Charlton Athletic 2 Stockport County 2
One foot in the 3rd Round draw, and then a Stockport 97th minute equalizer gives us another game we don’t need.
Another abysmal performance from Ben Garner’s side. It was a rubbish start and a rubbish end with various elements of rubbish in between.
We are utterly incapable of keeping a clean sheet and were again woeful at defending crosses and set-pieces. Yet we led until the 97th minute, should have put the tie to bed and mis-managed the game horribly as the clock wound down.
It was a terrible start. County came at us from the first whistle, won a corner and then took the lead in the 3rd minute. From the commentary our equalizer was a weird one as no one appeared to notice Steven Sessegnon scoring. I think in the end their keeper, Hinchliffe, was credited with an own goal.
Albie Morgan then brought down George Dobson’s ball over the to beat Hinchliffe six minutes before the break to make it 2-1.
In the 2nd half Stockport searched for an equalizer and twice Ashley Maynard-Brewer saved, whilst Blackett-Taylor had our best chance in the 77th minute, but instead of passing his shot hit the outside of the woodwork.
The predictable Stockport second was headed home from a corner in the 97th minute. The World Cup timer must have been on duty.
Inniss and Lavelle passing it out and around at the back is material for a Carry On film. It is torturous, and frankly I’d rather see Charles Hawtrey! This squad needs a load of work in January, but sod a striker I’m thinking an experienced and organized centre-back has to be a priority. We have kept 6 clean sheets in 28 league and cup games.
That was our best available XI, whereas Stockport made changes. The only good thing about today was Aneke started and walked off on his own accord when withdrawn in the 75th minute.
Just the 3,889 at a soulless Valley. Actually, less Addicks in attendance than the Coalville game, which was on the back of the enthralling Ipswich comeback.
Three critical league games and the Stockport replay now follow. Garner has to work with what he’s got. No more excuses. Manage games better, get more out of the players and pick teams to win games, not to win stats.
Ben Garner: “The linesman is on the opposite side of the pitch, he’s not up with the game – he’s looking across and almost through Ash. Basically he has guessed and you can’t be doing that. It’s a frustration because we are a minute away from being in the next round. It’s a disappointed dressing room but we have to prepare for another game.”
Stats (CAFC first): Possession – 56% / 44%; Passes – 513 / 287; Shots (on target) – 17 (8) / 17 (6)
Chicago Addick 
I was at the game and the linesman was NOT up with play to award the corner he was at least 2 yards behind play and on the opposite side of play….
But we didn’t kill the game earlier and I can still see Dobson telling others to do that !!!!
Oh my, what have they done to Charlton Athletic? What a totally hapless and hopeless situation. Thomas Sandgaard promised the moon and has delivered a total clunker. Any serious buyers of note out there? Sorry, you don’t get the stadium or the practice facility, just the shell of what is laughingly referred to as a football team.
All i can say is good luck to stockport in the 3rd round – i hope they get a money spinning draw. If you think we are having it tough think what their fans have been through.
Is there nothing you can say to cheer me up CA? Why did i rush to get brighton tickets and alter travel plans? I should really know better by now.
Yes I agree with you’re comments we should of kept the side that lost to Plymouth Arg. At least they had a lot more urgency to playing football. We are now witnessing a side going South and players 4th Division footy next season. A winless side that’s forgotten how to be positive.
I was at the match too and initially was glad to hear the Aneke was going to start a match but even during the warm up he looked lethargic. They then “took the knee” and Aneke was obviously concerned that if he bent his knee he was unlikely to be able to run around as he just barely crouched. We are now playing with no ideas or vision and the only thing we seem capable of is to pass backwards which it now appears is what the whole club is doing.
Given that it was a poor performance, the annoying thing is that several young players are out on loan which in itself is not a bad thing, but to allow players like Elewere, Ness ,Gavin , Viggars and possibly Barker and Clayden to get cup-tied was short sighted. Elewere , Ness and Clayden (as a WINGER) would have strengthened the squad , Elewere and Ness would have added height at the back if used so making us less likely to concede at set plays.
Hats off to all those that went yesterday.
Surely Elewere has to start on Friday, both Lavelle and Inniss have been dreadful at the back, and apart from their continual cock ups and non marking, they play like the Chuckle Brothers, me to you -you to me, me to you -you to me, me to you-you to me!
I would start Elewere, although he looked a bit dodgy in the Pizza Cup.
I don’t think it was a corner – but the defending of it was appalling, a routine cross into the six-yard box should have been dealt with, especially in the 97th minute – but that’s been the story of our season, concentration and application going awol at the wrong moments.
A draw was just about the right result and when we knuckled down we played some good football and created enough chances to win but again lacked an edge when we needed it to kill the game off.
We need to get through to the transfer window and ship in a couple of defensive options and some attacking talent and trade one or two players on. But we really need an attitude throughout the team to play a bit faster. There has been too much slow build up from the back, sideways passing and then passing back then forward, then sideways etc. The times when we’ve looked a threat is when we’ve played the high press and attacked at pace and created opportunities.
In the bleak mid winter……..
Incoming – the odd panic last minute loan…. If we are lucky.
Outgoing – Presumably anyone who can command a fee – JFC, Dobson, Leaburn……….
Garner – will he walk. If he is sensible/can find a job
Garner – will he be sacked. Of course not, would mean TS shelling out compensation
Reasons to be cheerful…………local derby with AFC Wimbledon.
OMG