Reading 1 (Savage 82) Charlton 1 (May 42): Reading won 4-2 on penalties

Safely removed from frigid Berkshire, Kevin Nolan followed Charlton’s latest Cup exit on Livestream.

Beaten 4-2 on penalties by Reading, Charlton achieved the singular feat of departing all three of 2023-24’s domestic cup competitions before actually reaching ’04. They have made almost an art form of “concentrating on the league”, the wisdom of which will be tested on Saturday at The Valley by Cambridge United.

If Michael Appleton was treating this Bristol Street business lightly, his strong-looking selection indicated otherwise. Only the presence of debutant right winger Henry Rylah stood out among the usual first teamers, which meant a switch to the left for Tyreece Campbell, a square peg in a round hole and, if his body language was any guide, none too pleased with his re-deployment. Rylah did OK before giving way to 17-year-old Micah M’Bick, while Campbell, apart from expertly setting up Alfie May’s goal, achieved little else. It seems, at times, that young blood is introduced by Charlton as no more than a PR exercise. Mind you, a growing injury list currently leaves Appleton little choice.

The manager – and supporters – will be fervently hoping that the Sparrows Lane treatment room will not now be coping with impressive centre back Lloyd Jones and the ever-dependable George Dobson, both victims of what are euphemistically referred to as “knocks.” Jones was replaced by Terell Thomas at half-time, while Dobson was relieved by Karoy Anderson on 70 minutes, their prudent withdrawals a caution against playing one game, with an eye on another.

There was nothing half-hearted in Charlton’s approach to this frankly meaningless knockout encounter. They gave it a serious shot and were in front with less than ten minutes remaining. But their familiar inability to go the distance came back to haunt them and Reading’s equaliser came as more an inevitability than a surprise. A corporate lapse in concentration allowed substitute Kelvin Ehibhatiomsha to pick out Charlie Savage in complete isolation but still 25 yards from the Addicks’ goal. Switching the ball from right foot to left, son-of-Savage curled an absolute beauty into the top left corner, with Ashley Maynard-Brewer comprehensively beaten.

The penalty shoot-out held out hope but that hope proved to be illusory. When May’s first spotkick was saved by Joel Pereira, Charlton’s fate was sealed. One of their penalties was emphatically converted by Michael Hector, which completed an outstanding contribution by the big centre back, but Louie Watson’s miss brought down the curtain.

May’s first half opener was typical of the sawn-off marksman’s ability to sniff out a chance. He delayed his run into the Royals’ six-yard box as Hector’s long, raking pass found Campbell on the left and was perfectly placed to turn the hard, low cross past Pereira. Later on, May’s ball-juggling control bamboozled Reading lynchpin Nelson Abbey as they competed for another long ball but Pereira saved alertly at his near post. As the visitors persisted in overplaying and yielding possession in dangerous areas, the virtues of the long ball spoke for themselves but “clearing your lines” continues to be frowned on. And “getting rid of it” belongs in another century.

Ploughing on in Berkshire, meanwhile, the Addicks rode their luck, never more clearly than when Caylon Vickers shot inexplicably wide from eight yards after Maynard-Brewer had brilliantly saved from Lewis Wing at point-blank range. The Aussie keeper also plunged to his left to turn aside long shot specialist Wing’s deceptive effort. Dobson’s full-blooded block of Vickers’ penalty spot drive also keynoted Charlton’s defiance and suggested the possibility that if Charlton’s wholehearted skipper had still been around, Savage’s chance might not have been so clearcut. But there you go, if ifs and ands were pots and pans, there’d be no work for tinkers.

Within three decisive days of Cup failure (apologies for bringing up the Gillingham surrender), Charlton’s league deck has been cleared for action. No more distractions complicate their task, no further excuses will be entertained. The Addicks are now a fixture in League One and have failed to mount a serious bid for promotion since they were relegated in 2020. When your home record is spotted by losses to the likes of Port Vale and Bristol Rovers, while your away tariff boasts one win in eight games, mid-table mediocrity is no more than to be expected. And the visit of Cambridge United on Saturday, with old foe Neil Harris newly in charge, is suddenly complicated. No sense, no feeling, though, see you at The Valley. What’s the alternative?

Reading: Pereira, Mola, Elliott, Smith (Ebihatiomsha 72), Mukaria (Azeez 65), Hutchinson (Savage 65), Bindon, M’bengue (Carlson 46), Wing (Knibbs 65), Abbey, Vickers. Not used: Button, Dean. Booked: Carson.

Referee: Peter Wright.

Charlton 3 (Blackett-Taylor 12, McGrandles 51, May 68) Sutton Utd 0.

Cool, composed and cohesive, a strong-looking Charlton side had too much of everything for League Two visitors Sutton United and strolled effortlessly into the knockout stages of what is now called the Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Struggling at the very bottom of the 92-club EFL pyramid, despite an opening day 5-1 thrashing of promotion aspirants Notts County, the Us need Cup distractions like the proverbial hole-in-the-head. Their less than enthusiastic approach to this confusing competition can be summed up by the 71st minute introduction of 42 year-old substitute Craig Dundas.

Charlton’s own attitude underwent a dramatic volte-face recently after their seriously under-strength selection was humiliated by Cray Valley PM in the first round of the FA Cup. Stung by criticism, manager Michael Appleton named a no-nonsense side for the replay, which was won comfortably in a second-half blitz. He made no such mistake against Sutton and acknowledged that his carefully calibrated side’s “attitude was spot-on. They showed a really good appetite for the game. There was a hunger and desire.”

