Musings On A Season Past And A Season To Come

Like others I’m sure, I’ve been reluctant to think about next season, until it was certain we would be staying up. Until we beat Hull there was that lingering thought. Would Swansea away on the last day be like Notts Forest away in May 1989 - when we were safe in the top flight for a fourth season under Lennie Lawrence with a game to spare, lost 0-4 and couldn’t care less – or like Blackpool away in 1972 – when we were trounced 0-5 and saw Fulham jump above us out of the final relegation spot? Thankfully it proved to be the former.

Before drilling down into what we need to do for next season, who might stay and who might go, there has to be an overall assessment of how we did this campaign. We stayed up because we took 23 points from our first 15 games. Over a full season that would have given us 71 points and a shout for the final play-off place. In the subsequent 30 games we have secured 30 points – and it doesn’t require a calculator to work out where that would have left us. It has been relegation form for more than half of the season. We kept our heads above water thanks to the seven-points week (three games), and we did strengthen sensibly in January (with four loan signings in key areas), but on prevailing form if the season had gone on another 10 games we would have been likely to get relegated, the excellent win against Hull notwithstanding.

I can’t agree with Jones the Boss when he says that we should have had significantly more points than we did in the run-in. Sure, in the seven-game winless run we didn’t get the breaks, results were always tight. But in plenty of others before them we had. Not just winning at Middlesbrough (great performance but if that game was played 10 times we probably would have lost six and drawn three), we were getting mullered by Sheff Utd at The Valley before they shot themselves in the foot and had two sent off before half-time, and who knows how the game at Leicester would have gone if they had not been reduced to 10 (and failed to convert a second-half penalty). These things do usually even out. Since Christmas Portsmouth have done the double over us and we failed to win at Blackburn (when they were in the mire), Oxford (getting a vital point via a truly gifted penalty), West Brom, and Sheff Wed. We ended up where we deserved to be.

It has been a strange season for the division (perhaps it always is). While we were flirting with the top six and thinking Jones truly had a Midas touch, Southampton, Sheff Utd, Norwich – teams expected to be competing at the top – were floundering around the bottom. They turned things around, usually by replacing their managers, and fair play to them. Fair play also to Portsmouth (pleased for them for their behaviour over Headphones Norm), West Brom and Blackburn, they got their act together when it mattered, just as we were faltering. Give Oxford credit too, they seemed buried but ended up getting close to survival. We stayed up because Sheff Wed were doomed from the start, Oxford couldn’t pull off a great escape, and Leicester proved to be the fall guys we needed, simply imploding.

So given the start we had, what went wrong? Certainly injuries took their toll. Losing Edwards was a massive blow (especially as nobody thought when he hobbled off that would be the last we’d see of him for the season). Not having Godden available until the end also cost us, Knibbs’ season was prematurely effectively ended by a dreadful tackle, while periodic injuries to Ramsay, Burke and Bell disrupted the defence. Perhaps we simply took advantage of other teams’ slow start, then playing with the intensity required took its toll (we were defending like dogs and scoring the occasional goal) and proved unsustainable, and perhaps there was a mental aspect, that when we fell away from the top group we had nothing left to play for but to avoid relegation – although that would be unfair on the players, who never lacked effort and determination. Perhaps the answer – in addition to an element of all of these things – was that we lost confidence during winless spells and didn’t have the quality to be able to counterbalance that.

Our poor results in the run-in must give Jones and the owners food for thought, as must being aware that the switch away from playing the target man up top resulted in improved displays and suddenly goals from open play (after the series of goals only from long throws or other set pieces). I’d suggest there are other areas to ponder too.

Of the new signings last summer, overall to date you have to say the marque ones have disappointed. Kelman has shown flashes of what we might expect from him, his goal against Hull gave the impression he has learnt from Godden, not for the strike but the aggression to win the ball. That hasn’t always been evident and at the start of the season we would have expected more appearances and more goals from him. Hopefully that will be the case next season. Olaofe and Apter have failed to make a mark so far (Apter not least because we don’t play with wingers and anyone who thought he could be a wing-back needs their bumps felt) and went out on loan, Knibbs missed much of the season through no fault of his own. Carey was the exception, for a while providing our main goal threat and ending up as leading goalscorer from midfield, although it has now been a while since he found the net.

