Charlton Athletic produced a masterclass against Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday evening to add to what has already been an encouraging League One start under new boss Ben Garner.
The 5-1 demolition means the Addicks currently sit sixth in the table with a healthy seven points from their opening four games and firmly entrenched in a promotion hunt where they’ll be desperate to remain throughout the rest of the campaign.
Despite facing some of the pre-season favourites already, they have continued to grow into the season and the Plymouth win could well become a watershed moment.
A credible point away to Accrington on the opening day was followed by a game against much-fancied Derby County at The Valley.
A less than convincing first-half display where the Rams had enough chances to have the game sewn up was greeted by a chorus of boos at the interval before Garner demonstrated his tactical acumen in the second period.
So far this season Garner has used a 4-3-3 formation which is focused on pressing from the front and patiently building from the back with the Charlton boss tweaking the positioning of his midfield three against Derby to provide more creativity and ultimately snatch a second-half winner.
Midfielder Albie Morgan, so far one of the most consistent performers under Garner, outlined the changes after the 1-0 win: “It just wasn’t us as a team (in the first-half), our identity and what we’d been working on just wasn’t there.
“Going into the second-half I dropped deeper alongside Dobbo (George Dobson) and I think we managed to get out a lot more.
“I wouldn’t say we controlled the game but we certainly had more of a foot in it.”
While the following game against QPR in the Carabao Cup allowed a number of fringe and Academy players opportunities, the same tactical approach and energetic high press was maintained.
READ MORE: What will Charlton Athletic look like under new manager Ben Garner?
The Addicks were more than a match for their Championship opponents and it was only a piece of individual brilliance from either side that ensured the game went to penalties, where Charlton demonstrated composure to dispatch all five spot-kicks to book their place in the Second Round.
Even QPR manager Michael Beale admitted Charlton were the better side, saying: “The best team on the night went through. I think Ben (Garner) and his team were better than us, especially in the first-half.”
The league away trip to Sheffield Wednesday was further testament to the side’s new-found style and was particularly impressive considering the sweltering heat in South Yorkshire.
The Addicks frustrated the Hillsborough crowd to the extent the home side were booed off at half-time but tellingly hadn’t found the elusive goal their play had warranted.
Charlton moved the ball with purpose and continually looked to put the ball into the feet of danger men Corey Blackett-Taylor and Charlie Kirk but in the final third, they lacked the movement and individual decision-making required to prise open the Wednesday defence.
Although Jayden Stockley’s absence on the day through illness didn’t help Charlton’s cause, many would have left Hillsborough with lingering doubts over the side’s ability to turn control into goals.
But Tuesday night’s win would have silenced any potential concerns – Plymouth were unable to contend with Charlton’s continued press with new arrival Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi immediately winning over the fanbase with a sparkling debut performance.
His confidence on the ball, along with his timing and decision-making caused havoc with his individual quality setting him up to be a focal point of Charlton’s passing game over the course of the season.
While Plymouth being reduced to 10 men helped Charlton’s cause, their purposeful movement of the ball again allowed them to control the game with their ball retention giving the Pilgrims no hope of a comeback.
The squad have clearly bought into Garner’s style of play with a burgeoning self-belief and if Charlton can maintain the consistency they have already shown and score the goals they deserve, there’s no reason why they can’t realise their ambition of promotion.