Wycombe Wanderers 0 Charlton Athletic 0
That was a battle, pretty gruesome at times, but we were equal to everything that was thrown at us, including the odd elbow and lunging tackle.
A clean sheet and level after the first leg. Back to The Valley we go.
Wycombe had a point to prove and looked as if they were going to do everything in their power to avoid what happened here a few weeks ago.
It was a brutal, unsightly affair for much of the game. Not a good advert for the league, but this was a play-off semi-final not a fashion show.
The home side looked as if they were wilting towards the end and with Small on we finished the stronger, which was good to see.
Matt Godden had a sensational volley saved, then from the resulting corner Norris kept out a Docherty effort that was heading in.
The noisy away following was baying for more, and it was the home side that were winding down the clock as we entered added time.
Wycombe’s best chance came early in the 1st half when Mannion made an instinctive save, and we had to handle an aerial bombardment, but we too were playing mostly at altitude.
It was not a game for midfielders, and it wasn’t until late in the 2nd half that Coventry started to impose himself, but I thought Docherty looked hurried and apprehensive whenever he got the ball.
Mannion, Ramsey, Gillesphey, Jones and Edwards were all excellent, playing with intense concentration and physicality. Watson did well, but in the 20 minutes Small was on he found himself numerous times up on the edge of their box. Small gives us that propensity.
TC was bullied, but he never bowed down and Godden was always a threat. Berry played his part, but I thought Anderson was a beast when he replaced him.
It was tense, it was tight, the ref was awful, fans brilliant. Part two to follow.
🎙️“Look it was a tough game – a war of attrition – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Josh Edwards
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📸 Kyle Andrews
Agree with your comments particularly regarding Docherty who had a poor game. Presumably Watson played to help keep things tight and Small was held back to play a more prominent role in the second game. TC kept going despite the close attention of his marker and did not have the option of switching wings available without Small on the right. I don’t think Watson could do that.
Not our best performance but did what we had to do. Before the game I would have settled for a draw. I was disappointed with how many times we took the arial route to get the ball upfield instead of getting the ball down and playing our way forward, which our defence and midfield are very capable of doing, as we have seen in previous games.The official in the middle was awful, and we were bullied in some quarters but held firm. Lets hope the boys show us how well we can play at The Valley on Thursday. COYR’s.
Ugly,physical,demanding for players and fans…but 0-0 is ok by me…
Thursday will see the Valley fully vocal and as Nathan put it bluntly, a home game we need to win…I’ll be there and already excercising my vocal-chords
COYRs
not a great game but I’ll take the draw your right about the ball spending to much time in the air CA but that was Wycombes game plan and to try and kick us off the pitch a bit of dark arts was tried I think and the ref was awful
I hate the play offs it changes the league form totally so you never know what is going to happen I did think orient would beat Stockport but Stockport where the better side
roll on Thursday we are better than Wycombe and at home I think we will win by a couple of goals
I felt for Docherty and Coventry – there was too much booting the ball in the air with defences determined not to take a touch and play through the lines. A mistake that leads to a goal could easily swing the whole match and put one team out so too much safety first football.
The ref was poor – Kone should have had a red card for that challenge on Kayne Ramsay and he let too many sly challenges and shirt-pulling back stuff go unpunished. Regarding the red card, think back to the Easter Monday and Chuks’ sending off apparently for raising an elbow or something. That merited a sending off but sliding in late and off the ball and standing on Kayne Ramsay’s ankle was only worth a yellow. If we do get promoted I will not miss the officiating at this level.
Assuming everyone’s fit I’d swap Thierry Small for Tennai Watson and put Chuks back on the bench, otherwise play the same side.
it was a diabolical foul and he followed it through and took out his other leg as you said chuks got red carded for basically waving his hand in the air should have been a sending off
Not forgetting Udoh’s elbow on Gillesphey. Not even a booking and far worst than Chuks in previous game.
Agreed
Kone for sure should’ve gone and been banned for Thursday and as said, compared to the Chuks red it’s a joke but that’s league 1 officiating as we know only too well…anyway hopefully we’ll be saying bye bye div 1 again…another long week awaits…I can recommend mindfulness and meditation 😬😬😬
As a spectacle it was pretty awful. Nonetheless the draw puts us in the driving seat. I’m looking forward to The Valley Thursday.
Predicting a 2-0 win and another day at Wembley. I just hope Orient can snatch an away win. I would love to play them……..