The signings having the greatest impact were the experienced ones, players already known to Jones. Kaminski had a decent season (as did Mannion, who bided his time and was ready when the chance came, although of course there were mistakes from both). Burke and Bell either started or were in the squad when available, only problem being their injury records (which we knew about before they arrived).

Youngsters overall failed to make an impression as far as the first team was concerned. The obvious exception was Fullah, Gough also featured, but others who had been on the fringes last season either went out on loan or stayed with the U21s/U18s. Anderson went from a first-team starter to on loan at Blackpool in a short space of time. He sits at the front of a large group – including (but not confined to) Asiimwe, Laqeretabua, Mitchell(Z), Enslin, Rylah, Casey, Dixon – on which decisions will need to be made regarding whether they can be expected to be involved in the first-team squad next season, while Kanu and Mbick picked up plaudits and awards (an in the case of the latter transfer interest) out on loan but have yet to be tested at Championship level.

Finally, we have a couple of enigmas up front: Leaburn and Campbell. Leaburn has had a disappointing season, not managing to get a run in the side and delivering mixed performances when called on. The jury for me is still out over whether he is, like his father, just waiting to flower into a fully-fledged central striker or whether he is more Marcus Rashford than Alan Shearer. He still has plenty of time on his hands (he, like JC, is 22) but either Jones views him as a regular starter for next season or, if he is pushed down the pecking order by new signings, a candidate to go on loan to get regular football.

TC gets a lot of underserved flak. He’s often called on to play three, even four, positions in a game, including being pressed into service as a wing-back. For me he remains a very effective winger, one capable of improvement in that role. When selected to play alongside another forward he does all his good work out wide, which is fine if you have a consistent goalscorer to feed off him (and/or midfielders like Berry to get into the box to assist). He is not going to contribute many goals as a second striker, he is not a poacher inside the box and needs the ball to feet outside it.

So overall we are a mess if you view things from a perspective of what is on the table for next season, one which will most probably see us compete in a tougher league (Wolves, Burnley, West Ham/Spurs, Cardiff). There is a great deal of work to be done – including decisions on a large number of players as well as on who we might look to sign. We ended this one with four loan players (Clarke, Chambers, Coady, Fevrier) in the starting XI for Swansea, five if you include Dykes (whose contract only lasts until the end of the season). We can have no idea if we will see any of them again in a Charlton shirt. We had out on loan no less than nine of the first-team squad - Mitchell(A), Asiimwe, Anderson, Taylor, Apter, Olaofe, Kanu, Mbick (albeit injured), Ahadme (apparently also injured) – and several youngsters.

As things stand, what do we know?

It’s reasonable to expect that next season Kaminski and Mannion will continue to contest the goalkeeping spot, unless someone else is signed as a number one to leapfrog them – in which case one of them would probably leave.

In defence, unless someone comes in with a good offer for Jones or Ramsay, and allowing for us to possibly let some go, and potentially some with contracts expiring, we will have on the books Jones, Ramsay, Burke, Bell, Sichenje, Gillesphey, Mitchell(A), Mitchell(Z), Gough, Asiimwe, and we all very much hope Edwards. If we started next season with Ramsay and Edwards as wing-backs, Sichenje/Burke, Jones and Bell/Gillesphey as three central defenders, we’d probably feel confident in that set-up even without new faces, but light again for the wing-backs. Everyone’s probably assuming Plymouth will buy their player of the season Mitchell(A), but let’s not forget he’s only 24. Of course if we switched to four at the back we’d be even better covered. If we stay with wing-backs I’d like to see us try to keep Fevrier, who I think was a breath of fresh air.

In midfield as things stand we have Docherty (still another year on the contract), Coventry (also another year left I believe), Rankin-Costello, Anderson, Carey, Knibbs, Fullah, and Apter. Berry’s contract expires and the assumption is he will head off with our gratitude and best wishes; Taylor I think is out of contract in the summer and will presumably be let go. If we stick to the current formation, with Carey and Knibbs, possibly Fullah, to contest the more forward position, unless Anderson comes back fired up you have to assume we will need to strengthen with greater pace and power if we have ambitions to do more than avoid relegation.

