Charlton Athletic 1 Bristol City 1
I’ll take the point after the long break, we deserved it especially after a change in formation in the 2nd half saw us better and we created the superior chances to win the game.
Despite edging the xG and possession I felt we rarely had control of the game other than the first 15 minutes.
Koumetio and Edwards both started. Mbick was the latest player preferred over Knibbs in the 10 role and Ramsey and Mannion were on the bench.
It was a sunny day in SE7 and it shone brighter in the 8th minute when Koumetio found time to feed Grant who laid it out to TC. The winger made his way to the corner of the box, passed to Grant who had kept his run going. He killed the ball superbly and dispatched past Tickle to put us in front.
A corner from Grant created a half chance but then we were really fortunate in a couple of ways after a sloppy Edwards’ header back to Okonkwo was short. Hirakawa got their first, Arthur held his ground but the City player lofted his effort wide but was caught by the ‘keeper.
It might’ve been a goal, or a penalty, a free-kick or a sending off but the ref brushed it all aside.
Edwards was really struggling in those opening exchanges as I thought was Coventry.
The Irishman had played a lot of football in the past couple of weeks, and as the impressive Ballard ran at him in the box, he stuck a limb out to give City an obvious penalty. 1-1 on 26 minutes.
After that City were better. They do have some very good players and Arthur had to save from a free-kick and I was counting down the minutes to the break as we were decidedly second best.
Bristol City began the second period in the same vein and we were playing far too deep.
Skipp and Coventry are basically the same. We never did buy the midfielder we needed, and we really miss Chalobah’s ability to find time and a forward moving pass.
Jones changed it less than 10 minutes into the half. Edwards and Mbick, who made no impression on me or the game, were off and with Ramsey and Mesik on we went five at the back but kept three up top in Grant, TC and Leaburn.
The Addicks were better after that and on 77 minutes we had the golden moment to take all 3 points.
Mr Tickle spilled a cross, TC reacted quickly but had his shot saved, I think it was Skipp who got the ball back to him and this time TC scooped just over.
Knibbs was now on for his first league minutes of the season and he was desperately unlucky with a great free-kick that Tickle tipped over. The corner was cleared and we had to settle for our third draw in a row at home.
🎙️“What we need to do is demonstrate a bit more quality, have a little bit more quality in the final third and probably be a little bit braver. They gave me everything, they worked, we utilised the squad, it was good to have people back. It’s not the worst day.”
⭐️ Billy Koumetio
🏟️ 20,481 (2,855 Bristol City)
📸 Paul Edwards
⏭️ Turf Moor on Tuesday night
Yes, could not pick up the match, but was there any improvement re standard of football, apart from that wonderful goal.
See Jones’s one of his favourites in the opening quote.
CAFC are simply shopping at (now extinct) Woolworths and poundsavers.
Yes, there were some positives and there has to be some we scored our first goal at The Valley in 3 games, and yes at the moment we have not yet lost at home.
Bristol City are a very decent outfit, and no game is a given in this league.
However, our away form has to pick up enormously and we have 2 successive away games and one with somewhat rejuvenated Burnley and Watford, before Norwich at home, so we see what position we are in.
I thought we started very well and managed to get on the front foot. Billy K was stand out for me, he is a commanding presence, has pace, and can play out of defence, what’s not to like. Conversely, Edwards looked like he was having his first ever game and that is understandable for someone who has been out for a year, fortunately, we know what he brings and he will be back given time. McNamara is a bonus and was very good again and we are very fortunate to have Ramsay who slotted in like he had never been away. I am not worried about our defence, we have the options available with Bell and Mesic in addition (both very capable).
Midfield is a different story, holding midfielders like Keith Jones are priceless, Coventry and Skipp do not fit the bill. They also lack pace and creativity, although Skipp has shown it in glimpses. Coventry is a squad player for me. He tries hard but falls short in every department.
TC was not his normal self but Intl games and the long flight are good reasons. Ireland isn’t that far!!!
