Portsmouth 2 Charlton Athletic 1
That is a dagger through the heart. 9 seconds after Pompey restarted the game they got their second goal. That is absolutely criminal from Charlton.
Probably like me and most of us I suspect the players expected the referee to blow his whistle as they kicked off, but that defending is inexcusable.
5 minutes were put up on the board, when it did seem more, and the referee, who was rubbish throughout, clearly felt so as well. I was amazed he allowed our corner as we were well into a minute over at that point.
Heart wrenching to equalize that late in front of Addick’s fans, and still lose.
And we didn’t deserve to lose I didn’t think. We should be right to criticize both goals conceded, but the truth of the matter is we rarely look like scoring. We lack quality and creativity, and those two are reliant on each other.
Unlike at Norwich, there were positives tonight. A better, more hungry performance collectively, and from individuals such as Bell, Burke, Campbell, Kelman and Rankin-Costello, who I thought was our best player.
Both teams smelt of nerves and relegation fears throughout. 1st half, and in fact 2nd half we edged it. They got their goal, but afterwards they defended deeper and deeper.
Chances came, but it just never looked like we had the quality to get the equalizer, and our set-pieces were also terrible.
One last corner with Kaminski up, already past the added time, taken by Carey as he was nearest, and Knibbs, not for the first time, was the quickest to react. The replay shows he did really well to direct his header high and goalward.
Crazy celebrations and then over 97 minutes on the clock when they kicked back off, but you can’t defend the indefensible.
🎙️ “I’ve a sick feeling in my stomach, because I feel it would have been a bit of a travesty to have drawn that, but to lose it, and in the manner that we did, I feel stick to my stomach.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Joe Rankin-Costello
🏟️ 20,168 (2,168 Addicks)
📸 Kyle Andrews
It could only happen at Charlton Pathetic, and we love to give teams around us a helping hand and 2 on the trot.
Over-celebrating in more ways than one.
As I have stated, I doubt there are 2 worse teams in this League.
Much better performance last night but got to be more clinical in front of goal, still the goal is to stay in this league,22 game’s left let’s get behind them and give it a good go, coyr
That loss is squarely down to NJ and his team selection. He has to make room for Carey, Apter and Gillesphey in any starting line up. Waiting until the 84th minute to get some quality onto the pitch isn’t going to hack it in this division. Change your formation NJ, and go cap in hand to the owners to buy a proven goalscorer at this level for Christ’s sake. The other option is relegation again.
Agree with you guys just counted from a possible 24 points we accumulated just 4 yes 4 in my eyes that is relegation material for God sake recall kanu i think that’s 12 goals this season Leaburn couldn’t hit a barn door absolutely out of depth Campbell not much better i hear Mr Clive Mendonca and Mr Andy Hunt are free agents lol failing that Nigel Mansell and Nick Faldo are available those two would probably score more. Only rankin costello any good last night and you can’t win a game with just one person unless you are Scott Parker not much more of the table we slide down i am fed up with NJ and how he states the obvious after every game sort it out or we are relegated simple as that. Peace to all COYR for what it’s worth
Taxi for NJ. His stubborness will see us relegated. Get four or more players in with a new manager and we may have a chance.
The loan market is available to us in January, if NJ stays he won’t use it.
A narrow defeat where overall we were the better team. Still 5 points clear of the drop zone and with a game in hand. Beat Coventry and we’ll all be happy and positive again. Well obviously not all but most of us will.
Yes I agree laburnum should go out on loan that would cut the wag bill…
I’m starting to get really worried now !! We are leaking stupid goals, we have no creativity in midfield and with Godden out injured there is a real lack of proven Championship level strikers which is costing us points. Although the transfer window is almost open, I can’t see any one of note wishing to join a club embroiled in a relegation battle.
Fingers crossed for a result v Coventry, and please NJ, give Ibby Fullah a chance to show what he can do in his correct number 10 position !! COYR
A peaceful and healthy New Year to all.
