Charlton Athletic 0 Leicester City 1
We were going to lose at some point, and if you’re going to lose, then lose like that.
It was another excellent display of sheer determination, aggressive pressing and quality not only matching but eclipsing our exalted opponents, but the winning goal was straight out of the Premier League and separated the two teams.
But, how did we not score. For the second consecutive game the opposing ‘keeper was named man of the match and Stolarczyk was outstanding making a collection of saves.
Miles Leaburn replaced Charlie Kelman in the starting line-up probably for his height more than anything else, and Leaburn was busy and a threat all game.
We conceded a lot of possession early on but were making all the running in terms of opportunities and threats. Despite the possession stat, our back five once again was holding firm. Stolarczyk made a decisive first half save from a brilliant swirling 30-yarder from Coventry.
Only once did Leicester break out of our press and that resulted in Fatawu’s 48th minute goal, who Sunderland bid £28 million for last week.
Frustratingly just before the goal Jones saw a header cleared off the line and Ramsey had a downward header saved just inside the post on the line.
Fatawu’s goal may have signalled a change in direction of dominance, but it was the Addicks buoyed on by a galvanizing Valley that created all of the chances.
Coventry could’ve scored twice, Docherty had a goal-bound shot blocked away, Leaburn had a header saved before Jones had a goal ruled out due to the ridiculous law of touching an opponent in the box almost always resulting in a defensive free-kick.
The corners kept coming and as the game neared its end Kelman, Knibbs, Olaofe and Campbell were all on the pitch. The final equalizing opportunity fell to Campbell who agonizingly sent a free header over the bar, which may have summed up TC’s afternoon.
The goal never came, but it was another game where we can take great pride and heart from. We constantly broke up attacks and created endless opportunities but lacked the final bit of quality or luck.
Picking a man of the match was again impossible. Lloyd Jones was phenomenal, Edwards and Leaburn very good too, but I thought both Docherty and Coventry were immense.
🎙️“We created clear-cut chances and should have won the game. If that had ended 3-4 or even 5-1, I don’t think anyone would’ve argued. That’s the learning curve for us. We have to be more clinical.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Conor Coventry
🏟️ 22,183 (3,139 Leicester)
📸
Coventry for me was definitely best player for Charlton today could’ve had 3 maybe 4 goals best I ve seen Charlton play in a long time always pressing but the goal never came we could’ve played another hour and goal still wouldn’t come it was just one of those days. Only bad point of the game was the amount of corners and not one goal. Leicester were outplayed and outclassed today we carry on playing like that and we ll be OK. Let’s move on to the next game and look forward. Coyr
I’ve said this before about Coventry he is a very good player if he only could play like that every game he would be on par with Matt Holland 😀
We was unlucky today played really well but as CA said that was a premier league goal no keeper would have had a chance
We are probably going to be a mid table team but that’s great maybe we can boost our goal difference next week at QPR there is a long way to go in a very difficult league let’s just hope we don’t get any injuries especially in defence and Kelman starts to find the back of the net to boost his confidence
Throughout the full season we will gain points that we didn’t deserve. Today was almost daylight robbery, and the management, players, and fans can all be very proud of the performance. If the team can apply that effort, with no little skill, game by game we will enjoy a good season.
It would help Kelman if he had the service for him to have a chance to score
I think it is working out what service he needs.
Agree with everything said above, overall our luck was out today. Even the Leicester manager in his after match interview said we caused them a lot of problems.
Only one downside on our three games so far, is the performances of Campbell. I think he is finding it hard to make the step up to the Championship. Prove me wrong Tyreece and have a blinder against QPR.
I am 50/50 on TC so far. He does a lot of the ball, and it’s important to how we set up, but some of his decision making needs to to step up a level.
Nonetheless, yesterday he was up against one of the best RB’s in the division in Choudhury.
Yes, I agree about Choudhury CA, but there will be a lot more full backs of equal ability that TC will come up against in future fixtures. Hopefully he will improve his overall game.
I thought TC played well and looked a threat. But after 80 minutes or so he was totally spent. Pity the chance didn’t fall earlier in the game for him.
I think all the above views are correct. Another day and this would have been a comfortable win with chances going in instead of keeper saves, defender blocks and misses. This performance did look like a cup final and I hope the squad is big and resilient enough to perform like this every week, I have to say I am a lot more confident having seen that performance. I don’t think any player looked out of there depth at this level.
I have to agree with gregg I think this might be one step above TC maybe give him a rest and give a few other players a chance in his position just to see if it makes a difference no harm in trying
I agree with most of the comments, we were very unlucky not to get at least a draw, the team gave their all, but the problem from last year still seems to exist the forwards can’t get a goal and the only goal scored so far has been from Knibbs, a midfielder.
