Fleetwood Town 1 Charlton Athletic 1
A frustration of Swindon fans last season was that they had too many draws, when they should have won. Yesterday’s draw on the Lancashire coast was the Addicks’ 5th of the season. Our 4th 1-1 in five league outings.
The first half we were terrible. No better than Nigel Adkins’ period last season. The 2nd half we were better and may have even won it at the end.
Let’s not gloss over that first half though. I wonder if Ben Garner sat at home, was very tempted like I was to turn off and mow the lawn instead.
Everything about our play was utter rubbish. A wrong formation with Rak-Sakyi looking lost centrally up front. Clayden and CBT incompetent as wing-back’s, O’Connell could not pass wind, and the midfield three of Payne, Dobson and Fraser out-run, out-thought and out-muscled.
At half-time Curbs and Brownie could not hide their disdain, and my thoughts went to those hardy Addicks stood behind one end.
2nd half brought a move back to 4-3-3 and Mandela Egbo came on for his debut. He made a big difference defensively and was good going forward. He hit the bar, and had a powerful shot saved.
CBT and Rak-Sakyi back out wide were suddenly a threat. CBT smacking the bar just after the break. Payne came more into the game too. Stockley again was ineffectual, but he still put in the hard yards.
Until Garner can work out how the play this formation with Stockley in it or visa-versa, we are going to struggle to score goals. Add to that the fact we have had one league clean sheet, and that to Derby who could have had five before half-time!
Miles Leaburn came on and was involved instantly, and equalized with a lovely little back flick after good work from Rak-Sakyi. It was the least the travelling Addicks deserved behind the goal.
In the dying minutes Rak-Sakyi really should have won it as he burst through with Dobson over. The youngster decided to go himself and had his one-on-one shot saved.
Another draw then and we sit plum in between the relegation and play-off places. We have drawn against Accrington, Cambridge, Wycombe, Forest Green and Fleetwood. I don’t know if we deserved to win any of those games.
Scott Marshall spoke well afterwards, and we’d be better to persevere with the management team. Who knows if the suddenly muted Thomas Sandgaard will, but the finger of any blame can only be pointed in one direction.
Scott Marshall: “We’re very grateful to see them [the supporters] there. We talked about that at half time, we wanted to make sure the response was good and that everyone could hold their head up high at the end of the 90 minutes. The response was good, we want that for 90 minutes next time.”
Stats (CAFC first): Possession – 52% / 48%; Passes – 397 / 427; Accurate passes – 298 / 325; Shots (on target) – 7 (3) / 14 (2)
Chicago Addick 
Only saw brief highlights, unable to comments on the match as a whole, however yes I read the managers comments on previous matches one bears to mind Accrington Stanley when they got a draw with a few minutes left of the match, teams that compete at Accrington will find it hard to beat them , we’ll all the bigger clubs have had little trouble beating them. Move onto the next match. Fingers crossed.
State funeral tomorrow.
I share all the frustrations of my fellow addicks who post comments. However, rather than moan (and there is plenty to moan about) let’s just savour that Miles Leaburn flick for the equaliser. The last CAFC player I saw attempt that and succeed was Eddie Firmani. For the benefit of younger fans Firmani was one of the greatest players ever to wear our red shirt…so young Miles is in exhaulted company! I like Leaburn a lot and if he continues to progress we might have quite a player on our hands….that is of course until he gets sold. Our chances next week at Barnsley are slim, but hey, we can only hope.
Ah! you mention the great Eddie Firmani. My hero and I still think one of the classiest players to wear the red and white of Charlton. Totally agree with you.
Following on from Nigel Adkins and Jacko, Ben Garner is not looking like an inspired choice, as Charlton sink back to oblivion. Same old same old. Garner talks a good game, confusing possession with effective football; leaving some substitutions too late to affect the game. Team concedes too many goals immediately before half and full time. And yet we can’t afford more wholesale changes. We do have some decent players; although too many strikers who don’t strike. Can The manager find his feet in this very competitive Division? I hope so.
Doug Morrison
We are short of a clinical striker and a LB. Midfield looks a little basic but numbers should mean we find a good midfield 3, JFC I think needs reintroducing.
As long as we are still there or there abouts, and we get these two players in Jan im still optimistic. Defo optimistic… maybe
CA: I liked your introduction, ‘A frustration of Swindon fans…’ I initially thought that you were creating a collective noun here and got thinking, what would it be for we Charlton fans? A frustration certainly, a disappointment, indeed. A commiseration perhaps? An humiliation? Perhaps not. Anybody have any other ideas?
PS Don’t get me started on the inadequacies of US billionaires’ intrusion into OUR game! Why can’t some English well-heeled show an interest in, say Charlton???
Love that Wayne.
A forlorn of Charlton fans or a downer of Charlton fans..
Bringing together two strands of this posting, how about ‘Firmani’ of Charlton fans.
Now we are talking.
A Mendonca of Charlton fans.
Thank you to Keith Searle for his comment and : Doug Morrison…..Are you the same Doug Morrison who played in goal for Old Sedcopians circa 1971?