Up front it’s a wing(er) and a prayer. Kelman, Leaburn, Campbell, possibly Godden (he did enough for me to offer him another year but who knows), Ahadme (he still I believe has another year to run on his contract and let’s face it nobody’s going to shell out money for him), plus the returning Kanu and Mbick. Opinion in my group of Addicks is divided over whether we should try to retain Dykes, who may well attract interest from elsewhere especially if he features in the World Cup. I’m in the camp that hopes we do keep him – unless of course we bring in somebody better. I’m confident Kelman will have a better season, but what we can expect from Leaburn, Campbell and Kanu, possibly Mbick, is really for Jones and his team to decide (of course if we switch to playing wingers we would have TC and Apter).

All ifs and buts at this stage. I don’t know when the club will announce the retained list and give insight into who else stays or goes, and what are the priorities for new signings. I guess ahead of that it’s time for putting the feet up and taking a break, with mild interest in whether we can look forward to playing West Ham or Spurs next season (I still hope it’s Palace as long as its mathematically possible, which it still is) and the fun of the World Cup to come. August seems a long way off at present, but no doubt the time will pass quickly. I just want Jones and next season’s team to have the same sort of start to next season as we did this.

Came A Cropper As We Opened Up

This was always going to be one for the road. For us, could we get up to the dizzy heights of 17th with a win and other results, or dip to 21st and finish as the team closest to the bottom three? For Swansea it was a case of up a place at best, to end a respectable 10th, possibly down a couple. But no doubt they wanted to send their supporters away happy. We had our celebrations last weekend, so while you couldn’t say there was nothing riding on the game it was thankfully not the nailbiter we had feared.

We lost, but ended up holding onto 19th place in the table thanks to defeats for Blackburn and West Brom (both against relegated teams). The story of the game in some respects reflected our season. For an hour we were generally second-best but hung in there, defending well. We made changes on the hour and they made it a much more open contest. We looked more threatening, scored, but also conceded three.

Just what team Jones would put out depended on injuries and whether he wanted to experiment a little. Turned out there would be four changes from last Saturday, with Docherty given the rest of the season off after his sterling efforts of late (OK he was injured), Sichenje not available, presumably Bell too, while Carey and Kelman moved to the bench. In came Burke, Coventry, Chambers and Dykes, with Campbell not in the squad, presumably to rest a niggling injury. The website indicated no change in formation, with a central defensive three of Burke, Jones and Gillesphey, Clarke and Chambers as wing-backs, Coady and Coventry the holding midfield pair with Knibbs and Fevrier either side of Dykes. Just how that would work out was anyone’s guess.

The first half was a truly dull affair. Swansea predictably enjoyed the bulk of possession and looked good moving the ball around, until they reached our box. And aside from one put away but given offside, and shortly after that a decent chance, as a ball into the box from their right was met well enough by their forward, bringing a decent save from Kaminski, they didn’t really threaten. Neither did we, although we were back to causing havoc with long throws into the box. One on 27 minutes led to a Jones ball back in to the far post. We did have one decent move as Chambers did excellent work to play in Knibbs down the left, but with players in the box he horribly overhit the cross.

The stats at the break showed Swansea had 71% possession with five shots and just one on target, against four and two for us (neither of which caused their keeper any bother). Quite frankly if the ref had called it quits then we at least would have been happy.

Swansea did put us under greater pressure early in the second half and we found it more difficult to keep possession or find a good out ball. And on the hour Jones the Boss decided to throw the dice. On came Rankin-Costello, Carey and Leaburn, for Burke, Coady and Fevrier, switching to a 4-4-2.

Immediately the game opened up and we did look a threat. Rankin-Costello found Leaburn and his cross was put behind for a corner, then Dykes was fouled just outside the box. You thought ‘step forward Gillesphey, your time has arrived’. But the position didn’t favour a left-footer and instead he dummied a shot and instead tried to set things up for Carey with a short pass to the right. But the pass was poor, Carey stretched for the shot and put it over the bar.

Instead, on 70 minutes we almost went behind as we lost the ball and Swansea broke, ending with a guy shooting well over. And a few minutes later we did go behind. Swansea camped around our box for a while and created the space for a guy on their right. His low ball into the box was swept home.

Still a long way to go and with Berry on for Knibbs we did threaten. Leaburn flicked on a ball and Dykes just failed to reach it, in his last effort as he was then replaced by Kelman, then Rankin-Costello found Leaburn and his low ball across was somehow not converted, put behind for a corner. No matter as from that we levelled things. It looked like poor defending as the ball was swung in and Leaburn headed home from close range pretty much unchallenged. And probably it was. But looking at the replay seemed that Leaburn ran around RC, who stood his ground and blocked off Leaburn’s marker.

