Sheffield United 2 Charlton Athletic 0
That was so Charlton. From the sanctuary of my front room I thought we looked pretty composed and comfortable before they scored, and then the second….. what a killer a blow. Honestly, how many deflected goals have we conceded this season?
I fear for us now.
For all the composure for the first 66 minutes our final ball was poor, and we showed little goalscoring intent, which apart from Reza’s last minute effort, completely evaporated after we went 0-2 down.
United got the ball into forward positions more precisely and smarter, their crosses were more dangerous and our lack of urgency, all very well when goalless, was frustrating and again disturbing.
It was interesting to note that the Blades contained three Premier League players on loan, and if Powell is unable to bring some creativity and guile into the side, then we are going to have a lot more moments like we did today.
Today was always about a day out and distraction from the our Championship problems, which were added to yesterday, but it was hugely disappointing as for about the millionth time the Addicks came up short on the big stage. It still mystifies me that we managed to beat Sunderland in 1998!
Powell and us supporters need to mourn today, but wake up tomorrow with renewed fight, because that is what it is going to need. Ain’t going to be easy though.
Travel safe Addicks, who I fear will be harsher critics. Superb support today.
Addick Bloggers at Bramall Lane: Blackheath Addick; And Nothing Else Matters; Chris Powell’s Flat Cap; Drinking During the Game; Albury Addick; Hungry Ted; Valley Talk.
CA, this is the first time I have seen the team play this season (courtesy of BT sport). Dear oh dear. Poyet looks a talent (though he needs to do more than spray diagonal balls about in his own half) and Harriott, the quickest player on the pitch, was frustratingly underused. And as for his miss – we really paid for that, as I feel sure we would have gone on and won had that gone in.
Once again, we lost impetus as soon as Church went off (what is it with Powell and his subs?) and they scored almost immediately. The second goal was fortunate and some keystone cops defending almost gifted them a third (thankfully disallowed, but once again a deflection beat Hamer) and we went to pieces after the second goal (Hamer kept kicking it straight back to them, and the passing from others was woeful.) Look at the stats, and we dominated possession, and equaled their shots on goal (2 apiece) but once again came away with nothing.
Like you, I am worried about the remaining matches – it’s hard to see where the goals we need are going to come from and we are going to need goals to win some matches..
Martin Cowan
I thought Harriott was unfortunate with his chance. He was certainly our biggest threat going forward. Cousins wasted on the right side. I thought the sub was at a good time, although I thought Tudgay would make way, not Church. Astrit was only on 3 minutes though and were 0-2 down.
Green was a waste of time, would rather have seen Nego and push Wilson forward. Reza did well with his half chance at the end. We lack a goal threat desperately though.
So bloody sad, that was as a limp as display as I have watched for many a decade, I hope all the sycophantic we love Powell and his coaching team supporters realise we are are crap side hurtling towards the 3rd tier. It was simply not acceptable, a totay embarrassment the team that wanted to win today won today. All the players and managerial team associated with that dross should hold their heads in shame.
Back home now, just like the last ten games, we can’t score so as soon as we concede our heads drop.
The biggest disappointment of the day was some of the abuse aimed at our players from some sections of the Charlton Support. Particularly after the game.
We have a, very, limited squad. We, just, can’t out score anyone and NEED to score the first goal. If we don’t score first, we struggle.
Maybe the big games seem like a big day out for the glory boys but, frankly, if these fans continue to behave the way they did today they deserve to see the team relegated.
Some of these fans need to look up the word ‘support’ in the dictionary, and/or stay at home.
Other than that a great day out, good company, a predictable result and a decent effort from a group of players that are short on confidence and a little limited in terms of games together and in need of a lift!
Flatter than flat. With daylight savings and no television feed I got four hours sleep and “watched” the match on BBC text feed (hell – I used to watch matches on teletext). I raise my glass to every supporter who made the long trip. I salute you!
SLC _ I always console myself living overseas that the afterwards is easier. Th ewhole day to try to forget about it, no one at work bugging you or taking the piss, no long car or coach journeys home. Mind you I normally take solace in this blog…. have to moan to someone!
Long may you take solace in this blog. While acknowledging that the lack of people to take the piss is an advantage, it’s also a long day to get through in a bad mood. At least I felt better before going to work this morning. Let’s hope we have something to celebrate soon like avoiding relegation!
That is a fair point SLC. My brother and a mate spent five hours in the car back from Sheffield putting the world to rights. I just skulked around the house with the raving hump.
Sorry CA – just a couple of questions/comment for some of your readers above. Martin – if its the first time you’ve seen the team play how would you know that we lose impetus when Church goes off? Kings Hill – quite right – it never ceases to amaze me how ignorant my fellow fans can be – which leads me to DorestBum – were you there yesterday in the upper tier wearing a plain red t-shirt – slightly rotund – I feel sure you were the chap just in front of us?
CA – at this rate I’ll be emigrating too – got any secretarial jobs out there?
My “once again” was meant as a comment on the substitutions, which didn’t seem to help the cause yesterday. The loss of impetus was just my observation as we seemed to be tightening the screw at that point. Next thing, Church is off, and we are one down.
They must have scored within 60 seconds of AA coming on. Wiggins was at fault if anyone, or maybe they switched off. I don’t know. I like Church – heck I sponsor his shirt – and think he does an often unnoticed job of chasing lost causes, closing down and stretching the opposition.
He is not going to get 15 goals a season, and if he did, he would probably still be at Reading.
He reminds me a little of Gary Nelson.
Agreed. Maybe not quite the goal threat, but certainly the heart.