Inside view with Charlton midfielder Lloyd Sam
08:53, 15 September 2009
updated: 08:54, 15 September 2009
I've taken a bit of stick from the lads during training this week after I re-enacted my goal celebration in the car park outside the stadium after Saturday’s match against Brentford.
A fan had waited to get my autograph and then asked if I would do it. I had no problem obliging – but, unfortunately for me, a member of staff saw and told everyone else!
That led to more than a bit of banter among the boys but you expect that and it just goes to show how high spirits are at the moment.
Six wins from six league games is more than we could have hoped for at the start of the season and I feel I’m playing well.
Sky gave me the man of the match award on Saturday but I think it’s the goals I’m getting and the positions I’m getting into, that is a better example.
My mentality when I get in the box has changed, perhaps because I feel fitter than ever this season. I don’t just want to get into the box, I want to get in there and attack the ball.
I did exactly that against Tranmere and scored twice and then I scored again on Saturday, although that was really a team goal because it was such a great move.
I’ve been working on my goalscoring but it was a long, long wait until the Tranmere game. It was 18 months since my last goal, I’ve been told, so I’m happy to be scoring because it was on my mind all the time but I’m even happier we’re winning games.
The manager said recently he felt that Scott Wagstaff coming on and scoring against Walsall had given me a bit of a gee-up and I suppose I know what he means.
Competition gives everyone a kick up the backside. You know if you’re not performing then someone else can come in. I think I had been playing well this season but needed to add goals to that.
That’s even more true when you play with just one man up front; the midfield needs to chip in.
Nicky Bailey has done fantastically well at the end of last season and has started in similar fashion and we know we’ve all got to step up to the plate.
We ended Brentford’s unbeaten league run on Saturday and it’s another big game this weekend, against Southampton.
I’m sure everyone will be talking about the return of Alan Pardew but we’d rather concentrate on what we’re doing and continuing our good run.