drama right at the end. But Matty Godden's first half double had given the hosts a just about comfortable cushion that saw them through in the final analysis.

The Addicks went ahead in the 11th minute, when Godden shot on the turn, beyond the reach of Tickle, after the visitors defence had a dew slapstick moments while trying to clear Kayne Ramsay's cross. Moments later Tickle saved, but couldn't hold onto Macaulay Gillesphey’s free-kick, but Will Aimson made a last-ditch clearance.

The lively Gillesphey was involved again, as Charlton extended their lead in the 39th minute, when he headed Luke Berry's free-kick back across the face of goal to give Godden the easiest of chances, to claim his fifteenth goal of the season from close range.

Tickle denied both Tyreece Campbell and Godden at the outset of the second half as the Addicks pressed to put the game out of reach. The outcome had never looked remotely in doubt, but completely out of the blue, Will Mannion was forced into making a save from Roman Darcy, before Sze (yes, I've checked the spelling) whipped the ball into the back of the net, in front of the visiting supporters in the Jimmy Seed Stand.

Three points is three points innit!? The best team won, though not by as many goals as they should have and Charlton swapped places with Stockport again in that there unrelenting battle to find a way to climb out of this most intriguing division.

Having changed managers, Huddersfield found where the outgoing one had been hiding their shooting boots and racked up a 5-1 home win over Crawley Town today, a result that saw them climb back into the top six. Wrexham are now second after they won 0-1 at third placed Wycombe. All go innit!? Meanwhile, league leaders Birmingham City were held to a 1-1 draw at Northampton Town.

For the record, today’s win over Wigan was Charlton’s seventh consecutive win on hometurf at ‘Fortress Valley’. It’s a small two-letter word (with massive connotations), but ‘if’ Stockport win at Wrexham on Saturday and Charlton win at Peterborough, the Addicks would only be two points behind second place.

And, just in case you didn't already know this; at the end of next month, Charlton’s last two away fixtures of the season, are back to back visits to both Wycombe and Wrexham. Bloomin’ heck, eh!?