Leaburn worked hard and, personally, I thought he had a good game for the team. He is beginning to look a little frustrated mind and I think the lack of goals is hanging heavy. He is between a rock and a hard place, he had to earn his place in the team, which means he has to work had around the pitch which has a cost. That said, he will never be a prolific striker, but like his dad, many a player would like to play alongside him. I think this is the puzzle Jones has to solve. We are not creating an abundance of chances, and as such, any striker would struggle in our team. We could do worse than try Leaburn and Kelman as a genuine two pronged striker partnership. Mbick could also be the man given time.
Burnley will be a tough ask, but we are a better team this year, unfortunately, we have further improved in the one area we were already strong, and have not solved the midfield problem, holding or attacking. I think we have missed a couple of key targets and that has hurt us, we then gambled. Chalabah looks great, but there was a reason he was available. Timothy was a different gamble but that also hasn’t paid off.
We will be fine but we will be relying on our defence again this season and taking very small steps in terms of our evolution to an attacking force! Let’s just hope the former provides the confidence for the latter to thrive. I will always love Leaburn, I am unashamedly biased and hope he can build a rapport with Kelman or Mbick.
Who knows, the last Claret and Blue away game was a lovely bonus, repeat please Mr Jones!
COYA
Great post, EK.
We need a bit more ruthlessness in attack, TC’s ball into Grant for our goal was the right ball, he ran and passed perfectly and the move was what you need to do in this division, no dithering just two touch football. That’s the some of incisiveness we need. He should have a second and had three bites at it, another day and he’d have scored.
The save by Sam Tickle at the death was a lot more routine than it looked, most keepers should stop that, a decent effort by Harvey Knibbs though.
And should Arthur Okonkwo been sent off? I think the referee played on and the Bristol player got a shot away before he was clobbered, maybe a yellow for a rash challenge but not a red – had the shot been on target the goal would have stood so I understand the ref’s thinking. But it was a poor back header by Josh Edwards – I thought he was heading it back to where he thought Billy Koumetio was – this was their first game together and both are also coming off injury breaks to boot so maybe the telepathy isn’t quite there yet.
Elsewhere we’ve had a few players back after injury and the bench looks to have a bit more depth to it, we’ve got defensive options there and when NJ brought the subs on he was able to make attacking/game changing changes and that nearly won it for us.
While a draw is a fair result that nagging voice in my head also sees an opportunity for three points go begging.
Will take a point this time,but we must start winning home games. We drastically need to find and buy a creative midfielder in the ‘January sales’
A point was probably a fair result like must have said we lack creativity in the middle of the park, and like last season a lack of goals is a worry didn’t understand why mbick started in front of Carey or knibbs . Big test at Burnley Tuesday coyr
Disappointed with yesterday. It was a fair result for sure, but if we are not going to be looking over our shoulders come Easter, we need to be beating teams like Bristol City at home. I was very surprised to see Mbick starting yesterday as he really does look out of his depth. I can’t help but wonder how JRC, Carey, Knibbs and Kelman feel about sitting on the bench while the youngster starts ahead of them. I am told that man management is particularly important these days, but i’m not sure anyone’s told Nathan.
We obviously miss Chalobah, but bearing in mind when he went off against Spurs we were told it was only precautionary; that we’ve not seen him since is concerning.
I appreciate that we have no money, but given that fact then NJ really needs to finds the right formation for the players we have, rather than try to fit them into a system he wants to play. Coventry and Skipp look not good enough. (The Doc gets better every week in his absence.)
Ramsey being back is a bonus, Big Billy looks very decent and McNamara i like too. Josh will hopefully improve with his match fitness. Add in Lloyd Jones and defensively we look okay.
The task for NJ and his team is to come up with a system that makes the most of the attacking options that we have at our disposal. As the moment i am not convinced he will.
NJ should just get a shirt with “What we need to do is demonstrate a bit more quality, have a little bit more quality in the final third” printed on it, as it been the same unresolved issue for the past few seasons. Maybe next year we’ll address it properly, but not holding my breath.