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.”
Martino resigns as Inter Miami coach after early playoff exit
Gerardo Martino has resigned as Inter Miami's head coach due to personal reasons, the MLS side have confirmed.
The Argentine ends his 17-month stint in charge of the Herons following their MLS Cup exit just under a fortnight ago.
Martino, who oversaw Miami's Leagues Cup triumph soon after his arrival last season, guided the franchise to this year's Supporters' Shield with a regular-season record tally of 74 points.
However, they were eliminated by his former side Atlanta United in round one of the MLS Cup playoffs.
Miami opened their best-of-three series against Atlanta with a 2-1 win, only to lose by the same scoreline in Game 2 before falling to a dramatic 3-2 defeat in the decider.
“It has been an honour to work at such a special club, and to lead such a special team," Martino said.
"I’ve enjoyed my stay at Inter Miami and will treasure the memories made and relationships forged here for the rest of my life.
"I depart with nothing but gratitude for my time here and would like to offer sincere thanks to everyone that made it possible."
Fonseca: Milan have 'respect' but 'are not afraid' of Juventus
Paulo Fonseca said Milan have plenty of "respect" for Juventus, but his side "are not afraid" of their rivals ahead of their Serie A clash on Saturday.
After a slow start to the season, Milan are six points adrift of Juventus in the table, but only a place behind them, as they aim to make up the ground on the top six.
The Rossoneri have played a game less than Thiago Motta's side, and could catapult themselves back into the Scudetto picture with a win this weekend.
Milan return to the San Siro for the first time since a 2-0 defeat to Napoli at the end of October, and could register two consecutive home defeats in Serie A for the first time since between October and November in 2023.
"It is not decisive, but it is important, like all of them," Fonseca told reporters ahead of Saturday's game.
"I can't say that the game against Juve is more important than the next one against Empoli because we need consecutive victories.
"It's a different game, but I always think positively. We are Milan, we have a lot of respect for the 'Bianconeri', but we are not afraid. We are here ready to win."
A boost for Milan is that Juventus will be without top scorer Dusan Vlahovic for Saturday's clash after returning from international duty with a muscle problem.
Despite the Serbian's absence, Fonseca was aware of the danger his probable replacement, Timothy Weah, would pose, having managed him during his time at Lille.
"Juve knows how to adapt very well. I don't know if Weah will play," Fonseca said.
"Weah is very fast and attacks deep, not like Vlahovic. It will not be the same thing of course.
"We will have to pay attention to movements in depth and less to support work, because he is a player who does less of this job."
While Fonseca has endured a stuttering start to his tenure at the San Siro, Milan have shown they have the ability to match the very best.
They beat rivals Inter in October before stunning Real Madrid at the Bernabeu in their last Champions League encounter, keeping their play-off hopes alive.
"I believe it's a matter of motivation and not pressure," Fonseca said.
"Against Inter, Juve and Real it is easy to be motivated, it's more difficult to go to Cagliari and have the same motivation.
"Pressure is always with us, every day. If we don't want to have pressure, then we shouldn't be here."
'Right guy at the right time' - Amorim confident of changing Man Utd's fortunes
Ruben Amorim believes he is the "right guy at the right time" to turn Manchester United's fortunes around.
The 39-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier this month to keep him at Old Trafford until June 2027, replacing Erik ten Hag after he was sacked in October.
Amorim is the sixth permanent United manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, having left Sporting CP to take charge during the international break.
He won two Primeira Liga titles as Sporting head coach as well as two Taca da Liga trophies, while he led the club to a perfect start in the league this season, winning all 11 of their games.
United sit 13th in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Ipswich Town on 15 points, though they are just four points behind Chelsea in third.
Amorim recognised the size of the task ahead of him in Manchester but is confident he can make a change.
"I'm a little bit of a dreamer and I believe in myself, and I believe in the club," he said during his first press conference.
"I think we have the same idea, the same mindset and that can help.
"I truly believe in the players; I know you don't believe a lot, but I do. I want to try new things. You guys don't think it's possible, I do.
"Call me naive, but I believe I am the right guy at the right time. I truly believe I am the right guy."
Aged 39 years and 302 days, Amorim will be the youngest to take charge of his first match for the Red Devils since Wilf McGuinness in August 1969 (31y 288d).
United have won just four of their 11 league games so far this season, and have struggled in front of goal, netting just 12 times so far.
Expected to implement his favoured 3-4-3 formation, Amorim admitted it would take time for the club to adapt and has asked for patience as the players get used to his tactics.
"I know at Manchester United we have to win games. We need a lot of time because it's a tough league, we have to improve a lot to try to win the title," he added.
"We have to change the physical aspect of the team. I don't know how long it will take."
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