No matter, we were level. Only a little over 10 minutes of normal time left, let’s settle for that. Instead on 80 minutes we were behind again. A Charlton attack broke down and as Swansea broke we were clearly in trouble. A ball across was struck goalwards by their forward. It might have been goalbound anyway, but hit Gillesphey in the face and was diverted into the net with Kaminski wrongfooted.

We might have equalised again, but on 87 minutes the game was settled as Swansea made a better fist of their free-kick outside the box than we did, after Coventry fouled. An excellent strike curled enough to go in off the post. And that was that.

No point in trying to draw conclusions from today. We had four loan players in the starting XI, five if you include Dykes (whose short-term contract now expires). A lot of decisions to come on who goes, who stays, who comes back from loan to feature next season, and who is bought. Those are the problems of others. We can enjoy the World Cup and have a rest, like most of the players. Everyone has, I think, earned it - although it is of course still fingers-crossed for the womens team!

Safety At Last!!

No need for any preamble for this one: get the point we need and party, before the planning for next season would start on Monday; lose and it would be nervously watching the Oxford v Sheff Wed score with every expectation that it would all go to the final day. And to our collective massive relief we won, when for a while it seemed as if another home defeat was staring us in the face.

The team/squad was always going to see changes from Tuesday night, given injuries to Bell and Godden. Jones opted for a couple of additional changes as Clarke returned having been unavailable against Ipswich, Coady came in for Coventry, and Knibbs and Carey would start, with Rankin-Costello on the bench and Campbell joining him there. It meant a central defensive three of Sichenje, Jones and Gillesphey in front of Kaminski with Clarke and Fevrier (switched to the left side) as wing-backs, Coady and Coventry in defensive midfield, Carey and Knibbs operating in support of lone strike Kelman, with Leaburn joining Dykes among the subs.

Like against Ipswich, our set-up seemed to confuse the opposition in the early phases and we were on top, with for once a majority of possession. We had all the chances against a lacklustre Hull, with Carey and Knibbs providing good support for a lively Kelman and the wing-backs pressing forward. The best moment say Kelman skip past a guy on our right. He low cross was cleared but went back across goal for a Coady shot which was saved at the second attempt by their keeper.

We got our reward on 19 minutes. A Coady ball forward saw Kelman compete for it on our left. He did well to get the better of his immediate challenger and emerge with the ball, but Hull had numbers back and there seemed little threat, until Kelman moved it inside onto his right and then sent a beautiful curled shot into the far corner of the net, giving their keeper no chance. It is up there as a goal of the season contender.

However, also similar to the Ipswich game, we suffered a defensive injury, this time on 26 minutes as Kaminski and Sichenje both went down. The latter couldn’t continue and Burke came on to replace him. Almost immediately Clarke was sitting deeper and Hull from that point on seemed to gain momentum, pressing us back and picking off more of our out balls. That might have happened without the change, but they did started to enjoy the lion’s share of the ball and to probe, looking dangerous from set pieces.

It seemed as though we would make it to the break, including seven minutes of stoppage time, ahead and able to regroup. But just at the end Clarke was pressured into an error, conceding an unnecessary corner. Kaminski picked up a yellow trying to delay matters but when the ball was sent in beyond the far post he couldn’t come to claim it (he was being held back) and their guy headed back goalwards. It was hooked away but had clearly crossed the line – and suddenly we were heading into the dressing room on level terms.

The set the nerves on edge and the first 20 minutes of the second half had them jangling as Hull had nearly all the play and threatened several times. A dangerous ball in from the left just beat everyone – although that was matched by Fevrier sending in a similar one at the other end which Knibbs just failed to make contact with. On 53 minutes a Hull attack turned dangerous as Coady slipped, a first shot blocked and the second sent wide. Jones had to turn another low cross over his own bar for another in a series of Hull corners.

We were under the cosh and sitting deep. Everyone in the ground knew we don’t score more than one in a game and Hull had no option other than to press forward for the winner, given their need for the points. Jones the Boss responded on 62 minutes as Campbell and Chambers came on for Corey and a tired Knibbs, with Fevrier switching to the right side and TC looked to to provide some relief in taking the play to them. And glory be the change paid off as out of the blue on 67 minutes we did the unthinkable and scored again, with another individual’s goal and another excellent one – more remarkably making it two goals in a game from open play.

