The last time Charlton opened the season with two consecutive wins was in August 2011 when they saw off Bournemouth 3-0 in the League and then beat Reading 2-1 in the League Cup. We all know what happened that season but let's not get carried away...
The team go to Home Park on Saturday to play newly promoted Plymouth Argyle in a league match for only the sixth time in the last forty years. When Charlton first entered the Third Division (South) in the 1920s the fixture was however a regular occurrence The clubs faced each other every year during that decade largely because, with only one club promoted to Division Two every season, Plymouth managed to finish runners-up for six consecutive seasons before Charlton leapfrogged them as champions in 1929.
It was to be the late 1950s before hostilities were regularly reconvened. In October 1959 Plymouth prevailed 6-4 at Home Park but were beaten 2-5 at the Valley four months later. The 60/61 season was memorable for the fact that Plymouth travelled all the way up to London on Boxing Day to be beaten 6-4. On the next day the teams met again at Home Park and this time it was Charlton's turn to lose 6-4. Twenty goals in two days! Things slowed down a bit the following year with a 3-1 win at the Valley and a 1-2 defeat away, but there was a return to cornucopia in 1962/63. In October at Home Park, after falling behind to a Keith Peacock goal in the third minute, Plymouth ran out 6-1 winners. Revenge was sweet the following March with Charlton prevailing 6-3. That is a total of 60 goals in eight games over four seasons.
Our record at Home Park in more recent times is good with two wins and two draws in our last four visits. Most memorable was perhaps the 2-1 win in 2008 when Nicky Weaver was sent off in the third minute but Charlton came from behind with ten men to prevail with two Leroy Lita goals.
Argyle's Scottish manager Derek Adams joined the club two years ago and led them to the play-offs in 2016 and promotion from second place last season. He had previously enjoyed an illustrious seven years in charge of Ross County during which he took them to the SPL and the Scottish Cup Final. He was PFA Scotland Manager of the Year in 2011-12 - hardly a surprise as his team finished twenty four points above their nearest rivals after a 34 game unbeaten run to secure promotion. This run was extended to 40 games in the top flight before eventual defeat by St Johnstone. County finished their first season in the SPL in fifth place - 1 point off European qualification.
In contrast to their visitors Argyle have lost their opening two games this year. They went down 1-2 at Peterborough last Saturday and were thumped 0-5 at Bristol City in the Caraboa Cup. Adams accepted that making nine changes to his line-up at Bristol was probably a step too far, although this was of course two fewer changes than Karl Robinson made.
Their danger man is probably Graham Carey who might get a goal or two on Saturday. Charlton will be without Magennis and Novak but I am nevertheless backing the Addicks for an accomplished 6-4 away win.
Tickets are £21 which is a little more reasonable than the £22 charged by Exeter for a midweek cup match.