A good start to the day but could the senior side come close to repeating the performance? The answer was an emphatic yes. This is turning out to be a lucky weekend for Chris Powell’s team, a year ago they clinched promotion back to the Championship at Carlisle.
Chris Powell retained the side that beat Leeds a week ago but there was a subtle positional change. Michael Morrison played as the right sided central defender, presumably a tactical move to allow Morrison to mark Chris Dagnall with Dorian Dervite detailed to take on Chris O’Grady.
Dale Stephens was injured and his place on the bench went to Danny Green.
The game had almost everything, Charlton scoring six away from home for the first time in more than 50 years, a rare goal from Bradley Pritchard, a first strike for the club from Salim Kerkar, a right-footed goal from Johnnie Jackson and two red cards for Barnsley!
The Addicks had to play into a strong, swirling wind in the opening period but they were scarcely handicapped.
The visitors took the lead after just four minutes. Ricardo Fuller done well on the right and played Chris Solly in. Solly picked out Yann Kermorgant whose fierce snapshot was only parried by Luke Steele in the Barnsley goal. Pritchard had the simplest of tasks to steer home the rebound.
“He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants, Bradley Pritchard…….”
Fifteen minutes later Jackson doubled the visitors advantage, Kermorgant slipped the ball to Pritchard who turned provider. He played Jackson in and the skipper rounded the defender to shoot beyond Steele with his right-foot.
David Flitcroft had seen enough and introduced Jason Scotland before the half-hour mark in an attempt to stem the tide.
If the first half was good, the second was sublime. Charlton again flew out of the traps and added a third goal just three minutes after the restart.
An absolute peach of a cross from Rhoys Wiggins was nodded home at the far post by Kermorgant. Eleven minutes later Pritchard played the ball out to Callum Harriott on the left and the yougster’s drive from the edge of the area went through Steele. The home custodian was not enjoying the sort of form he showed at Cardiff on Tuesday.
“Four nil, even Pritchard’s scored,” taunted the visiting supporters.
Frustration was creeping into the Barnsley players and two minutes past the hour mark, Stephen Dawson was dismissed for a reckless sliding challenge on Kermorgant.
Gower and Obika were introduced midway through the half, followed twelve minutes from time by Kerkar. The former Rangers player was only on the pitch for three minutes before he opened his account for the club, finishing from close range.
“Five nil, even Kerkar’s scored……”
Four minutes from time the Tykes were reduced to nine men when Tom Kennedy followed Dawson down the tunnel for bringing Fuller down when the striker was closing in on goal.
“Stand up for Sir Chrissy Powell, stand up……”
The manager acknowledged the fans’ chant with a wave, then turned to the bench and urged his staff to join in!
Fuller completed the scoring from the edge of the box in the last minute.
Taking a tonking is difficult, taking it at home even harder, so great credit goes to Barnsley’s diminutive midfielder, David Perkins, who kept on trying right to the very end.
The win takes the Addicks up to ninth with 57 points and their place in the Championship next season is all but assured.
Charlton: Hamer; Solly, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins; Pritchard, Hughes, Jackson (Gower 66), Harriott (Harriott 78); Kermorgant (Obika 66), Fuller.
Subs (not used): Button, Taylor, Wilson, Green.
Goals: Pritchard 4, Jackson 19, Kermorgant 48, Harriott 59, Kerkar 80, Fuller 90.
Barnsley: Steele; Wiseman, Foster, Hassell, Kennedy; Cywka (Scotland 29), Dawson, Perkins, Mellis (O’Brien 59); O’Grady (Harewood 57), Dagnall.
Subs (not used): Alnwick, Cranie, Rose, Jones.
Sent off: Dawson 62 (foul), Kennedy 86 (foul).
Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne & Wear).
Att: 9,469 (672 Charlton).
A win of this magnitude is normally a once in a lifetime achievement so the Doctor Kish Man of the Match accolade goes to the manager, Chris Powell.