Greg, Craig, JW and Daggs are spot on, NJ just continues with the same format, he has no other plans. Lets all be honest here he has played the same old tactics wherever he had been and apart from getting as far as the Championship a couple of times he has never got any further! Plus when he did get a couple of offers to manage a couple of Premiership teams, they both dive bombed with these tactics and he was sacked by both clubs pretty swiftly. I am not saying he is a terrible manager but the Championship is his absolute limit as he doesn’t know any other way to play, plus lets face it his way of playing is very tedious and boring football, with very little entertainment value, not the Charlton of old I have known and loved!
Also he continues to play his favourite players &/or his big signings no matter how poor they play, whilst other better players just sit on the bench, who must wonder why the hell there are here! You only have to look at Ahadme, probably the worst forward I have ever seen at Charlton, but NJ continued to play him with different partners up front to see if it made a difference, but it took him ages before he finally had to accept he had bought a pig in a poke and just wasn’t good enough, when we could all see that after several games. He can’t even get on the Stevenage bench now! A total waste of £1million spent incl his wages which he will still be earning as he was signed for several years so will be stuck with him!
The same with Kaminski, on the biggest wages by far at £20,,000 a week, a very average goalie, no better than what we already had, a few good games but also quite a few very poor ones and doesn’t command his area. Got absolutely hammered in the Premiership and also couldn’t keep Luton up in the Championship, just another waste of space from NJ’s old club, who is earning about four to five times what Mannion and Brewer earn a week! Plus what other club would want him in the Championship if we tried to off load him, so again stuck with a massive wage earner, for Charlton.
As per the above comments which others have pointed out, unless NJ really takes stock of the situation and drops his Ego, changes his tactics, changes the team around, plays some of the other better players, who hardly get a game and bring on subs much earlier, we will be staring relegation in the face, which also won’t entice any new shareholders to put money into the Club!!!
Taken me all morning and fizzy wine for breakfast before reading this (but only you CA). So thanks – not as painful as it could have been, but then i wasn’t there and will never be watching the highlights. Burying my head in a good book which is nothing about football and planning how many layers of clothes I can get on for coming home. Happy New Year.
Positives: I thought we worked hard and JRC making his first league start gave us some impetus in midfield. He’s not had much opportunity and has to wait in a queue after several other players to get his chance.
Negatives: for all the hard work we lacked that bit of quality in the final third, someone creating something out of nothing or turning a good position into an opportunity and then scoring from it. This has been an issue all season and needs addressing.
As for the last seconds winner – we’ve had a few of those over the last season or two ourselves, so we were maybe due one to go against us.
We’ve had a very successful year – at the start of 2025 we were a mid-table League One side and I remember the grief that NJ got then. Since then we qualified for the play-offs, won them and and are ensconced in the Championship with 27 points. If we are honest we would have taken that last January. But we are not safe and the relegation zone is uncomfortably close. We need to use this transfer window to bring in a few players with experience at this level – no more cheap but promising L1 players who can be trained up please.
My thoughts exactly Shadow…. 🙂
https://chicagoaddick.com/2025/12/30/no-one-ever-said-this-would-be-easy/#more-33580
Standing in Fratton Park last night, at the final whistle, it was difficult to comprehend just what had happened. It was an extreme contrast of emotions in a short space of time!
What I found interesting in NJ’s immediate post-match interview, was that he actually seemed to lay a lot of blame for the second goal at the door of Kaminski, which is something that he didn’t quite do even when he had the shocker against Stoke. I have not been convinced by our No.1, going back to the opening home game against Watford, where he probably should have given away a penalty. For someone who was meant to be an upgrade, he doesn’t command the box, his distribution is poor, and he is often indecisive in his decision making. If these mistakes are leading to us dropping valuable points, I am wondering if NJ is beginning to have some doubts too.
Yes. It was an interesting comment. Kaminski maybe an upgrade in terms of Championship experience, but he makes me nervous which is a trait I don’t like about goalies.
Mannion is limited, but rarely made me nervous.