There were also impressively relaxed performances from his eleven starters and from the five substitutes who supported them. Among several candidates for MOM -oops, POM – was the often unfairly maligned Conor McGrandles, whose midfield generalship and unhurried distribution were capped by a rare goal. McGrandles’ Scottish know-how was backed up by Louie Watson’s tireless foraging and forward-facing movement. Behind them, Tennai Watson and Lucas Ness were sound, unruffled defenders, as was the versatile Nathan Asiimwe. They were facing weak opposition but were a joy to watch in dealing with it.

Charlton’s business-like attitude was clear from the outset. They might have moved into a 10th minute lead but Miles Leaburn’s low snapshot rebounded off the foot of Steve Arnold’s right post. As it was, they were required to wait just two more minutes before Corey Blackett-Taylor fired them into a lead they were never likely to relinquish. Supplied by the elegant Scott Fraser, he turned Ryan Jackson inside-out before smashing a low drive across Arnold into the bottom right corner.

The visitors were being outplayed but rallied sufficiently for towering centre forward Harry Smith to head Rob Milsom’s corner into the side-netting but were indebted to Arnold for a smart save to keep out Tyreece Campbell’s fiercely angled shot at his near post. Shortly before the break, They should have fallen further behind when substitute Harry Beautyman was adjudged to have brought Campbell down as the speedster eluded him on the left byline. The wrongs-or-rights of referee Carl Brooks’ decision to award a penalty became academic when Blackett-Taylor drilled the spotkick off the woodwork.

United’s relief lasted five minutes into the second half when they were effectively finished off by McGrandles second goal of the season. Set up by Campbell’s persistence on the left, the tall playmaker’s first time effort from outside the penalty area beat Arnold, who was left helpless by an unlucky deflection off Ben Goodliffe on its way inside his right-hand post.

Any chance Matt Gray’s side had of working back into contention disappeared when Smith missed their best chance near the hour mark. An isolated error by Tennai Watson allowed Josh Coley to get behind the Addicks’ wrongfooted defence and set up a clearcut shooting chance which Smith hit tamely into Sam Walker’s hands. The suddenly busy keeper then saved smartly at his near post from Omari Parker before Charlton’s third goal finished off the outclassed visitors.

Alfie May had been among a trio of 6oth minute substitutes and wasted little time in adding to his growing tally of goals this season. The tireless little enthusiast was on hand to nod home right wing Fraser’s cross, after Campbell had dispossessed Beautyman and supplied his skipper.

There should be quiet satisfaction if no excessive celebration of this routine victory over League Two’s bottom club. But Sutton were put in their place by these steadily improving Addicks, whose one-touch passing was electric and eloquent. They played well within themselves, no doubt with upcoming league commitments in mind, but this was a timely boost in confidence and self-belief. They’re as good potentially as any side in League One. There’s no better time than now to prove it.

Charlton: Walker, Asiimwe, Ness, Tennai Watson. Edun (Jones 60), Blackett-Taylor (May 60), McGrandles (Dobson 60), Tyreece Campbell, Louie Watson, Fraser (Kedwell 75), Leaburn (Tedic 75). Not used: Adegoke, Chem Campbell.

Referee: Carl Brook. Att: 1,377 (294 visiting).

Wigan Athletic 2 (Aasgaard 84, Humphrys 90) Charlton 3 (May 21,31, Blackett-Taylor 43).

Gamely whittling away at their usual points penalty, Wigan must have fancied their chances of making further progress when Charlton arrived at cavernous DW Stadium on Tuesday evening. Sending the Addicks to this rugby league stronghold at Halloween just had to be someone’s idea of a seasonal laugh, some macabre stab at gallows humour.

Some laugh… some humour as it turned out because, for 84 sublime minutes, plus seven added to the first half, Sean Maloney’s nervous Tics were played off their soulless park, a gloomy venue which justifies the taunt that “your ground’s too big for you”. Unhappily – some might say predictably – the hugely impressive visitors abruptly caved in, had their three goal lead reduced to one and crawled over the line with their dignity in tatters. In the immediate aftermath of their sudden collapse, Michael Appleton insisted that “I’m not going to focus on the last 10 minutes… I’ll focus on what I’ve seen before.” And if you swallow that, you’ll swallow just about anything.

Appleton’s right, of course, to enjoy the rest of his side’s sublime performance before tackling the late defensive nightmare which threatened to ruin their perfect evening. And there was plenty to savour as his sweetly synchronised Addicks toyed with their bewildered hosts before retiring for a break already, so it seemed, out of sight. From sound goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer to restless buzzsaw Alfie May up front, Charlton were a well-oiled machine, to which Wigan had no answer.

It was May who put the Londoners in front just past the 20-minute mark. The opening exchanges had been even, with Callum Lang’s free kick clipping the bar and Tyreece Campbell forcing a smart save from Sam Tickle in reply. Then Louis Watson’s precise cross was headed forcefully goalwards by May, saved magnificently by Tickle but bundled over the line by the persistent May.

Charlton’s pocket-sized dynamo needed just ten more minutes to double his tally with his 11th goal of an already prolific campaign. Again the talented Watson provided the telling pass, which May moved on to his left foot before beating Tickle with a low strike into the bottom right corner. It was heady stuff to which Corey Blackett-Taylor added a flourish two minutes before the break.

Blackett-Taylor had been capably handled by ex-Addick Sean Clare but eluded his marker as Miles Leaburn cleverly flicked George Dobson’s laser-powered pass into his stride. A crisp right-footed drive left Tickle helpless on its way inside the left post. The visitors were comfortably in control and the interval arrived as an unwanted interruption.

