Charlton Athletic 2 Cardiff City 2
It was a good, open game for the Sky cameras, but we can’t afford to give away two-goal leads, but in the end we have to be pleased to take a point and after their second I was happy to see us go for it and try to get the winner.
We started slowly but took the lead with our first real attack. Gallagher showing great awareness and desire to continue his run into the box and slot home after Leko missed a pass from Bonne, who deserved the assist.
We relaxed after and got the passing game going as the Covered End turned the volume up.
We got lucky midway through the 1st half when the referee waved away a very worthy penalty appeal from the Welshmen.
Oztumer was playing well and he drove forward in the 42nd minute and waited and waited as Gallagher and Bonne ran left and right, he then picked out Leko’s run, who hadn’t done much right previously, but the WBA loanee finished with aplomb.
Cardiff were bound to come out with a rocket up them but when Phillips saved Hoilett’s soft penalty, a correct decision I thought, I think we thought it was going to be our day, but Cardiff got some luck when the ball bounced around our box and Mendez-Laing made it 2-1.
One of those classic moments when I feel if we could kept them out for another 10 minutes we’d have gone on to win comfortably.
Josh Cullen was then carried off as the injury crisis worsened. That was a big blow but Albie Morgan did really well when he came on. We had a couple of half chances after that but Cardiff got their equalizer when sub Tomlin fired home through Deji’s legs wrong footing Phillips.
I feared the worse sat at home in the kitchen and the game was wide open with chances at either end. Yet we again more than played our part despite a squad ravaged by injuries and three 19-year olds on the pitch. Alfie Doughty was a real handful on both sides, and Oztumer kept probing and both teams could have scored in injury time.
We just need to weather this period, we have points on the board and we will get Field and Taylor back shortly plus one or two others. We have been competitive, although sometimes naive, which is to be expected, and have made our mark. Plenty of ups and downs to come.
Addicks at The Valley: Doctor Kish.
Bow: “Disappointing. Got to start with that. To be two up at HT and not come away with a point”
Elsewhere:
Photo: @K_AndrewsPhotos
Chicago Addick 
Jonathan Leko may have notched himself a goal, courtesy of a deflection, but his overall contribution was very poor. I lost count of the times he passed the ball and then just stood and watched as play developed. Clearly he has never been coached along the lines of ‘pass and move’. A good example of how it should be done is Conor Gallagher and Lee Bowyer should make Leko watch a video of Gallagher’s immense performance to demonstrate the standard that is required. Effort should be a given. On that alone Conor has a great future. Leko certainly wasn’t one of the Charlton players “crawling off the pitch” at the end referred to by Bowyer. Lyle cannot come back quick enough! COYR
I thought he finished it well. Wouldn’t have been surprised if it was deflected, I think all his goals for us have been. Agree though he can be a liability and lacks the work rate of what is required. I think Bowyer said when Leko signed that you don’t know what he’s going to, even he doesn’t know what he’s going to do. Think that sums him up.
He’s a threat. Give him a break. Blimey – he did score.
Oztumer’s best performance for us by far, really happy to see the wee man do well.
Biggest surprise was Cardiff’s attitude after equalising, I thought we might have been there for the taking but they seemed more than happy to sit back and play for the point against an injury ravaged team who were two leagues below them last season.
Agree. Thought Oztumer was a real driving force. Deserves a run in the team in Williams’ absence
In the end I was pleased with a draw. I thought Oztumer is starting to show his worth and Morgan’s 40 minutes cameo compounded my bewilderment as to why he was exiled to Ebbsfleet . I was totally amazed that his loan was extended after Williams was injured. Doughty showed how dangerous he can be. He is frequently played in the U23’s as a fullback or wingback – which is a waste of his talent, I agree that Leko is frustrating, although he scored, his support of Bonne was limited. Bonne played well despite lack of support and continues to show significant technical improvement.The prospect of Taylor and Bonne playing together up front is very exciting. Will Bowyer consider recalling Dempsey and Stevenson from their loans at Dulwich Hamlet and Dagenham to cover places on the subs bench as they would not let the side down .
A real curate’s egg from Leko, at the moment he’s more athlete than footballer and needs to learn to connect the dots – that is when to run, when to pass, when to make runs to drag defenders away and when to simply link. He’s young…but he took his goal perfectly and that’s one of the reason’s why he’s on the pitch. Bonne and Oztumer had great games, Gallagher is going to be a star. We need a few of those injured players back – we’ll lose Cullen for a bit but Taylor should be back soon, he and Bonne could make a great partnership.
All in all a fair result and a good match for the neutrals watching on TV, performances like that justify Sky broadcasting us and that brings revenue in.