Michael Appleton described his first victory as Charlton head coach as “huge” after they beat in-form Wycombe 3-1 at The Valley.
All three of the Addicks’ victories this season have been in SE7 and Appleton was brought in to make sure they do not let a third successive League One campaign fizzle away to a mid-table finish.
The victory over the Chairboys – with Miles Leaburn, Slobodan Tedic and Corey Blackett-Taylor all scoring – moves them up to 16th but only six points behind Barnsley and Exeter, in fifth and sixth respectively.
“You want to get that first win as early as you possibly can,” said Appleton, who replaced Dean Holden earlier this month. “It’s almost like a striker joining a club and getting off the mark.
“Against a side like Wycombe it is even bigger, because they are on such great form.
“They have got players in that dressing room who are used to being around that top six every single year for the last half a decade or more.
“So for the players to weather the storm like they did in that early part of the second half and come through it is hopefully going to breed confidence.”
Blackett-Taylor is out of contract next summer and Charlton technical director Andy Scott confirmed recently that bids were rejected in the summer transfer window.
Asked if the winger’s livewire displays could also be a negative in terms of attracting more interest, Appleton said: “I’m very much here and now – I want him to play like that every week and score goals every week.
“If he goes on to bigger and better things then so be it. All I would say is we have to make sure, and I knew we will, that if that ever did happen we have got someone who can just slide in.”
Wycombe had levelled the contest through a superb volley by West Ham loanee Freddie Potts but saw their five-match unbeaten league run – in which they had taken 13 points – come to an end.
Wanderers boss Matt Bloomfield said: “We were the ones in the ascendency. It looked like there was one team going to go and win the game – unfortunately that wasn’t to be.
“I’m so proud of the way the boys conducted themselves in the second half. I felt we were below par first half and lacked that energy and drive.
“Even before Freddie’s goal that was just a reward for what we were doing.
“We created so many opportunities to go and get the second goal but we were caught by a sucker punch.
“It’s the second time Tedic has done that to us after his goal for Barnsley last year.
“I have to talk about the way we passed the ball, played attacking football and rolled into wide positions to try and get crossing opportunities – it’s a real tough one to take.
“We deserved to get something. We need to not let this affect our belief.”
Fulham confirm Tosin exit as Chelsea move looms
Fulham have confirmed Tosin Adarabioyo is leaving the club on a free transfer, with Chelsea reportedly close to agreeing a deal with the centre-back.
Tosin was linked with a number of clubs – including Manchester United and Newcastle United – as he approached the end of his contract with Fulham.
He first joined the club from Manchester City in 2020 and has made 132 appearances for the Cottagers across all competitions, helping them win the Championship title in 2021-22.
Boss Marco Silva had expressed hope the 26-year-old might pen a new deal last month, but reports suggest he is now set to sign for West London rivals Chelsea.
Fulham formally confirmed his departure on Wednesday, with back-up goalkeeper Marek Rodak also leaving as a free agent.
Willian and Bobby De Cordova-Reid remain in negotiations over new contracts, with the former attracting interest from Saudi Pro League clubs.
Wirtz focused on Euro 2024 amid Bayern Munich links
Florian Wirtz says now is not the time to discuss his Bayer Leverkusen future, as he prepares to lead Germany's bid for Euro 2024 glory on home soil.
Wirtz has emerged as one of the most highly rated attacking midfielders in world football, starring for Xabi Alonso's team as they went unbeaten to become Bundesliga champions in 2023-24.
He was named Bundesliga Player of the Year after scoring 11 goals and adding 11 assists, also helping Die Werkself win the DFB-Pokal to make it a double.
The likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United have all been linked with a move for Wirtz, while German media reports claim he is Bayern's top long-term target.
Wirtz is under contract at the BayArena until 2027, though, and he will not contemplate his club future while Julian Nagelsmann's side prepare for next week's Euros opener against Scotland.
"Everyone knows my contract," Wirtz told Sky Sports in Germany. "It's not the moment to talk about it now.
"I'm definitely having a very good time at Leverkusen, I feel good. In my head it's now 100 per cent about the European Championship. I don't care about anything else right now."
Wirtz has won 17 senior caps for his country, scoring his first international goal in an impressive friendly win over France in March.
Euro 2024 will be the fourth major international tournament to be hosted solely by Germany (or West Germany prior to unification).
They reached at least the semi-finals at the previous three, beating Johan Cruyff's iconic Netherlands side in the 1974 World Cup final and going out in the last four at Euro 1988 and the 2006 World Cup.
However, they have not won a single knockout game at a major tournament since Euro 2016. They suffered back-to-back group-stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and were beaten by England in the last 16 at Euro 2020.
England's Euro 2025 qualification hopes 'boosted' after France win, says Wiegman
Sarina Wiegman believes England's 2-1 win over France on Tuesday was the boost they needed to keep their Euro 2025 qualification hopes alive.
The Lionesses lost 2-1 to the same opponents at St. James' Park on Friday, with the manager left rueing lapses in concentration over the set-pieces that led to France’s goals.
In the reverse fixture in Saint-Etienne, England dominated the first half, as goals from Georgia Stanway and Alessia Russo put them in control.
Leah Williamson conceded a penalty, which was coolly converted by Kadidiatou Diani in the second half, but England held on to see out a vital win and move just two points behind Les Bleues in Group A3.
Wiegman praised her side's response to Friday's defeat but remained coy about their chances ahead of their next qualifiers in July.
"A team effort," Wiegman told ITV Sport. "You know the second half is going to be different, and they are going to push, but we worked so hard to stay together and keep the win.
"You know they are going to press. They were really chasing us. We have to make better decisions, be a bit calmer. We played into their hands a bit. We know when they win the ball there, they have players that are so quick. We want to take those moments out, of course.
"Of course [the win] gives a boost. We want to win, and we are in a better position now. The group is totally open. We said from the beginning this is a really tough group with top level teams. It helps when you win, but most of all, we did better than Friday."
Russo was one of the standout players for England during the victory, and she echoed Wiegman's sentiments.
"I think we got our standards back to where we wanted them," Russo said. "There are still parts we will work on for sure. We know the level is higher than ever and to even qualify for the Euros is going to be harder than ever.
"I just tried to do what I could. France are a top side with some of the best centre-backs in the world. It was nice to get on the scoresheet, but we created a lot of better chances tonight.
"We know our standards have to be higher. We probably let them slip a bit recently. We know the talent we have. We know the potential we have, and we saw a lot more flashes of it tonight."
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