There was no obvious warning of the decline to come as Charlton continued where they had left off in the second period. With Michael Hector in commanding form, they defended efficiently and seemed capable of increasing their lead. Campbell, feisty and mischievous on the left flank, came close to doing so when he hit a post and then forced a sharp save from Tickle. But a note of caution was promptly issued by young Norwegian Thelo Aasgaard, who arrived at the far post to awkwardly shovel a deep cross from Callum McManaman, a last survivor of Wigan’s 2013 FA Cup winning team, narrowly over the bar.

Aasgaard went one better with six minutes remaining by exchanging sharp passes with lively substitute Martial Godo and beating Maynard-Brewer with a ferocious shot at his near post. The tables were dramatically turned now and Wigan piled on the pressure by scoring again in the last minute of normal time.

Godo had made a huge difference and it was his low cross from the left that was taken in his stride by Steven Humphrys and rifled past a blameless Maynard-Brewer, with substitute Charlie Kirk an uninvolved witness. It left the shellshocked Addicks seven endless added minutes to negotiate before 415 bravest of the brave pilgrims and many more stay-at-home couch surfers were able to celebrate. The late turn-around was par for the course and no more than experienced Charlton followers have come to expect. Suffering is part of the process… it goes with the territory.

Any account of this important win on the road – Charlton’s first of a stuttering season – should include the prodigious contribution made by George Dobson who was, in a word, immense. Much more than the midfield destroyer he is frequently dismissed as being, the skipper’s passing and movement were exemplary. He was involved in two goals, covered more ground than any other player and stood out. Mind you, he was responsible for one near-disastrous pass, which gave Wigan a fleeting opportunity but thankfully amounted to nothing – thanks, in part to his efforts in recovery. If nothing else, though, his error should provide the Dobson naysayers with material for their usual backbiting. The rest of us will continue to appreciate George’s wide array of talents which featured, on Tuesday evening, an outrageous flick over Liam Shaw’s head which led indirectly to Blackett-Taylor’s fine goal. Best enjoy him while you can… you know what they say about not missing something until it’s gone!

Wigan: Tickle, Clare, Hughes, Morrison, Jones (Mcmanaman 62), Shaw (Smith 46), Adeeko, Pearce, Aasgaard, Lang (Godo 46), Wyke (Humphrys 46). Not used: Amos, Rekik, Magennis. Booked: Adeeko, Aasgaard.

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Asiimwe, Hector, Jones, Tennai Watson (Thomas 71), Louie Watson (Kirk 83), Dobson, Camara (T. Campbell 10), May, Blackett-Taylor (Fraser 71), Leaburn (Tedic 83). Not used: Walker, Ness. Booked: Tennai Watson.

Referee: Paul Howard. Att: 8,486 (415 visiting).

Lincoln City 3 (Adelakun 33, 57, Roughan 78) Charlton 1 (May 10).

Charlton’s five-game unbeaten run under new boss Michael Appleton came to a sobering, juddering halt on Tuesday night when Lincoln City came from behind to win this clash of sides probably destined for mid-table mediocrity. Or, if you’re one of those glass-half-full characters, you might choose to regard it as mid-table security.

It had all looked encouraging as the Addicks got off to a rare front-foot start and made it count by taking the lead in fine style after only ten minutes. Taking up where they left off in destroying Reading three days earlier, they were irresistible as Scott Fraser arrowed an inch-perfect pass outside Jack Mitchell to send Tyreece Campbell on a lung-busting sprint to the left byline. Reaching the ball on its last revolution before going out of play, the speed merchant managed a low cross into the six-yard box where Alfie May forced it over the line with an unspecified part of his anatomy. Fraser’s vision, Campbell’s blistering pace, May’s predatory finish – they all combined to convince us that Charlton’s miserable away record was about to improve drastically. How wrong we were – the goal was in fact as good as it got on a thoroughly chastening evening.

Though maintaining his customary calm demeanour, there was simmering anger underscoring Appleton’s post-game analysis. “We just didn’t give ourselves a chance tonight” he remarked, “we just didn’t compete enough with them. And if you do that against a really physical side like Lincoln, there’s only going to be one scenario that’s going to happen and that’s what happened. Once the second goal went in, there were one or two players who didn’t really think they could get back in the game. I’ve not seen that so that’s something I’m certainly aware of tonight and I don’t want it to happen again.”

Appleton is clearly a cool customer who treats victory and defeat with equal equanimity but the soft-centred nature of this first reverse appears to have got under his skin. He was, of course, unlikely to name the “one or two” players he had in mind but he might want to re-think the number involved. There were, in fact, more than a few guilty parties as Charlton seemed at pains to re-habilitate the stricken Imps once they’d taken the lead. Possession was abjectly surrendered, passes went astray, not a single one-on-one duel was won. The Addicks were strangely spiritless and their opponents sensed the shift in momentum. They could hardly have done otherwise.

Inspiring City’s immediate recovery were long-throw specialist Hakeeb Adelakun and Danish wingback Lasse Sorensen. They were first heard of when Adelakum’s guided missile reached Sorensen, who forced a brilliant diving save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer, virtually alone in emerging with credit from this unnerving fiasco. Another personal delivery from Adelakum was met on the volley by Sorensen and was goalbound until Sean Roughan gamely blocked it with his unmentionables. As the visitors continued their self-harm policy, an equaliser seemed not so much likely as inevitable. It duly arrived just past the half hour mark.

