Charlton Athletic 1 Bristol City 2
I’m heading home to Florida today and was at the game yesterday. We really are crawling to the finish line, well not even crawling more frozen to the spot.
It was another frustrating display as we lost at home for the third time in four matches.
We started the game so badly, playing like they’d all be stuck in economy on the overnight flight from Jamaica. Bell, Jones, Clarke, Chambers easily had their worst performances of the season
To say City’s opening goal was coming would be an understatement. They were playing through us like we were statues and once again we were behind early on 11 minutes.
The Addicks were as bad as they’ve been all season after that. The bloke behind me was saying this could be four or five which got me thinking about my dinner afterwards with my son and his girlfriend, and taking my eye off the pitch I missed the throw-on confusion which led to our completely underseved equaliser.
It was a lovely goal with Dykes and Kelman combining and the former slid an arrowed shot in off the far post to make it 1-1. First time we had scored a first half goal in yonks.
Shockingly back in it and at last we looked a bit more up for it as the half came to an end.
Kicking towards a noisy Covered End, hopes were renewed, well at least for a couple of seconds as Jones bewilderingly put the ball out for a corner. This was another sign of what was to happen in an uncharacteristic defensive sequence.
Not helped by a ref who did everything in his power to make up for his first half throw-in gaff, we did our best to give Scott Twine some free-kick practice.
Their second goal was a disaster for Will Mannion. Twine’s free-kick went under the wall, may have clipped Ramsey and Mannion shuffled the ball as if it had just come out of the oven and eventually it went over the line.
What followed that was a referee who was on a mission to get a world record for giving free-kicks to an away side, plenty of hoofing the ball upfield from us, conversely when not wasting time City calmly passed through our midfield or sauntered 70 yards up the pitch without any sign of a Charlton tackle.
Battling and giving 110% will only get you so far, hopefully far enough, but a Championship evolution is going to take some overhaul and ££££.
Jones brought on TC and Fullah, who could save us some ££££ as he really does affect games positively. Kelman who must end each game with a stiff neck and Chambers were replaced.
Then, finally we started to play and I don’t know if we deserved a draw or not, but we really should have scored at least once in the last 20 minutes.
Fullah had a shot saved before Godden and Rankin-Costello were added to the attacking ranks with just a bit more than 10 minutes remaining. Fevrier also came on a few minutes after.
Godden was denied a dream goal by their ‘keeper, but he had to score. Fevrier did really well to cross for TC, who did everything right but blazed over when hitting the target looked easier.
Rankin-Costello was lively and had a fine shot saved. Godden had another chance which went wide and more scrambles followed with Mannion also joining the all out attack.
On the break City really ought to have put the game away, but a stupendous Ramsey covering tackle and a Mannion save kept us in it, until the very annoying ref blew the final whistle.
🎙️ “We have done enough to get considerably more points than we have – but we keep saying that same thing. Someone has to be brave and take a chance – show an ounce of quality.” – Nathan Jones
⭐️ Kayne Ramsey
🏟️ 20,925 (2,409 Bristol City)
📸 Paul Edwards
Boy oh boy that was not a game we can take any pride from…we seemed in awe of Bristol and Roy Hodgson and let them just run the whole length of the pitch unchallenged for long periods of the first half…..
Scott Twine is an excellent player and finisher thanks to being coached at Burnley by Vincent Kompany and it showed.
Oh well……Monday sees us at Watford and we can’t afford to drop points as we all know…but you know us and being unpredictable anything could happen.
Happy Easter to you and your family CA and all who tune into this wonderful site 🐣
Happy Easter, Cliff.
Not going to comment on the game as it has all been said above. We were however fortunate that, of all the teams below us, only Blackburn took maximum points. We need something at Watford on Monday.
Your late Blog CA surprised me. I thought about all possible reasons why. Glad to hear that you are safe and on your way home…Best wishes to you, All your readers and everybody associated with CAFC
Apologies Alan. Bit sloppy last night in finding time to write (few too many pints)….
I agree CA we are limping towards 50 points again we started so slowly it’s a wonder we weren’t punished more, my son and I where talking in the pub Friday and we both said 2 weeks ago 3 points all day long the arrival of hodgson we said you watch they will turn us over and they did, we need to start more front footed and forget the clean sheet that NJ goes on about just go and win the games coyr
You need a few beers being a Charlton fan nothings easy
Oh boy we are makings things so difficult for ourselves and Jones needs ti get all the players together and lay out the simple facts….relegation means loss of staff jobs,finacisl disaster,culling of players and fans leaving,and Nerths the tea lady being layed-off,…..
