Akpo's brotherly Glove

27 November 2009

CHARLTON manager Phil Parkinson was full of praise for one Sodje while admitting the other was rightly given his marching orders in his side's 1-1 draw with Yeovil.

Sam Sodje was shown a straight red card for a professional foul at Huish Park last Saturday and the Nigerian international subsequently missed Tuesday's game with Bristol Rovers as a result.

However, his younger brother Akpo, on-loan from Sheffield Wednesday, rescued a point for the Addicks with a stunning long-range, second-half effort.

"Sam had to go," former Colchester boss Parkinson admitted.

"I had a chat with Akpo this week and said I'd brought him in to play, but Deon Burton and Dave Mooney responded to him being on the bench last week by scoring a goal each. He was outstanding. The goal itself, if that was all he did today, was a goal that would be talked about at the end. It's as good as you are likely to see across the country."

Although the SE7 outfit had 10 men for over an hour of the game, Parkinson felt his charges were unlucky not to make the long trip home with a maximum return.

The visitors laid siege on their host's goal for most of the second half and were perhaps unlucky not to snatch a winner.

The heroic efforts of the 10-man Addicks came on the back of the previous weekend's 5-1 drubbing of MK Dons and Parkinson believes the performances clearly indicate a return to form.

"Taking everything into account, we should be happy with a point but - after the way we played when we were down to 10 men - it should have been all three," he said. "We totally dominated proceedings in the second half and credit to the boys as they approached the game very well.

"It was a fantastic performance, full of character and commitment from the lads. And we are back in a good groove again."

The Addicks are sitting pretty in second spot in League One, six points behind leaders Leeds and Parkinson reserved special praise for the 1,500 fans who braved the stormy conditions to roar on the team.

"The highlight of the day was our supporters. For 1,500 to follow us down and stand in the pouring rain in the open terrace was incredible," he added.