Fevrier picked up the ball on the right side and as with Kelman’s goal Hull probably thought they had matters under control, with three defenders around him. But he beat one and cut inside, moved the ball past another challenge into a shooting position and before another could close him down shot beyond their flatfooted keeper.

The completely changed the game, forcing Hull into further changes to strengthen their attack but for us meaning that we would have to concede twice in the final 20 minutes or so to lose. Hull did have chances, especially on 83 minutes (after Dykes had replaced a clearly knackered Kelman) as Kaminski made a rare error, fluffing a punch clear, leaving their guy to shoot on the turn. Fortunately for us he hit it wide.

As the clock ticked down we were cheering every boot out of defence and anything that relieved the pressure. Dykes outmuscled a defender to get on the end of a Kaminski kick and from a narrow angle forced a save from their keeper, giving us a corner, from which TC and Fevrier could waste some time. We went into six additional minutes still ahead and increasingly confident, despite some tired legs and Docherty picking up what looked like a groin strain and unable to run (or really walk); as with Godden on Tuesday night we’d used up all of our possible changes. Their keeper came up for a late corner and we almost had the icing on the cake as Fevrier ran pretty much from box to box, swerving past their keeper who had got back, only for his shot into what we hoped was an empty net to be turned away by a defender. It didn’t matter, the final whistle came shortly after – and we were safe.

Plenty of relief and celebration post-match, culminating in Jones the Boss’ speech and the most predictable confirmation of Jones the Player picking up both Players Player of the Year and Player of the Year (for the second season in a row). At the time of writing Oxford are 4-1 up against Sheff Wed – but we couldn’t give a monkeys. We can have a laugh at Swansea – I’m reminded of the end of the third season in the top flight under Lennie Lawrence: we’d survived the first (epically) via the play-offs, avoided the play-offs in the second on the final day by getting a draw at Stamford Bridge (sending Chelsea into the play-offs, they were relegated), and in the third made it to safety with a game to spare. We travelled to Notts Forest and sang all game, lost 4-0, and the Forest fans couldn’t understand why we were so happy.

The serious stuff for next season can start in due course, but for now the owners, manager, players and fans can bask in what has eventually become ‘job done’. The move into midtable oblivion after the seven-points week didn’t happen, and the poor run we’ve been on will increase speculation over where and to what extent we need to strengthen. But first we party – and carry out the promises made of what to do if we got the point we needed. For me that will mean tonight a return to eating some cheese, my nightmare, as I did after we beat Middlesbrough. My partner Suzanne has chosen some truly evil-looking stuff. That moment will pass, looking at the table tomorrow will give me an enduring smile.

Beaten And Bloodied And Still A Point Short

One point. Tuesday night’s results had left us that close to safety. Getting it last night was obviously always going to be a tough ask, with Ipswich desperate for a win to take them back above the Spanners into second. Could a team with no win in six, one still struggling to find effective combinations in midfield and attack, upset the odds as we had done at Portman Road? Well, it’s football, eleven against eleven etc. For sure to get something we would need the breaks to go our way, as they had done at their place. Overall they didn’t and we lost.

No shame in that and there were positives from the performance – Docherty was outstanding, Sichenje stood up well to a tough task, and Fevrier gave us the sort of attacking threat you expect from a wing-back. But positives count for nothing at this stage of the season and in any event they are outweighed by the fresh injuries. We may well go into Saturday’s game against Hull without Ramsay, Bell, Campbell and Godden. So, not the night we hoped for.

For the team/squad there were doubts pre-match in each area. Would Kaminski return after a couple of costly errors from Mannion? Would Ramsay be available and if not would Burke or Sichenje get the nod? Would Jones continue with Coady and Docherty to protect the defence or might Coventry or Rankin-Costello get a start? Might Knibbs (or Berry) give Carey a rest? And up top just which two from Dykes, Leaburn, Godden, Kelman and Campbell? In the event Jones came up with a fresh approach and made eight changes from the Sheff Wed game. Kaminski did return, Fevrier did come in for Clarke, Sichenje replaced Burke, while Bell was moved from left-side central to left wing-back, Chambers on the bench, with Gillesphey brought in to start. In midfield Coady dropped out, with Coventry returning to partner Docherty, while Rankin-Costello replaced Carey to stiffen midfield. Up front Campbell and Kelman started, with Dykes on the bench (where there was no place for Leaburn).