A dangerous right wing cross from Jack Burroughs pitted Adelaku and Lloyd Jones in direct confrontation with each other, a head-to-head confrontation, from which the former predictably emerged the winner. Cleverly turning the defender to his advantage, Adelakum exploited a favourable bounce and hammered an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net. Charlton were already a beaten rabble. Only the formalities remained.

Before the interval, Sorensen wasted Ethan Erhahon’s measured cross by blasting hopelessly wide, then was foiled twice by Charlton’s defiant goalkeeper as their personal duel continued. Maynard-Brewer’s heroics ensured that his sleepwalking team reached half-time on terms. Hardly any witnesses at LNER Stadium or more sensibly safe at home expected anything but a comfortable home win. Shortly after the break, they were proved right.

Thwarted by Maynard-Brewer in their first half confrontations, Sorensen changed tack and combined with Roughan in setting up Adelakum to tap home Lincoln’s second and ultimately winning goal. Lincoln were already home and dry by the time Jack Vale’s luckily deflected pass sent Roughan through to complete what was, scoreline apart, an embarrassing rout.

On the back of a five-game unbeaten sequence, this defeat would normally be treated as inevitable and as no reason to panic. Losing goes with the territory and the eleven points won since Appleton took over have already re-energised Charlton’s drab season. But the boss plainly sensed, indeed saw, an ominous lack of backbone in what might be argued his strongest team. Even while in front, they were easy meat for one of League One’s more modest sides. There’s an immediate opportunity to put things right on Saturday when Blackpool visit us but… let’s put it this way, the bookies won’t be besieged by punters anxious to lump on Charlton, even at the inviting odds anticipated. This one sort of knocked the stuffing out of both manager and fans. But there you go… see you at The Valley. No sense, no feeling, didn’t get where I am today with either of those bringing me down.

Lincoln: Jensen, Mitchell, Jackson, O’Connor, Burroughs, Hamilton, Erhahon, Roughan, Sorensen (Eyoma 89), Adelakun (Vale 72), Smith (Duffy 79). Not used: Wright, Brown, Makama, Shodipo.

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Asiimwe, Hector, Jones, Thosmas, Dobson, Fraser (L.Watson 74), T. Campbell (C.Campbell 74), May, Blackett-Taylor (Tedic 84), Leaburn (Camara 61). Not used: Walker, Ness, T.Watson.

Referee: Daniel Middleton. Att: 7,314 (600 visiting).

Charlton 4 (Kirk 4, Leaburn 30, 45+2, Louie Watson 49) Aston Villa U21 2 (Moore 73, Alcock 81).

A tiny but appreciative gathering at The Valley on Tuesday evening watched a hastily assembled Charlton side spike Aston Villa’s young guns during a first half of effortless superiority. Buoyant, bouncy and above all as free as the river-tinged air, the Addicks – mostly kids themselves – toyed with the Midlanders before packing them off at the break four goals down and effectively out of this EFL Trophy tie.

It couldn’t last, of course, and the second period told a different story. Villa’s pride was stung and they hauled themselves back into contention with two fortune-favoured goals. And had Tommi O’Reilly not messed up a 50th minute penalty, they might have come close to pulling off an unlikely recovery. Instead they finished a well beaten team.

Those opening 45+7 minutes were a joy to watch as an assortment of accurate passes zipped around the well-watered turf. Villa were run ragged as their hosts played with the handbrake off and clearly expected to score from every attack. Their youthful exuberance was paternally supervised by the presence, in central midfield, of Scott Fraser, the fulcrum through which Charlton’s approach play was regulated. Hardly a veteran himself, Fraser’s foot-on-the-ball calmness provided balance between uncontrolled and measured aggression. He must surely be the first name on Michael Appleton’s teamsheet, a regular choice whatever system is employed. It makes sense to pick your best players, then adapt your system to suit them. Class, after all, is permanent. Systems are merely ephemeral.

It was Fraser who, inevitably, set Charlton on their way with a gorgeous 4th minute assist. Picked out by Tennai Watson in one of those “pockets of space” you hear about, he delivered a precisely judged cross to the far post which Charlie Kirk sidefooted on the volley past Fil Marschall. A ballwatching Kyrie Pierre, caught on the back foot, had almost the entire first half to concoct an explanation for his boss Inigo Idiakez at the interval. Good luck with that, Kyrie.

The bewildered Villans lasted until the half hour mark before capitulating again. They were finding Miles Leaburn’s combination of muscularity and ball-shielding difficult to handle and Kerr Smith struggled as the big centre forward backed in and rolled him as they disputed Tennai Watson’s ball in to feet. Smith’s awkward challenge, made with his wrong foot close to goal, brought down Leaburn Jr, who picked himself up to dispassionately convert the clearcut penalty.

Alongside Fraser in midfield, meanwhile, Louie Watson’s stop-go bursts of acceleration were posing problems for the visitors. An elusive bundle of creative energy, the Luton Town loanee was impossible to pin down. It was reasonable to question, however, whether an occasional goal was part oh his impressive pass-and move repertoire. The fresh-faced kid duly delivered in the 39th minute with his first in Charlton’s colours by smoothly controlling Fraser’s low pass with his back to goal, then turning away from Josh Feeney and drilling a crisp drive inside the right post.

In first half added time, young Louie masterminded Charlton’s fourth goal, which seemed to have placed his side well out of reach of the outclassed Brummies. His pass enabled Leaburn to again roll the persecuted Smith and find Marschall’s net with a left-footed daisycutter. The apparent coup-de-grace ended a painful session of boys against fellow boys (with the odd man or two tipping the scale for the home boys).

