Charlton 0 Ipswich Town 0
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
Not an effort on goal during 90 toothless minutes, not even a corner to relieve the monotony. Those were the stark statistics behind Charlton’s third successive goalless draw, a deceptively encouraging result against generous opposition who appeared determined at times not to add a goal to their obvious superiority.
If it all sounds familiar, especially the first part, that’s possibly because this uncomfortable experience jars unpleasant memories of last season, a campaign which, to borrow from President Roosevelt’s reaction to Pearl Harbour “will live long in infamy”, not to mention the bruised minds of Charlton supporters.
There was no shame in playing second fiddle to Mick McCarthy’s sharp, mobile Ipswich and there was undeniable merit in the dogged resistance which kept the scoresheet blank. Admittedly, the visitors did their best to help by hitting the woodwork twice, missing several other chances, the most glaring of which was headed wide by skipper Luke Chambers when scoring seemed easier than missing, and otherwise letting their outclassed hosts off the hook. It’s unlikely though that Charlton’s upcoming League One opponents will be as accommodating.
There was little else to dispel the big, black cloud which has gathered over The Valley and became bigger and blacker as the Tractor Boys strutted their stuff. Second half substitutions lent the line-up the appearance of an U-21 side and highlighted the thinness of Russell Slade’s squad. To be fair, the Addicks’ best performer throughout an awkward evening was imposing 18 year-old centre back Ezri Konsa, a tower block of a kid who has clearly been eating his greens and added an heroic goalline clearance to his excellent contribution.
Also impressive was goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, who has stepped up with a string of clean sheets to fill the void created by the departures of Stephen Henderson and Nick Pope. The shambolic circumstances, under which Henderson and Pope left, typify the recent chaos at Charlton, with the latter’s loss the more keenly felt.
“Burnley came in with a huge offer for Nick,” Slade explained, ” which we had to consider in the end.” Since all transfers in SE7 are for undisclosed fees, we’ll have to take the manager’s word for the hugeness of Burnley’s offer but there was always an alternative to accepting it. Sean Dyche could have been invited to “do one” and young Pope’s agent reminded that his client’s contract, for which he was so grateful when agreed, was not only legal but a matter of mutual honour. Or do such sentiments belong in a different century? That question is, by the way, rhetorical.
On a pleasant Tuesday evening in an atmosphere more suited to a mausoleum than a football stadium, the visitors made all the running and all the chances. As early as the 10th minute, Christophe Berra and Jonas Knudsen tore Charlton open down the left but Brett Pitman’s expertly cushioned shot rebounded unluckily off the crossbar. Before the half hour, David McGoldrick’s Robson-Kanu-inspired turn caused chaos in the Addicks’ penalty area but was let down by a careless shot over the bar. The veteran’s wild effort from distance was even further off target.
With nothing to report from the other end, the second half provided more of the same. Substitute Teddy Bishop’s shot was smartly saved by Phillips, with Konsa’s alertness clearing up an unseemly mess on the line. Pitman was unlucky again when his precise header sent Freddie Sears’ precise cross against the bar before Chambers contrived to miss the target after Cameron Stewart’s perfect centre set him up with a sitter from all of three yards. Town’s skipper was more accurate in the dying minutes from another outstanding cross by Stewart but was foiled by Phillips’ fingertips.
Hanging on with commendable pluck, meanwhile, the Addicks provided little to suggest that this season will be any improvement on the last. Watched in funereal silence by less than 2,000 partisans, they at least were unstinting in their effort. Any day now, though, that aforementioned cloud is likely to burst and leave poor Slade, armed only with a colander, to bale out a steadily sinking ship. Nobody will blame him if he dives overboard.
Charlton: Phillips, Solly (Hanlan 61), Konsa, Johnson, Fox, Foley (Thomas 85), Crofts, Holmes (Lookman 71), Jackson (Muldoon 66), Harriott (Ahearne-Grant 76), Ajose (Ba 61). Not used: Beeney, Holmes-Dennis.
Att: 2308 (333 away).