The changes looked like a mix of needs must and a changed gameplan, with TC and Kelman expected to harry their defence and make a nuisance of themselves, with Dykes and Godden presumably to be introduced as and when. And before we had any chance to assess the impact we had the dream start, taking the lead in the first minute. Sloppy play across the back by Ipswich (not for the first time this season it seems) saw a weak square pass read by Campbell, who was able to race through a flatfooted defence and into the box. It was a tight angle and his shot was parried, but only into the path of an advancing Docherty, who planted it into the net through defenders and their keeper.

That set the tone for an excellent opening spell, albeit one interrupted by a lengthy break for a face injury for Jones the Player, in which we pressed high, forcing more Ipswich errors, with Campbell and Fevrier prominent. It couldn’t last indefinitely and Ipswich did settle and start to dominate possession. But before they could take control we had a blow on 14 minutes as Bell pulled up and had to be replaced by Chambers. That left a Gillesphey/Chambers combination on our left side which might be exploited.

As Ipswich grew into the game, on 22 minutes they carved out their first real opening, and really should have equalised. Good hold-up play and movement on their right side/our left led to a low ball squared into the box, only for their guy to make a complete hash of a very presentable chance from close range. We did have a couple of half-chances after that, as first their keeper almost came a cropper trying to deal with a ball outside his box, Kelman almost getting in, then from a good break after a Sichenje interception Kelman had a shot from a narrow angle saved. But by now the pattern was set, Ipswich having the ball and working it around our box and us relying on some inspired play on the break.

The only surprise when they equalised on 35 minutes was that it came from a break of their own. Sichenje allowed their winger to cut inside into space and from then on we were never properly set. It was played square and ended at the feet of a guy central outside the box. We couldn’t get close enough to him and his low shot with the outside of the boot went through defenders and just beyond Kaminski’s dive into the corner of the net.

The only other event of the first half, aside from a yellow for Gillesphey and a Fevrier shot into the side-netting, was that at the end of seven minutes of stoppage time Campbell and their defender both went to ground and TC seemed to turn his ankle. He limped off and wouldn’t reappear for the second half, with our second enforced changed seeing Dykes replace him and implying a change in our attacking strategy.

Nevertheless, although Ipswich had enjoyed 69% first-half possession, with six attempts on goal from us (three on target) against seven (and two) for them and the scores level we were not despairing at half-time. After all, don’t concede a goal for a half and we would have our point.

We didn’t manage to do that, and perhaps worse in the second half we failed to muster a serious attempt on goal. The early switch to Dykes suited their defence better and after a lively opening from both sides the game settled into the pattern of the first half, the difference being that we had a less effective out strategy and the ball kept coming back rather quicker.

On 56 minutes we made the decisive error. A ball down the channel into our box and the run by their winger caught Gillesphey a little flat-footed and he instinctively put out an arm to hamper their guy’s progress. As he advanced and went to ground it was a pretty clear penalty. Even then Kaminski came so close to saving it. He guessed the right way and if the penalty had been cleanly struck he might have saved it. Instead a rather tame and poorly directed effort ended up going in under his diving body. First reaction was to say Kaminski should have saved it, but on reflection it was a good attempted save that didn’t work.

After that Carey was brought on for Kelman, presumably with the intention to drive forward with the ball from midfield (as he had done to good effect at Portman Road). But there was no real impact and on 63 minutes we almost fell further behind as their winger cut inside and his powerful shot was pushed away by Kaminski, who got up to save from the rebound.

On 77 minutes Godden and Knibbs came on for Rankin-Costello and Chambers, promising the now traditional final bombarding of the opposition’s box. But although balls went in nothing dropped and, especially as Godden almost immediately picked up an injury, one which left him hobbling (and we’d used up all of our subs) and unable to influence the game, Ipswich held on with no real alarms, even through eight minutes of stoppage time. They almost scored a third with the space they now had on the break, but it didn’t matter.

So, beaten and bloodied we move on to Saturday. We have no choice. It is still all in our hands. Get the point in the early kick-off and Oxford’s later game at home to Sheff Wed becomes irrelevant. Fail to do so and there’s every chance it will all go to the final game. Jones the Boss is calling for one more big performance and we so, so badly need that, whoever is fit and able.