An early warning that the second half might not be similarly plain sailing was served when Louie Watson blotted an otherwise spotless copybook by crudely hauling Smith to the ground as he moved on to Rico Richards’ right wing cross. Villa’s general haplessness was neatly summed up by O’Reilly’s spotkick which clipped the bar on its way into a virtually empty Jimmy Seed Stand. The visitors seemed intent on making life as simple as possible for the Addicks but possibly fearing Idiakez’s irritation, persevered until they finally broke through with 20 minutes remaining.

The goal, through which they reduced the arrears was as lucky as it was scruffy. O’Reilly’s close range miskick might have been comical if it hadn’t set up Kobei Moore to finish unconvincingly past a wrongfooted Ashley Maynard-Brewer. With Charlton effectively finished for the evening, substitute Todd Alcock’s inswinging left wing corner found the far top corner, with Charlton’s Aussie keeper straining vainly to keep it out. Technically a goalkeeping error, of course, which conveniently overlooks the treacherous flight of Alcock’s delivery.

Charlton’s low key second half failed to erase the pleasure of their earlier performance. When they are on song and in this mood, they rank alongside the best teams in League One. Anyone who endured the limitations of Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town on telly 24 hours previously, must surely have concluded as much. This hardly guarantees them 12 points when they meet Burton and Cheltenham but a stewards’ enquiry might be due if they wind up with any less. With the skill and resolve at his disposal, Appleton is entitled to demand at least a top six finish. Not to mention, further progress in the EFL Trophy, in which they face Sutton Utd at The Valley on Tuesday November 14th. Here’s hoping their league commitments don’t get in their way!

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Laqeretabua (Tennai Watson 24), Elerewe, Ness, Fraser (Kedwell 74), Tyreece Campbell (May 65), Louie Watson (Tedic 65),
Chem Campbell, Asiimwe, Leaburn (Aneke 65), Kirk. Not used: Molyneux, Jones. Booked: Louie Watson, Tedic.

Aston Villa u-21: Marschall, Chrisene (Munroe 54), Richards (Pavey 83), Iroegbunam (Alcock 58), Rowe (Borland 74), Tommi O’Reilly, Feeney (Aaron O’Reilly 83), Ealing, Smith, Moore Pierre (Broggio 58). Not used: Wright. Booked: Iroegbunam.

Referee: Neil Hair. Att: 1,223 (129 visiting)

Shrewsbury Town 0 Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports as Charlton continued their inch-by-inch improvement in Shropshire.

The promising shoots of improvement which faintly flourished in three games since Michael Appleton took charge struggled to survive numerous tests at Shrewsbury on Saturday. But survive they did and stretched Charlton’s unbeaten league run to four games, three of them under the new gaffer’s direct supervision.

So defensively vulnerable before Appleton arrived, the Addicks managed their first clean sheet since August 5th, an achievement which owed as much to Harry Isted’s brilliant if eccentric goalkeeping as it did to any obvious defensive re-organisation. But there was a new, corporate determination not to concede, which Isted backed up with a handful of quite remarkable saves, none better than the miracle he performed to deny Kieron Phillips in the last of eight added minutes. A goal then would have cemented Charlton’s unwanted reputation as regular last gasp suckers.

Apart from an early save which kept out Morgan Feeney’s point blank header from Tom Bayliss’ free kick, Isted wasn’t unduly troubled during a dull-as-ditchwater first half. Feeney did his bit by ballooning the rebound over the bar before both these moderate sides settled down to share responsibility for the scruffy exchanges. The Shrews were marginally less culpable for the mutual fecklessness but were hardly showstoppers themselves. The statutory forty five minutes plus five perversely added were suffered almost in silence by 5,669 (556 visitors) disbelieving eyewitnesses, none of whom could rouse themselves to exchange the usual, pointless insults.

Appleton’s men were fumbling their way to the interval before Isted again distinguished himself seconds before the break. He was criminally exposed when Tom Flanagan blasted Carl Winchester’s careful cutback goalwards but clawed clear the defender’s fierce drive. From Brandon Fleming’s resultant corner, Max Mata’s diving header was netbound until the inspired goalkeeper kept it out at full stretch. His first half contribution had been outstanding but his best work lay before him.

Though singularly unimpressive, Charlton had somehow stayed in the game and showed immediate improvement upon resumption. Four minutes into the new half, Tyreece Campbell received a short corner on the right and crossed left-footed for Lloyd Jones to outjump Mata and head powerfully for goal. Twisting athletically in the air, Marko Marosi contrived to tip the ball to safety. Marosi reacted again when substitute Chuks Aneke connected with a clever lay-off from Tennai Watson, blocking Aneke’s shot before beating Alfie May to the rebound.

The private duel between Isted and Marosi tipped in favour of the former, who made a jaw-dropping save to keep the visitors level midway through the second session. Caught loitering outside his penalty area as Town broke quickly after clearing a right wing corner, his faulty position was alertly spotted by Winchester. From inside his own half, the heads-up Shrew launched an accurate effort at goal, which sent Isted into undignified, panicky retreat, catching up with Winchester’s soaring lob as it seemed certain to bounce into his unguarded goal. One last desperate swipe conjured the ball up and over the bar as the keeper tumbled into the net. Brilliant from Winchester, even more brilliant if somewhat scatty from Isted.