Opps..Bertha the tea lady
I’ve looked the remaining fixtures and can only see a possible draw with Preston and maybe three points at Wednesday. Though I wouldn’t be surprised if we become Weds. next win. (they have had only one in 40 games)
All the other games I cannot see us getting anything.
So 49 or perhaps 52 points. Will that be enough ??
I’m really not enjoying watching us at the moment! We were lucky it was only 2!
We were dreadful yesterday, we’ve had a break, but come out not chasing or fighting for the ball, what are we doing when we practice. They on the other hand were all over us, nice little triangles going forward, which we didn’t seem able to breakdown. Our defence just didn’t seem to work together as they normally do. I think Jones brought on the subs too late and I agree with you CA, Fuller looked good, so why not play him more. I still think we can stay up and thankfully most of the teams below us are just getting the odd point, but we must improve. COYR’s start playing football.
Can anyone remember when we used to play attacking football, talking to Colin Powell recently and he was saying didn’t matter how many we conceded we could out score them, we’ve become pretty negative side sorry if it’s a rant coyr
I thought the late post even CA had had enough. Shambles ftom first minute to about the 75th min and even then when we were on top we couldn’t find the equaliser. Luckily I was at ncfc yesterday with my son and that was a rubbish game too. On a plus side my son today had more race wins in his karting to now stretch his lead to 15 points. COYR
Great news on your son, Craig.
Thanks CA 🏎 🏁
Surprised no one picked up on certain things which have happened we have a free kick coach ok it’s his job to clue up the players so why old why didn’t our players or keeper didn’t know about twine on free kicks does anybody scored few similar at Watford found that goal embarrassing l was saying to various people behind the goal he’ll try go under the wall FFS
I was at the Portsmouth game with high hopes but I left at half time after the worst 45 minutes of football from a Charlton team I have seen in more than 20 years. Yesterday again I had high hopes and after the first 10 minutes we were unbelievably fortunate only to be down by one goal.
In my opinion there is something wrong with the relationship between the players and the manager. The players are lacking confidence in their own ability and it shows with our negative play, dropping too deep, backwards or sideways passing, not taking on the opposition in one on one’s. Is Nathan Jones a good coach, who improves players and when necessary can adapt his preferred game plan ?
Our survival in the championship is dependent on the lack of form from the teams below us. Fingers and toes crossed we hang in there and get 2 more points. If we end up 20th in the championship it will be a relief.
I left the game a bit frustrated, as it seemed we started to play in the 75 minutes. We were poor in the first half, once again we are played through midfield as teams play a floating 10 , a tactic that pulls us apart and midfield don’t seem to cope as Jones is dragged into areas where opposition can exploit. Bell understandably after flying back from remote areas of Mexico looked laboured. It could have been at least 2-0 down. The our goal was very created and a good finish by Dykes. I was not a fan of his signing, but he has impressed me since joining in January.
I was very disappointed with the chanting by fans against TC.
There is no room for that, yes he splits fans but chanting against our player is not for me.
Today there is a bbc report on the financial situation of the championship. Our opponents yesterday losing £100 millions over the years chasing the PL dream. Next season the carrot of finishing in the top 8 compels the financial gamble by clubs. Most championship clubs will feel that is achievable and will go for players , driving up wages and fees.
Yes this squad needs to be improved and the areas have obvious since October. The financial side of game is different from years ago, players are on more money generally, fees are higher and quality championship players cost a lot of money. All clubs have transfers that don’t work out, and that’s the reality of the situation. None of our club Jan loans out are not ripping up with their league 1 clubs.
The squad will need to be trimmed before we add.
I can see some big decisions being made on a number of players.
But we need to be realistic, £10 mil spent last year is a pin drop for the championship. We need similar investment and probably more. The fortunes of Oxford and Portsmouth this season highlight the need for constant investment after promotion. I sure there is money for the summer, but for how long is anyone’s guess.
And yes i still think we will be in the championship next season.
We need a two goal team to score goals at the moment we have no goal scored its only defence that keep us with any chance of staying up the 60s days have gone.