Charlton 1 - 1 Forest

There are some games that are rubbish irrespective of the result. There are some games that are great because of the result. Tonight was neither, yet both.

I know I've not written much recently, and this is not because the football has been uninspiring - I have moved house, my wife had chosen to move away and leave my son (her son also) behind and I have become a 'single parent'. None of this has been anything short of an adventure for my son and I - we are very close and I have constantly reiterated that his Mum loves him and is just living elsewhere as she is not as keen on me.

Anyway all this has taken up a lot of my time, and I've not felt as enthusiastic about this blog since my wife informed me that she 'Didn't fancy me any more' in June last year. I have not, exactly, been depressed, but I have found myself reevaluating my priorities and this blog has suffered. I've been through the 'Maybe I've put a few too many pounds on' and lost close to four stone - that didn't help. I've worked much harder and made much more money - that didn't help. I've done the 'agree with everything she say says' and help around the house more - that didn't register, either.

I came to the conclusion that it wasn't going to matter what I said or did, my wife was going to leave me and my son and we (the boys) were going to be starting a new life together. I only mention this as it it, kind of, explains why my blog has been, let's be honest, shockingly unreliable for over a year now.

I can't promise that this is going to change from now on - I have a lot to learn about being a single parent, but I spent years wanting to write a blog and be part of the 'Charlton Bloggers' and since I started I've made some great friends, some of whom have been very supportive during my 'troubles' and I don't want to walk away from this - or my new-ish friends.

Anyway, now that I've bored you all about my personal history I'll share my thoughts about tonight's game.

I'm normally quite optimistic about games, and I'm certainly a glass half full kind of chap. However when, just before kick off, my Dad asked me if I'd take a draw (a usual question we share) I said that, under the circumstances - no Kermorgant, Jackson or Solly, I would take a two goal defeat.

I wasn't being negative, but I fear for the manager and the teams confidence. I thought that Blackpool would be the easier game this week, and I thought that a credible defeat tonight would give us a great chance on Saturday.

In the end I needn't have worried!

A fluke of a goal in the second minute shared the life out of me. I could see a massive defeat coming. I just thought that if it get's to five or, worse, six Powell would struggle to keep his job. Then something changed.

We started to do several things. We played neat football (clearly we are not Barcelona, but we did pass the ball - a lot); we put Forest on the back foot and created chances, many of them; we had players that had looked bereft of ideas against Millwall pulling off great passes, dribbles and tackles.

Basically we looked like we'd replaced our whole team (of nervous players with limited ability) with players that knew how to pass, hold the ball and create chances.

Granted it was like watching Barcelona take apart Gillingham, but it was a revelation compared to Millwall. You should take into account that I was not at Huddersfield or Burnley so didn't have a perception of the performance there, just the results.

My one disappointment (and it is tempered with the fact that I really enjoyed the game) is that until we equalised I thought we were really dominating the game. Once we got back to 1-1 I felt as thought we reverted to a tight, non adventurous, game. I can't help thinking that if we'd played the same way in the second half as we started it we would have come away with three points.

However it was a great game of football and I would have taken a draw before kick-off. What made it for me was the melee in the Forest penalty box towards the end where the ball was going everywhere and I believed that at any second it could go in. There were blocks, saves, failed clearances and more shots. It reminded me of my early days at The Valley when this seemed to happen every week (it's probably my memory playing tricks on me).

Overall I would say that it was a great game of football - the kind of game I would love to watch on the tele as a neutral.

We didn't win but we also didn't lose. Forest are a good side but not only did we match them I, genuinely, believe that we out played them. All but for a fluky goal it could have been a very different game, but I can honestly say that I can't remember enjoying a game more than this one for a while.

And hopefully I'm back.

Up the Addicks!