Charlton Athletic 3 Wycombe Wanderers 1
I didn’t get to see today’s game as I was watching my daughter at possibly the longest ever swim meet a fair drive from the comfort of my couch. Catching up afterwards though it did sound that the Charlton TV feed had some issues.
But three points added in Michael Appleton’s first home game has given us all a large grin.
It sounded a bit of a game of two halves with Wycombe more dominant in the 2nd period at least until we made three subs and changed the formation to much more user-friendly 4-2-2.
Leaburn and May both started but didn’t appear to play that close together, although it was Miles that got the opener.
There appeared to be an improvement at set-plays but we still conceded from one to bring the Chairboys level on 55 minutes. A Terell Thomas block prevented us from going behind and then on 79 minutes Appleton brought on Lucas Ness, Bodan Tedić and debutant Tennai Watson.
That looked a bit defensive, but Watson provided much better movement going forward and it was he that slipped in Tedic to put us back in front with almost with his first touch.
Then to put the icing on his own birthday cake CBT danced into the box in front of the Covered End and made it 3-1 in injury time.
MoM: I didn’t watch, but popular opinion seems CBT
Appleton of my eye: Five subs on again, plus like last week three in one go. Not frightened to throw a bit of caution to the wind and mix it up.
Elsewhere: Pompey go top after beating Lincoln 2-1. Oxford are 2nd after beating a faltering Exeter. Big wins on the road for Derby at Carlisle, Stevenage at Cheltenham and Barnsley at Northampton.
Hi I to did not watch the games as I live in gloucestershire .
Could you tell me why Ashley Brewer is not in goal?
No idea, AMB made a few mistakes in the games he played, albeit he was behind a porous defence but Harry Isted hasn’t made the position his. I can see another goalkeeper joining in January.
Holden dropped him due to goals conceded. That hasn’t changed since Isted came in.
A game of three phases, we were strong for the first 30 minutes or so, took a deserved lead then we ran out of options as Wycombe dragged their way back into the game. We needed a stronger midfield to cope with that passage of play -no Fraser/Camara and with Louie Watson replacing karoy Anderson we still looked under-strength. The last few minutes with subs on gave us fresh legs. Tedic’s goal was either football genius or one of those that despite everything somehow went in, CBT’s was different class though.
I’m not convinced by the 4-3-3 that Michael Appleton opted for – Miles Leaburn was shoved out wide on the right. I’d like to see 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 and a Leaburn/May partnership upfront., that could and should be a handful for many defences.
But you can’t sneeze at a win. Win your home games and draw the away games and you’ll average the two points a game you need for a promotion push we can’t afford to repeat the last couple of years where we get half way through the season and find ourselves too far off the top six.
We keep playing this game of two halves, first half played similar to Stevenage second half with a few more efforts on target, second half mostly similar to Stevenage first half where they were outplaying us until he made the four subs. Which to Appleton’s credit he isn’t afraid of doing, unlike all the previous managers who mostly always left it until the last 5-10 minutes, when we were under pressure.
Overall a good win and we all went home happy for a change. Though one player absolutely needs to be dropped Hector! He is a total liability, he must have made at least four really poor challenges in the first half, which caused us problems and continued after the break and was at last taken off when the four subs came on. I just hope Appleton now realises he is a liabilty, as all around us can see it plus the fact that apart from being also slow, he swans around as though he think he is too good to be playing for Charlton. Well he might have been several years ago but now this division is his maximum limit and on his continuing showing this Charlton team are too good for him!
Hector and his agent did a proper sales on the club in the summer didn’t he?
How was Abankwah?
Abankwah had a better game than last week, but until we see him at Centre back, it’s a hard one to call as he’s only filling in at right back and he doesn’t look too assured there, as he’s never played at right back previously!
Cheers Mike. Hopefully Ness can find last season’s form and replace Hector.
Its still hit and miss with selection. At this level knowing the oppositions weakness is key. With the current squad there should be all the options available to compete with the opposition. Just the new guy in charge having the prior intelligence and self belief to put the right players on the pitch at the right time. all being available of course.