Blackburn Rovers 2 Charlton Athletic 2
Just a few lines on today’s game as I’m laid up trying to fight the flu, and losing badly.
Very disappointing to be 2-0 up, and not bring back the three points today. Their first goal was the killer I thought, and both goals conceded were really poor from our point of view.
Clean sheets appear a distant memory at the moment, we just don’t have that steely look about us at the back, and we are not finishing games stronger than our opponents.
We desperately need some reinforcements, and more than just a couple.
We lost Burke, which with the shifts he has put in, was only a matter of time, and as soon as Bell went over to the right, we were so susceptible down the left-side, and I was just pleased that we hung on for a point.
Gillesphey is not good enough at this level, and with TC in front of him we have to get a qualified left-sided wing back in the building, and soon.
Yet, at 2-0 up, without playing particularly well, we took a real stranglehold on the game with 34 minutes on the clock. The ground was empty and you could feel the misery around the place from my sick bed. The game was being played with only the hardy 500+ Addicks for company.
Our only real bit of quality gave us the lead, and I thought a fortunate penalty was nicely dispatched by Kelman for his brace.
If we’d held out to half-time I think we would’ve been alright, but both goals were from turnovers, and we just have to be better and have higher levels of concentration.
On the plus side, Bell was excellent, Bree better, great to see Kelman get score two, and though Leaburn had a terrific game.
A two-week league break now, hopefully we can some players back and signed.
🎙️ “I’m frustrated, after going two goals up we’ve got to be better than that. The goals are really poor from our point of view, from the structure we use, from what we do and what we pride ourselves on, really, really poor.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Miles Leaburn
🏟️ 11,367 (538 Addicks)
📸 Kyle Andrews
First of all hope you get over your flu soon CA, braved the freezing weather yesterday on my short journey to Blackburn two poor sides but a point is better than nothing, getting seriously worried now I can not see where a win is coming from NJ needs to swollen is pride and stop playing his favourites we’ve paid big money for players and they are not getting any proper game time. I agree leaburn motm yesterday Bree slightly better berry not got the legs anymore reinforcements needed quickly coyr
Charlton are starting to consistently show a soft underbelly, with teams cutting us to bits on the break/turnover (Pompey’s 2nd goal, Blackburn’s 2nd goal). It happened too against Coventry, Boro, and Saints but they are better quality teams. On the plus side, Charlie (Special K) is starting to find some form, and JRC is finally making his mark. We desperately need some quality additions in almost all departments and they cannot come soon enough. Thank god for the two week international break! I hope your flu clears up quickly, CA.
Disappointing, but our penalty was a tad fortunate. Nevertheless it was given and we then contrived to throw away a lead against a poor team. I don’t feel like criticising anyone, the players are working hard and putting in a shift. But I am pleased to see Charlie Kelman get on the scoresheet, he’s been an unsung hero doing the high press role perfectly.
We’ve needed players and especially defenders in through the door for some time so the transfer window has opened at the right moment. But we need players in with solid experience at this level and not players who’ve sat on the bench or in the stands for most of the season.
On to Chelsea in the cup which should be a nice and lucrative distraction.
First of all hope you get over your flu soon CA, took a short drive to Blackburn and braved the chilly weather to watch us through away a two goal lead to a poor Blackburn side, I am becoming seriously worried now because I can’t see where the next win is coming from, we desperately need reinforcements and NJ needs to swollen his pride and stop playing his favourites. We’ve paid big money for players who are not getting enough game time, I agree CA motm leaburn coyr
Blackburn had eleven players out injured, to say they had a weakened team is putting it mildly.
Nonetheless we manged to hand over the impetus, lose a two goal lead and looked uncomfortably likely to concede a third, though fortunately didn’t. NJ claims “It shows we’ve come a long way” Comedy gold.
Five points from the last five games, four of which were other struggling sides. It’s relegation form.
NJ sticks to his rigid formation, putting square pegs in round holes and the points continue to be dropped.
January gives a chance to improve the team. Will NJ seek reinforcements? Will he drop his stupid rule of no loans (except Bree who has Luton connections !!) Will the owners pay up for better quality players to come in? Will any better players want to come to a struggling side?
Or will NJ get the sack?
I know what I would prefer.
