Charlton winger Charlie Kirk is determined to kick on in an Addicks shirt after grabbing his first goal for the club in the team’s dominant win over Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night.
Ben Garner’s side put in a five-star performance as they cruised to a 5-1 victory, and the 24-year-old sat down to reflect on the game and previous performances.
“It was a great result,” said Kirk. “Obviously with them going down to 10 men, that was probably a big factor in the game but I think even with 11 men we were well on top in the game. If my shot goes in for the handball it’s 2-0 and you’d like to think that was game over anyway. People are saying it was because of the 10 men but I think we done well regardless.
“We knew someone was going to get a good hiding soon! We’ve been saying it. The performances have been there all year. I think Sheffield Wednesday’s probably the best we’ve played so to come away with a loss, it was annoying but we were sat on the coach on the way back not really annoyed because we were like ‘we’ve played so well.’ Any other day we win that game two or 3-0 and obviously on Tuesday we went and won 5-1.”
Kirk was the provider for Charlton’s third goal, when Sean Clare unleashed an absolute stunner on the stroke of half time, and he jokingly remarked that the assist wouldn’t be spoken about as much as the strike.
“It’s all about the assist to be fair! No it was a great goal from Sean. He hits a few like that in training so we know he’s capable of it. I wasn’t surprised really.”
But the winger’s moment would finally come in the 76th minute, as his shot across goal was deflected into the net for the Addicks' fourth. After having a few opportunities prior, Kirk wheeled away in celebration, kicking the advertisement board and the facial expressions said it all, and he is hoping to put last year firmly behind him.
“It meant a lot of course,” said Kirk. “I’ve been here like a year now, well six months because I’ve been to Blackpool. It shouldn’t have took me this long to get off the mark but now I’m off the mark hopefully there’s more to come.
“Last year I’m putting behind me now. That was a crazy year for me, off the pitch, on the pitch. But this year I feel so much better in myself, feel a lot more confident and obviously Tuesday would give me the confidence again so I’ve just got to keep going.”
When asked about the impact Addicks boss Ben Garner has had, he said: “He’s been good. I’ve had a few chats and stuff with the gaffer, he’s been top drawer with me to be honest. I can’t ask for anymore.
“Last year we didn’t have a true way of playing, it was a bit gung-ho at times. We play but then we maybe go a bit longer, people didn’t know where to go at certain times. But this year, everyone knows their jobs it seems, so if that carries on I don’t see why we can’t get promoted at the end of the year.”
Charlton are back at The Valley on Saturday for the visit of Cambridge United (3pm kick off) and after an unbeaten start to 2022/23 in SE7, the winger is keen to keep that streak going.
“The gaffer said it; we need to make the home games a bit like a fortress,” he said. You win all your homes games, or 80% of your home games, you’ve got a massive chance of being up there at the end of the season so another win on Saturday would be great.”
“Off the back of a 5-1 win it can go two ways. You can either keep going or you can think ‘ah we’ll drop off a bit’ but I can’t see that with this group. I think the only way is up to be honest.”
Article by Tyler Rowlinson
The Addicks host Cambridge United at The Valley on Saturday. Click here to get your ticket.
