Lucky Four

Post-match opinion after Saturday's bizarre 3-2 win, will likely be divided depending upon whether your love of Chris Powell is unequivocal or not.

If the former, you will acknowledge that he hasn't had enough time to change Parkinson's direct style, but point to his half-time motivational teamtalks and tactical nous that have earned a fourth win in a row (all 7 goals have been in the second period).

If the latter, you will see the same woeful lack of technique but identify that Messrs. Eccleston and Wright-Phillips (neither available to Parkinson) have added new pace and ability to scare defences.

More specifically with regard to Saturday, the former would point to the introduction of Pawel Abbott which changed the game.

The latter meanwhile would question why on earth Powell thought pairing Eccleston and Wright-Phillips (two peas in a pod) was a good idea in the first place.

Not surprisingly given recent posts I fall into the latter camp, more comfortable continuing to put results down to luck (like Wagstaff's injury which probably ensured Eccleston started the second half).

There is quite clearly is not any fundamental improvement yet, and any fan who thinks otherwise is kidding themselves. The first-half was truly abysmal yet again.

Peterborough demonstrated far better passing and movement, the ex-Rushden man Lee Tomlin a real livewire, and Craig Mackail-Smith a hive of activity upfront.

The long-haired George Boyd meanwhile directed affairs in central midfield, demonstrating the mobility which Semedo and McCormack lack, and which enabled him to regularly find himself getting the right side of Charlton's central quartet.

Thus when Tomlin scored an excellent opener, it was no surprise that the half-time boos that greeted the substitute referee's whistle seemed to signal an end to the Powell honeymoon.

The introduction of Abbott was an obvious one, although it was the decision to move Eccleston to the right wing which also changed the game.

Scott Wagstaff clearly has an eye for a goal and the intelligence to make runs that might lead to one, as demonstrated by the Addicks' only first-half chance, a weak shot after an inch-perfect Bessone through ball.

However he is rarely penetrative in terms of old-fashioned wing play, and Eccleston's more direct approach would pay rich dividends.

Ironically however, the first goal was all about a full-back and a former full-back.

Picking up on the 'second ball' (as they say in rugby) after a long hoof forward (inevitably), Simon Francis showed some hitherto unknown pace to deliver a terrific cross that Johnnie Jackson bravely finished.

The second goal was credited to Wright-Phillips but all down to Eccleston, and for once there wasn't a long ball in sight (they saved that for Abbott's third).

Running at pace at the Posh defence, the Liverpool youngster played a delightful one-two with Abbott to create space in the area.

Unselfishly he stood up an inch-perfect cross for Wright-Phillips who could not miss from six yards.

The pair of pacy strikers who had failed to make a single meaningful contribution in the first half, had suddenly combined in great style thanks to a tactical rejig.

Abbott's goal was a fortunate one, but even at 3-1 the game was far from ended as a contest, Peterborough's well-taken late consolation adding some late nervy moments.

However the Addicks held firm through six minutes of injury time to record their 9th single-goal win of the season.

It was a result which just about sums up Peterborough's season, and which took the total goals in games they've been involved in to 120.

Maybe that explains why a healthy contingent of 1,000 or so had made the trip from Cambridgeshire. 'That's Entertainment' as The Jam once said.

Despite two further wins in the intervening period, if one adjusts for the extra away support present on Saturday, the attendance was about 1,300 down on the Plymouth game and virtually back to normal Saturday turnouts.

The £5 promotion for next weekend is thus timely because if one of the aims of Powell's appointment was to boost crowds, it clearly hasn't transpired.

In the meantime it's onwards and upwards (about 300 miles) to Hartlepool, a grim though on a weekend let alone a Tuesday night, but one of the vital 'games in hand' which continue to leave automatic promotion in our hands.

The Monkey Hangers are sitting solidly in 13th position, but have conceded four goals in three of their last five games (to Brighton, Oldham and Peterborough).

With just 29 goals to their name all season, they are League One's lowest scorers whilst their -14 goal difference is 19 goals worse than Carlisle's in 16th. It's a funny old game as they say.