We are certainly missing Godden who has more composure in front of goal, Leaburn is playing really well but needs that extra bit in front of goal, which he had before his injury, so hoping that will return soon. Unfortunately Kelman has not been at the races in any of the games and has looked lost just running from player to player without hardly touching the ball. He needs an arm round his shoulder to give him some confidence, as Richie Wellens said when he played for Orient last season, if he isn’t playing well, he can go missing in games and thats something that needs to be addressed, which hopefully Jones can sort out sooner than later!
The good thing is our defence looks solid like last season and the midfield much improved, but in this league with many clubs being able to score reguarly, we can’t rely on trying to win by just the odd goal, we have to be more clinical and put some of these efforts away.
The other issue, which no one around us seemed to fathom was why did Jones take so long to bring on the subs at the end,Olaofe, Costello both 86min and Gillesphey 90 min, when we needed extra effort as players were tiring, especiall Olafe who has looked really good in the previous two games when brought on much earlier?
Plus don’t think QPR will be a walkover after todays thrashing as they will be out to redeem themselves next week as Sheffield Weds did today coming back from two nil down to draw at Wrexham, with just barely enough players to make up the squad, to get a point on the board! Though must admit it was great seeing Wrexham not being able to win a game yet, with their large squad and all money they have currently spent! 🙂
The leicester goalie was clearly MOM. For us Lloyd Jones was immense and unlucky not to have his name on the scoresheet.
I too am puzzled why N.Jones waits so long to use the subs. He’s allowed five now, and should be using them from 60-70 minutes in, when things aren’t going to plan.
It can be a downside the subs being introduced too late, but I think yesterday we were so on top he didn’t want to disrupt the flow.
Great team effort shame about the result. TC is out of form but as I have said before he is better on the RHS. When Jones takes Apter, or previously Small, off he immediately switches TC to the RHS. It was too late yesterday as he was obviously spent. I think TC and Apter should switch sides for periods in the game or is NJ content to keep Apter and Carey together on the RHS. Apter made two good crosses with his left foot so moving to the left should not be a problem for him. With Leaburn in the team using Apter and TC as traditional rather than inverted wingers might work as they can provide the crosses a tall CF needs to be effective. It was good for Leaburn to get nearly 90 minutes as he needs the pitch time to sharpen up after his injury problems last season.
NJ has obviously got his defensive line-up worked out but still needs to work out how to get the best out of the midfield and forwards, he needs to discover the best set-ups for Olaofe, Kelman and Knibbs.
As you may know, I live in Leicester and I thought that I would have to put up with a lot of stick from friends today. However most Leicester fans that I have spoken to who either went to the game or watched it on Sky are strangely embarrassed and apologetic at having stolen 3 points from us, albeit they are over the moon about the result. Who would have imagined 12 months ago that we could go toe to toe and head to head with a team that had won the Premier League and the FA Cup in recent times? I am immensely proud of our boys’ performance in a game that we thoroughly deserved to win, but football doesn’t always work that way, does it?
I was pleased that we have stepped up and show we can compete as this level. With new signings, things take time to gel, and recall Godden and May taking their time to settle in.
It’s a marathon not a sprint.. I saw enough yesterday to suggest that there is real hope of remaining in this league. There are still some thoughts that we will struggle to survive.
It’s a harsh league, some real quality goals going in each week. Yesterday their scorer is likely to be in the PL next week. We seem to find ourselves against MotM keepers. The league is beginning to take some shape, and I don’t think QPR will defend like that next Saturday. I am getting a bit concerned about TC… that miss showed to me his lack of belief. His pace is his threat.. his finished product as this level is not there at the moment. Hopefully he will get some belief as we need him to be effective at this level. Tuesday’s game will give us to get some other players minutes in the tank. I hope NJ plays Kelman and like all strikers that first goal is so important. It was so nice to see The Valley with 22000+, and the fans were clearly behind the team. Lots of positives, some things to be addressed but more positives than negatives, which bears well. The goal is to stay up and build and that goal looks achievable at the moment.
Sometimes you have to look at the process and ignore the result and yesterday’s match was just that. We’ll play worse this season and win and if we keep playing to that standard with that level of intensity we’ll pick up the three points more often than not.
Leicester even fielded Oli Skipp, a player signed from Spurs for £20m who was so anonymous that I hope Leicester kept the receipt.
But it does show the gulf in class from League One to the Championship, Leicester’s defence were stretched but on their game, their keeper was premiership if not international class and the one time Josh Edwards gave his man a bit of space and time to get a shot off he scored a worldie.
TC had our best chance, as a minimum that free header needed to be on target, no excuses. At this level that’s what you have to do, but it’s a learning curve for him, like many of our players who are stepping up a division they need to absorb the lesson. They will.
Great line 😆:
“Leicester even fielded Oli Skipp, a player signed from Spurs for £20m who was so anonymous that I hope Leicester kept the receipt.”