A rousing game had somehow emerged from the first half dross and Aneke might have won it when he met George Dobson’s cross with a meaty header which Marosi turned over the bar. There was still time for Isted to preserve Charlton’s precious point with possibly the piece-de-resistance of a personally vindicating performance. Confronting Phillips as the substitute prepared to routinely convert Winchester’s headed pass, he managed to block the apparently sure thing with an outstretched foot.

Even the booking he received for idiotically fouling Mata marginally outside his penalty area failed to mar Isted’s all-conquering afternoon in Shropshire. It was almost inevitable that he earned extra kudos for sprawling to save Winchester’s free kick. On this form, nothing was impossible for Charlton’s often underrated goalkeeper. Just as well, though, that his manager has no hair to tear out. It could have gone horribly wrong…

Shrewsbury: Marosi, Feeney, Dunkley, Flanagan. Fleming, Winchester, Perry, Kenneh, Bayliss, Udoh (Phillips 78), Mata. Not used: Benning, Anderson, Bowman, Burgoyne, Sobowale, Bennett.
Booked: Dunkley.

Charlton: Isted, Tennai Watson (Asiimwe 81), Hector, Jones, Thomas, Taylor (Louie Watson 44), Dobson, Tyreece Campbell (Aneke 62), Blackett-Taylor (Fraser 82), May, Leaburn (Tedic 62). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Ness. Booked: Thomas, Isted, Tedic, Watson.

Att: 5,669 (556 visiting).

Stevenage Town 1 (Reid 34) Charlton 1 (Blackett-Taylor 90+2 pen)

Making sense of this curate’s omelette of a game wasn’t easy on a dodgy livestream that obstinately refused to co-operate. I mean, be fair, they take your money but just don’t deliver. Well, they didn’t exactly take our money but we still felt cheated. So did Charlton until referee Peter Wright grudgingly agreed with their appeals for an added time penalty after turning down at least three equally valid claims. If you don’t ask, you don’t get and the Addicks weren’t slow in asking.

With regular taker Alfie May a concussion absentee (only at Charlton could it be sustained during training), responsibility for the spotkick, almost apologetically awarded after Slobodan Tedic was brought down by Carl Piergianni, was assumed by an outwardly confident Corey Blackett-Taylor. Stepping up once the usual shenanigans subsided, CBT made light of the pressure by beating Taye Ashby-Hammond and the Addicks had salvaged an unlikely point – their first on the road after four previous tries – from another apparently fruitless away day. Or so it seemed.

As Blackett-Taylor’s equaliser hit the net, our picture froze for approximately the tenth time, leaving us living room witnesses unconvinced that the goal had counted. Behind Ashby-Hammond’s goal, three intrepid family members were busy celebrating but we weren’t in contact with them. You probably don’t want to hear this but our language was unrepeatable while we awaited normal service to be restored. Then there was the small matter of seven more minutes to survive before the result was official. But Stevenage hung on and probably deserved their point.

Charlton’s steady improvement in the second half mitigated -but failed to obliterate from memory – a dreadful first half performance that ranks among the worst inflicted on their loyal travelling supporters (an admirable sold-out away end of 1380 at Stevenage). It wasn’t so bad back home where we could look forward to regular interruptions but then again we had to do without the witty commentary of Terry and Greg and put up with a pair of twerps, who fancied themselves as Abbott and Costello (ask your grandad if you’re struggling) and spent their time bigging up the local heroes while sneering at their vastly inferior visitors. They weren’t entirely wrong, of course, but it was for us, not them, to say so.

During those 45 lost minutes, new manager Michael Appleton must have wondered what he’d taken on. His new charges were limp, languid and lethargic, their error-strewn contribution to a first period which belonged in a public park on Sunday morning at times bordering on epic. Worse yet, they were totally devoid of anger and anger (call it “edge” if you prefer) is an often overlooked ingredient in the best of sides. Pep Guardiola spends much of his time being angry, as does his star-studded side. They use anger as fuel for their on-field engine and you don’t catch them “playing with smiles on their faces”, as advocated by football’s Pollyannas who don’t include hard-nosed winners like Roy Keane or Graeme Souness. Smiling at them was never a good idea.

Their modest achievement, meanwhile, in restricting Stevenage to a single-goal advantage said more about the home side’s own ineptitude than it did Charlton’s first half resistance. The city slickers might even have reached the interval on scoreless terms but for a lapse into less-than- resolute defending just past the half hour mark. Admittedly the one-two exchange between Nathan Freeman and Finley Burns was expertly executed but, with George Dobson lured out of position, Lloyd Jones’ half-hearted attempt to check Jamie Reid’s run was easily brushed aside. Reid’s low finish across Harry Isted into the far corner was unstoppable.

Appleton’s first half-time gee-up was hardly difficult to imagine. Charlton re-emerged with a different attitude and while hardly a force of nature, they were back in a game that their hosts should already have put out of their reach. A glaring miss by Reid kept them interested but it was the late introduction of Chuks Aneke that made the difference. “Don’t get mad, get even” is Chuks’ mantra and he set about hauling the Addicks back into contention. His muscular presence hustled Nathan Thompson into an unpunished handling of Isted’s huge punt but Stevenage were now a nerve-wracked, clock-watching rabble praying for a final whistle, which arrived a penalty too late.

It might have been tough love on Appleton’s part that thrust Aneke back into action but his impact was undeniable. He’s a rare handful for defences at lower league level and a talismanic influence on his teammates. His litany of injuries has derailed a promising career but, in the short term at least, it’s either wishful (or wistful) thinking that his return might re-focus Charlton’s direction-less start to the season. The new manager seems to think so. And he might just be right.

