Morecambe 2 Charlton Athletic 2

Jacko has set such a high bar that I’m disappointed with that.

The performance was laboured and tired underscored by the possession stats – we had 68% – yet we never showed any real cutting edge especially in the second half, and thus had to make do with a point up on the Lancaster coast.

It was a perfect start as we once again kicked off on the front foot. DJ’s low and hard cross making its way in at the near post in the 2nd minute. Deflection, own goal or on purpose it didn’t matter.

We continued to create half chances, even though we looked to be a lot less self-assured than previously. Yet as away 1st half performances go, we were well in control, and a quick and pinpoint goal kick from MacGillivray saw Washington get the better of their defender and as the ‘keeper flew out to meet him, he masterfully lobbed the ball over his head and one bounce and the net rustled.

2-0 with less than half hour gone, and that alone is a good reason to be frustrated with not winning the game.

Sam Lavelle had already told the Charlton TV audience that he had pre-warned his team-mates not to get involved in a scrap with his ex-colleague Stockton. Gunter clearly was too busy counting his Welsh caps as he did just that and gave away a penalty within 90 seconds of Washington’s goal.

2-1 and it was a goal pretty much out of nothing for Morecambe.

It shook us, although Lee almost scored just before half-time, but you sensed that Gunter’s schoolboy error had changed the face of the game.

2nd half we looked tired and shorn of ideas. Loads of the ball through the middle and out wide, but Morecambe grew in morale as we could not make our possession count. On 72 minutes a corner was headed in at the near post to make it 2-2.

The home side seemed content with that and defended deep. We dominated proceedings but every cross hit the first man, every shot was lifeless and final balls were clumsy and tired looking. Charlie Kirk and Corey Blackett-Taylor came on but couldn’t make a difference.

Saturday had to have taken a lot out of the players. I mean I still have a croaky voice, but I think we are in desperate need of the return of some players. That back 3/5 is too makeshift, and I suspect ordinarily Jacko would have made a couple of changes tonight. The only one was the enforced change of Welsh wizard Gunter in for Pearce.

DJ, Gilbey, Lee, Davison and Purrington in particular were all off the pace.

A point away is not in anyway a bad result, and keeps the run going. It only shows how far Jacko has taken expectation and ambition.

Hopefully a few of the missing recent faces are back in the squad for Saturday and we see the return of the intensity and vicissitude that Jacko has brought in just four short weeks.

Jacko: “The nature of it having been two-up and to get pegged back. I thought we were pretty comfortable in the game but, honestly, were the energy levels quite there from Saturday? Perhaps not.”

Photo credit: Kyle Andrews