Dean Holden enjoyed what he saw from Charlton at Morecambe

Posted Wednesday, March 15, 2023 by PA

Charlton boss Dean Holden said his side produced their best performance since he took over as boss as they crushed Morecambe 4-1 in Sky Bet League One.

A first-half brace from Corey Blackett-Taylor and goals from Miles Leaburn and Scott Fraser gave Holden’s side a convincing three points at the Mazuma Stadium.

The only downside on a successful evening for the visitors was Donald Love’s strike for the Shrimps just after the hour.

Holden, who took over in December, said: “In my tenure that is definitely the best we have played. They have a really strong record at home but we went right at them from the start and were excellent.

“We all know it’s not been pretty in the last few games and we had a long conversation on Monday about the way we want to play and the personality we want to bring, and tonight we were a constant threat.

“It was great to get back to winning ways after a tough couple of weeks with a really good team performance and I thought we were exceptional.

“It shows what a good team we can be and we need to maintain that run now for the last 10 games. We can’t drop our levels.”

After seeing his side suffer only a second defeat in 12 home games Derek Adams was full of praise for the visitors.

He said: “Charlton looked like a really good, established League One side tonight. They started really well and their physical presence throughout the team showed all game.

“They were obviously better than us in the first half but we kept on going and created a few openings of our own – but tonight they were the better team.

“We didn’t win our duels and physically they were better than us. We kept fighting but gave away possession in good areas at times too and that was disappointing.”

Leaburn gave the visitors the lead on 17 minutes when he volleyed neatly past Connor Ripley from eight yards out.

Four minutes later the visitors doubled their lead from another corner when Ryan Inniss’ header across goal was volleyed home by Blackett-Taylor from close range.

Charlton made it 3-0 just before the break when Tyreece Campbell’s cross from the right found Blackett-Taylor, who got the wrong side of Dynel Simeu to score his second.

Morecambe hit back in the 61st minute with a well worked goal for Love but Fraser restored the three-goal advantage with a fine goal eight minutes later.