Stevenage: Ashby-Hammond, Sweeney, N. Thompson, Piergianni, Freeman, Burns, L. Thompson (Forster-Caskey 78), Butler, Roberts, Reid (List 80), Hemmings (McDonald 61). Not used: Hegyi, Neal, B. Thompson, McNeill. Booked: Butler, Reid, List.

Referee: Peter Wright. Att: 5,119 (1.380 visiting).

Oxford United 2 (Goodrham10, 85) Charlton 1 (May 63)

From the cop-out of an easy chair, Kevin Nolan squirmed uncomfortably as Charlton plumbed new depths of incompetence in making it four losses in a row.

To the sound of the bottom of a barrel being scraped, chaotic Charlton almost – but not quite – emerged from a truly dreadful, description-challenging performance with the unlikeliest of points on an afternoon it won’t be easy to forget. The first half deserves mention as among the very worst ever endured by their usual, doggedly loyal away support (979 on this inauspicious occasion), each of whom is owed a personal apology, as well as a refund of their outgoing expenditure. They shouldn’t hold their breath while they wait.

Having reached the interval incredibly only a single goal behind, Charlton could hardly do anything but improve and just past the hour mark, a flash of clinical finishing by Alfie May promised they might actually pluck a precious point from this debacle. Whether or not they deserved anything of the sort might have been the subject of lively debate but proved academic anyway because their storied vulnerability to late goals struck them down yet again. Oxford’s late winner caught them on the break at a time when they had grown cocky enough to suppose they were themselves poised to end up with all three points.

“Unfortunately we’ve been hit with a sucker punch again”, mourned relentlessly optimistic manager Dean Holden, without suggesting he has a solution to what has become a chronic problem. “It’s about re-grouping quickly – we’ll keep looking to find the answers.” Four consecutive league defeats haven’t daunted him, as evidenced by his assurance that “we’re very close to getting the next result and I’ve got absolutely no doubt our season will take off.” His breezy self confidence isn’t exactly shared by a jaundiced army of fans beginning to fear the worst. They are looking no further than Fleetwood Town’s visit to The Valley next Saturday as the crucial deadline on which the rot must be stopped.

It was all too easy to sense the self-belief draining from Holden’s starters as they blundered through a first period of painful ineptitude, during which they resembled nothing more than a random group of blokes pressed into a public park kickabout. The error count rose alarmingly and their relative survival owed more to United’s lack of urgency than to their own efforts.

It had all started promisingly enough as the city slickers briefly herded their country cousins into their penalty area and twice threatened to snatch an early lead, first through Nathan Asiimwe, who stung James Beadle’s palms with a fierce, angled drive, then again when May’s heavy touch allowed Beadle to snaffle the ball off his toe. In the 10th minute, the Addicks were punished for their temerity as Liam Manning’s side put them harshly in their place.

Picking up Elliott Moore’s forward header, bright young spark Tyler Goodrham’s clever control earned him the space he needed to crash an unstoppable drive in off the underside of Harry Isted’s crossbar. His outstanding goal promised to be the first of many as Holden’s desperately young defence struggled to keep their heads above water. But oddly, United’s overwhelming superiority failed to yield them clearcut chances and Isted was untroubled until Goodrham broke through again, dithered disastrously when an easy cutback was called for and allowed Asiimwe to clear the obvious danger. Oxford’s threat was ever present but so was their lack of a cutting edge.

Charlton resumed after the break still in touch with a game which should have been already out of reach. There were already signs of new life before May fired them level with his first goal from open play for his new club. Showing the instincts of a born predator, he hung back as Tyreece Campbell staggered through Cameron Brannagan’s challenge and picked him out. A first-time drive flicked off Stephen Negru on its way into the bottom left corner. When Miles Leaburn returns to support him, May’s statistics will surely improve.

Stung by the sheer injustice of Charlton’s equaliser, United applied themselves to the task of restoring order. Brannagan’s fierce free kick burst through a porous wall and was awkwardly parried by Isted, then Negru beat the Addicks’ offside trap but could do no better than toe-end a dropping ball into the keeper’s grateful hands. The pressure was hardly intense but, with five minutes remaining, finally told.

Charlton had actually weathered the worst and were giving as good as they got when the inevitable boom was lowered. A flurry of setpieces, among which were the unlikely long throws of May ( a daft tactical ploy which removed their best finisher from the penalty area) encouraged them forward and left them exposed to the quick counter. They were critically outnumbered as Ruben Rodrigues led the charge, with Goodrham and Stanley Mills in close support. In desperate pursuit, George Dobson’s tackle checked Rodrigues but the visitors were ill-served by the ricochet, which favoured Goodrham
and set him up to score unconvincingly past the last-ditch advance of Isted.

Their late concession was the logical conclusion to a mind-numbing exercise in futility in a season which has already offered plenty of competition. It places Charlton just two points above the basement in League One, a division where they seem bogged down, not to mention part of the furniture. Holden’s brief is clearcut; turn them round and win occasionally. Meanwhile, stop talking them up as a good side when clearly, at least temporarily, that’s not what they are. And more immediately… beat Fleetwood. Just about everyone else does!

Oxford: Beadle, Stevens, Moore, Negru, Brown (Leigh78), McGuane, Brannagan, Goodrham, Rodrigues, Bodin (Mills 65), Harris (O’Donkor 89). Not used:
McEachran, Eastwood, Smyth, Murphy. Booked: McGuane, Brannagan, Mills.

