Cambridge United 1 Charlton Athletic 1
Another draw and more defensive ineptitudes in a game that summed up our season.
We should have scored more and despite a lot of balls into our box Isted was properly called into action once and failed to deal with a simple shot.
We can moan about the pitch and the wind, but this is League One, and it’s what you have to beat. One clean sheet in 27 away games (all comps) is pitiful and although the players have reacted to Nathan Jones’ leadership in many positive ways, we remain a sieve at the back.
Their equalizer came from us not getting the ball cleared and Bonne, it was always going to be Bonne, turned and hit a hopeful shot past Isted, which looked straightforward save.
I thought it funny that Bonne then did his best Adebayor impression only eventually getting stalled by his teammates as he headed to the away end with his ears cupped. Tw*t.
We had looked, as we had on Tuesday, comfortable until then, but one goal is never enough for this team.
Connor Wickham began upfront on his own in a change of formation with May and Aneke on the bench. Kanu was rested completely. Bakinson and Campbell also started.
We took the lead when Dobbo flighted a lovely ball into Wickham, which he controlled, took a touch and fired in. It was a nice finish.
There are many here including Wickham playing for contracts, but it is not always obvious. I thought Campbell was disappointing and only adds to those players within the squad that are impact players but are not consistent enough to start.
Alfie must have been frustrated to not start but he had our two best chances to win the game late on hitting the post and having a shot saved.
Otherwise 9 corners and plenty of free-kicks were all best forgotten, just like the season will soon be.
MoW: I’ll give it to Connor Wickham.
Elsewhere: Pompey are just a point short of promotion after their draw at Bolton. Derby beat Leyton Orient 3-0, leaving Bolton 4 points behind them but Wanderers have a game in hand. At the bottom Port Vale were 2-0 up at the break but lost 4-2 at home to Exeter. That could be critical after Burton had a huge win at Stevenage. Cheltenham lost at home to Bristol Rovers but have a game in hand, and meet Burton on Tuesday.
I never agreed with the criticism of AMB. And Isted is no better, arguably not as good.
Hopefully we’ll get a decent reliable keeper for next season. For the last two games I would reinstate Ashley.
He wasn’t even on the bench today, but I’d go with him too.
Can’t understand why he dropped Brewer in the first place, as he was probably the best player in defence, which doesn’t say much, before Jones arrived! Plus he had previously saved us in quite a few games as he is a good shot stopper!
Agree with Daggs as neither keeper controls the six yard box and in this divison most teams pump the ball into the air so you need a keeper who can command the area and take the high balls, at least Brewer comes for the ball but Isted just stands on his line nearly evertime. Plus to be fair Brewer was playing with a far worse defence, before Jones arrived.
New keeper required with Brewer as number 2, but have a feeling Isted will stay instead as Jones has an affinity with Isted previously playing for him, even though he’s made quite a few errors!
record since Nathan arrived
P14 W3 D10 L1 – 19points from 42 available. Ppg 1.36 and 16th place.
46 games in a season @1.36 ppg = 62/63 which gets us nowhere near playoff.
suggest an uplift of at least 30% needed to have a chance.
i slagged off Istead (nice lad) at Newport away early in the season and have been proved right i feel.
hopefully another goal contributor in Aneke / Leaburn next season, but both have their concerns.
Strange isn’t it 19 from 42 is actually pretty poor.
But of course we all know prior to NJ arriving we were even worse. And he has eked out enough from our poor squad to keep us in the division. Hallelujah! he is the Messiah.
My prediction for the last two games:
Home V Shrews win
Away V Wycombe draw
Isted should be dropped for one reason alone, he let that twat Bonne score..
i took to twitter before game to ask the faithful who had a tenner on Bonne to score. Did I take my own advice…..did I fu..
We need a proper defence including GK for next season if we are going to go somewhere. Building a team starts from the back and develops the spine, which is why the owners must shell out and give Dobson what he wants. He’s too good to lose.
NJ has done a good job in keeping us afloat but there now needs to be a huge clear-out of the under-performing hangers on asap.
We can’t spend more than one more season in this awful division. (Can we?)
Last home game of the season next weekend,in my opinion dobson should have won player of the season but I presume alfie will win it.The way dobson has been treated by the football owners ie Scott is shocking and throughout has remained a true professional and a credit to himself and his family.If on Saturday is the last chance that he pulls on a charlton shirt then he deserves a valley send off, can I suggest a minutes applause in the fourth minute [ his shirt number ] finally a big thank you to Nathan Jones for bringing dobson back into the team and then saving our season relegation would have been a disaster . Coyr
NJ is giving some players enough time to make cases for themselves to be retained for next season and again too many players self-harmed their careers.
We need a defender – but also a better defensive mentality to close down attackers and simply stop them getting shots away. Istead should still have stopped the shot. We’ve let too many basic goals in and Bonne’s was another in a long list, but if we’d taken a few chances that were offered to us then it would be a footnote.
In attack we created a lot, but not all of it was co-ordinated with too many shots from distance when we needed more pressure and runners looking for space.
I’d like to see a creative midfielder ahead of Coventry at DM and another striker plus defensive recruitments.
Connor Wickham took his goal well – but can he stay fit enough to make a difference?
This is a season to erase from our memory over the Summer…..very frustrating and the only plus was getting Nathan who had the balls to persuade Scott that we need Dobbo until the end of this season.
I understand that Dobbo was asking for a miniscule increase in his fee but Scott decided to not budge….whatca massive massive lack of judgement and clear that Scott had no idea of what Dobbo had done for us before Scott arrived…..a complete cock-up.
Be great if all fans could stand and applaud Dobbo in the 4th minute…..he deserves itcand more…..
I’m hoping that he may come back to us next January after his new club decide to loan him back…..fat chance I know !!!!
I really don’t like it when a manager starts blaming the pitch and conditions. It just masks the teams limitations. Jones has done that a few times now and it’s not becoming!
Jones can’t have any moans about The Valley pitch…..hats off to the grounstaff for their work.