Didn’t watch the game yesterday, so can.t really comment on individual performances, although reading the above comments give me some idea how things panned out. When I saw we were two up, I stupidly thought we would go on and take the three points, but our Jekyll & Hyde side reared it’s ugly head yet again. So frustrating. As commented above, quality reinforcements are needed quickly…..no ‘has beens’, ‘teenagers’, or ‘bench warmers’ need apply.!!!!…… Get well soon CA.
Agree with nearly everything others have implied apart from Bree having a good game!
Have a look at the two goals scored, both goals came from a player Bree at Wing back should have done better. First goal he was nearest to the player who headed it in, but didn’t follow him up quickley another and just made a weak effort to jump and try and put him off. Second goal was similar he was almost standing still when the ball came over and the Blackburn player ran from behind and Bree was too late to even put a tackle in!
Similar to other games he is so slow getting back to defend and is easily beaten for speed, any other player, would have been dropped by now, but NJ never even vents his anger at him in any games, unlike most players who make errors, even when he can’t lift the ball higher than three foot of the ground for corners time after time!
If NJ wants to carry on with his continual wing back formula he has to get in two wing backs, a replacement for Bree who he should send back to Southampton and a replacement for Edwards, until he is fit again after his op, as whilst Bell is a really good left sided centre back which is his position, he is not so good as a left wing back.
Or he could start using wingers, such as Apter and TC who was playing really well until NJ started to try and make him a striker, but he would have to then change his game plan.
Hope your on the mend CA !
Well I’m disappointed that we were leading and gave two soft goals to Blackburn.We definately need to ensure that this stops as we’ve lost so many games when winning.
Well done Kelman who took the opportunities really well and I loved the Mendonca celebration….wish he was still playing for us.
Oh well a point is a point and I feel a little deflated that we didn’t get 3 points.
I am trying to understand the logic behind the idea of removing NJ, that some people seem to feel is the way forward. Do they really believe that we are somehow under-achieving this season, and that we should actually be challenging higher up the table?
Any progression and consolidation into a Championship club is always going to take more than one transfer window. Do I think that players such as Gillesphey are good enough? No, I don’t. Do I think that those players will still be here in a season or two? Again, I don’t. Do I understand the thinking behind keeping together the nucleus of the squad that gained us promotion? Yes I do.
Finally, do I think that NJ will keep us in the Championship? Absolutely…
💯.
Summed up really well Jon….totally 👍
It was disappointing to watch us give away a 2 goal lead when we were on top. As I have repeatedly said on here we need strength down our left side. It no coincidence that sides constantly attack our left side which unfortunately got weaker with Gillesphey coming on. That combination with TC is exploited by opponents. Quite simply TC is not a wing back, does not have the physical strength to compete and lacks any defensive awareness. Is it his fault – no , he is a forward. I would argue his was at fault for both of their goals, outmuscled and a weak challenge when pressed , the cross came over and we didn’t deal with that..you could see Jones have a go at TC when the goal went in. The second he just switched off and Gillisphey should put it out. Bree did have a better game but after some poor performances the bar was not high. He did provide the cross for our first goal. We must stop with the near post corner routines they are not working. Back to drawing board on those things. I was curious about not playing Gough on the right instead of switching over Bell who when on the left gives us more stability.
I was pleased with Kellman notching a couple, we will need his form to continue. I hope we get some reinforcements in this window, we are still an inexperienced team for this level and unlike many other teams our squad depth is limited.
Rumours are circulating about players, I hope we can improve the squad, that left side is big priority, then right-side defender, and a forward. Now we have the World club champions and I will look forward in getting behind the team. The priority is the league, but the FA Cup gives us a relief from the league and a chance to dream about an upset against one of the PL big teams.
Hope you feel better really soon CA I didn’t watch the game so I can’t really comment either but been told the defending was diabolical in second half we went to old trafford as my youngest son is man utd mad that’s one hell of a stadium it really does make the valley look tiny anyway glad kelman has finally found some form just get some decent loan players to get us over the line COYR
A new subscriber, but a longer term reader of this excellent blog. Here is my first input:
With regard to the January window, I have read that Callum Wilson is now surplus to requirements at the athletics stadium in Stratford following West Ham’s (hopefully) panic buying of overseas strikers. I think he would be an ideal recruit for us for the remainder of the season.
Welcome New Cross Gate.
How much do you think Calum Wilson earns a week?