Charlton: Isted, Elerewe (Chem Campbell 42), Ness (Hector 46), Jones, Dobson, Asiimwe, Anderson, Edun (Thomas 83), Blackett-Taylor, Kanu (Tyreece Campbell 46), May. Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Payne. Booked: Hector, Jones, Dobson, Asiimwe, Anderson, Kanu.

Referee: Adam Herczeg. Att: 8.898 (979 visiting).

Charlton 2 (Blackett-Taylor 62, Kanu 89) Aberdeen 3 (Asiimwe o.g. 3, Shinnie 22, Polvara 33)

That old familiar combination of hope and expectation hung in the air as a sizeable, cheerful home contingent turned from Charlton Church Road into Floyd Road on its way to The Valley. There were obvious grounds for optimism against which no amount of bitter experience stood a chance. The new signings looked shrewdly chosen, pre-season performances and results were encouraging; the general feeling was that there was a place for everything and that everything was in place to launch a successful campaign under new stewardship. And to complete the feel-good factor was overwhelming relief that Sandgaard’s ersatz anthem had been consigned to the dustbin.

Inside the Valley, the grass never looked greener and the stadium positively radiated rude health. If a football ground can ever be said to sparkle, then the Addicks’ ancestral home fits the bill. Not that 1,613 tactless visitors from the Granite City of Aberdeen, Charlton’s last pre-season opponents before the serious business gets underway next Saturday, were impressed. They informed us routinely that Charlton was a sinkhole (sic) and they couldn’t wait to go home. They weren’t exactly gracious guests and, as it turned out, neither were the eager beavers unleashed by new boss Barry Robson on Dean Holden’s bewildered troops. Embarrassing corridors were cut through the home side’s resistance as the rampant visitors established a three-goal lead in little more than a half hour of irresistible aggression. The Dons could even afford to miss a first half penalty, such was their overpowering domination.

The writing was on the wall as early as the third minute and it made unpleasant reading for the local heroes. Dante Polvara’s right wing cross was intercepted by Nathan Asiimwe but neatly headed into his own net by the over-eager youngster. The Addicks were still absorbing the setback when Ashley Maynard-Brewer made the first of a string of superb saves to deny Bojan Miovski. Charlton’s steadily improving Aussie keeper went on to stand between his disintegrating side and a rout of seismic proportions. If nothing else, Saturday’s shambles established the identity of Charlton’s No. 1 goalkeeper.

Maynard-Brewer was helpless to prevent Aberdeen doubling their lead midway through the opening half. Luis Henriques de Barros Lopes – known to his mates as Duk – proved too strong for young Lucas Ness as they battled for possession to the left of Charlton’s beleaguered rearguard. His hard-drilled cross was nimbly turned home by Graeme Shinnie and the visitors were cresting a wave of superiority. They should have made it three almost immediately when Michael Hector clumsily tripped Polvara inside the penalty area but Shayden Morris smashed his spotkick against the right post. Morris’ miss became somewhat academic when he redeemed himself by laying on an easy tap-in for Polvara to slide in Aberdeen’s third. All three goals had exposed the Addicks’ porous left flank, a statistic which will no doubt be addressed by Holden and his analysts during the week before Leyton Orient arrive on Saturday. It’s certain to feature in Orient’s team talk.

As the Dons cooled off, a recovery of sorts was organised by their victims. Maynard-Brewer’s defiance, which featured a marvellous double save from Leighton Clarkson and Ester Soklar, helped restore order, as did the unstinting efforts of George Dobson in the face of imminent collapse. It almost escaped attention that when Morris’ penalty rebounded off the woodwork, the Addicks’ indefatigable captain beat several predators to the loose ball and headed it to safety. A small point but one made to emphasise Dobson’s unwavering commitment to Charlton’s cause. In the middle of alarming first half chaos, he stood as firm as he reliably does.

While never qualifying as a “game of two halves”, Charlton’s post-interval improvement was heartening. The blistering pace within their ranks began to concern the visitors, Scott Fraser probed their weakness and, critically, the defence tightened up. The Dons were no longer having it all their own way, though Maynard-Brewer’s heroics were required to keep his side in the game. The 62nd minute arrival of substitutes Karoy Anderson and Tyreece Campbell was both timely and effective.

The irrepressible Campbell, a replacement for the disappointing Charlie Kirk, made an immediate impact. His searching ball from the left was swept in by Blackett-Taylor and an unlikely but nonetheless stirring rally was underway. Alfie May had been a tireless chaser of lost causes and came close to converting a rare chance before giving way to Daniel Kanu with six minutes remaining. And it was Kanu, who claimed the 89th minute goal which arrived too late to affect the outcome but at least rewarded Charlton’s fighting spirit. Sent clear down he right by the lively Jack Payne, his shot was probably heading wide until Jack MacKenzie toe-poked it past Kelle Roos. It was an own goal by any definition of the term but was understandably claimed by young Dan and is unlikely to be disputed by Mackenzie.

This untidy but ultimately spirited performance brought down the curtain on Charlton’s pre-season preparation. They are as ready as they ever will be and come 5pm next Saturday we will know if that’s enough. Orient, not Aberdeen, are sure to provide a more relevant answer to that urgent question. Meanwhile, buckle up for another uneven ride!

Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Jones (Thomas 62), Hector, Ness, Dobson (McGrandles 78), Camara (Anderson 62), Fraser (Payne 78), Kirk (Campbell 62), Blackett-Taylor, Asiimwe, May (Kanu 84). Not used: Isted, Jayiesimi, Henry, Egbo, Mitchell, Chin.

Referee: Gavin Ward. Att: 5174 (1,613 visiting).