A look back at.....Brentford

I enjoyed that. The atmosphere was electric at best and decent at worst, we retrieved a point that could prove very important, and there were some terrific renditions of the Nicky Bailey chant, the one that involves our ginger-haired maestro having his way with various men's real or fictitious wives.

The match was no oil painting but it was never going to be on the craggy Griffin Park turf. Grit and endeavour were the order of the day and in those respects Charlton delivered. Wagstaff was the only disappointment and perhaps Parky made a mistake in picking the lightweight winger as opposed to Shelvey or Mckenzie, the latter in particular who looked right on his game when he came on.

Returnee Dickson was his usual bubbly self and mighty unfortunate to leave the field instead of Akpo Sodje, who for the second game running died before the end. Sam was sprightly, Bailey and Spring worked hard and the Iberian centre-back partnership of Semedo and Llera stood firm.

Norwich and Colchester are closing rapidly but with some key men to return and a kind-looking fixture list between now and March, not forgetting that we have only lost two league encounters this term, the positivity is hardly sapping out of me. He says nervously.