Case Of What Might Have Been

Anyone inclined to view this one as a gimmee for us would have been deluding themselves. Sheff Wed had mustered some credible draws of late and would be desperate for a win in front of their fans. Plus with games against Oxford and West Brom still to come, they would be looking at this game as one they might win in their drive to avoid ending the season with a negative points tally. But for us, after five winless games, including three consecutive home defeats, and with tough asks against Ipswich, Hull and Swansea to follow, this was pretty close to a must-win, even taking on board Blackburn’s draw last night with Coventry, Portsmouth’s win over Leicester, and Oxford’s defeat at Derby before we kicked a ball. Those results meant that, although a win wouldn’t mean we were mathematically safe, Oxford would have to win their last three and us lose ours for us to go down.

In the event Wednesday didn’t get their home win and we didn’t take the three points either, although for a decent chunk of the game it looked as though we were going to. It was hardly a classic performance, surrendering possession and sitting deep, hoping to nick one from a set piece and hold on. We did nick one, and we hit the woodwork either side of that goal. But we invited too much play around our box and eventually that produced an error, from Mannion, to level things up. It felt like big points dropped – but if you don’t score more than one in a game and aren’t keeping clean sheets it’s not exactly a winning combination.

For the team/squad it seemed Jones the Boss would have some decisions to make, if some – eg Kaminski, Coady, Clarke, Burke, Sichenje - were available again and which front-line selection to go with. Ramsay missed out with a hamstring injury, so ahead of Mannion (with Kaminski back as back-up) fit again Burke came in to partner Jones and Bell, while Clarke returned for Fevrier as right-side wing-back, Chambers on the other side. Sichenje was back available and among the subs, along with Gillesphey and Fevrier. In midfield Coady was back in alongside Docherty, Rankin-Costello back among the subs, while there was no place in the squad, let along the starting XI, for Coventry. Just why I’ve no idea. Also Knibbs replaced Berry on the bench, no place again for Fullah. Up front Campbell was dropped for Godden alongside Dykes, with him, Leaburn and Kelman the options available from the bench.

The first half was almost a complete non-event. Wednesday dominated possession but created nothing in the final third – with one significant exception as on 26 minutes their guy wriggled free on their left, getting past Clarke and to the by-line, only to be brought down by Burke. The ref decided that the foul was just outside the box, the replays left the matter in doubt, no question we would have been howling for the penalty. We struggled to hold onto the ball and were reduced largely to defending. The wing-backs weren’t getting forward, the midfield was too happily defensive, with no drive or pace, and without Campbell there was no width, leaving the front two isolated and feeding of scraps. We really only threatened from set pieces, when the troops could go forward and cause chaos, and once when they gave the ball away playing it around at the back, leading to a Godden effort blocked and Docherty’s follow-up shot saved (it was to be the only effort from either side on target in the first half).

Right at the end we did come close again as from a long throw headers resulted in Godden nipping in and with his back to goal a flick on the turn came back off the crossbar. That chance might have helped convince Jones at the break that the plan was working, we just needed to convert something scrappy and then see the game out. The stats at the break confirmed 68.5% possession for them but from that just two attempts on goal, neither on target.

That conviction will have been reinforced early in the second half as we did take the lead. A free-kick from deep was headed on by Jones and Godden managed to control the ball. Although seemingly blocked by defenders, he managed to find a route to goal with a poked shot into the corner. Goals change games and this one seemed to settle us down.

On 59 minutes, after Sichenje had replaced a presumably tiring Burke, we came so close to doubling our lead and probably securing the points. A ball forward was nodded on for Carey to take in his stride. He managed to take it into the box and his shot with his right went across the goal, only to hit the inside of the post and not go in. An inch to the right and we probably would have won.

But instead of being better able to control the game now ahead, we retreated into heavily defensive mode, allowing Wednesday ample time and space to get crosses in and win corners. We were dealing with them, but the fact that it might only take one mistake, playing the game so close to our goal, was underlined when Mannion came for a corner and didn’t collect the ball. Their guy managed to touch it wide of him and another prodded it into an empty net. Mannion claimed a foul but more out of desperation than expectation and the game was all-square.

That sparked changes from us, with Leaburn and Campbell replacing Dykes and Godden, while Gillesphey came on for Chambers. Can’t really say the changes had the desired impact as Wednesday continued to keep the ball and our fresh front two found it hard to get into the game. Wednesday had a half-chance on 86 minutes as a ball in cleared defenders and was met by one of theirs in space at the far post, but perhaps surprised by it getting to him he put it wide. We did have a break on 89 minutes, Docherty finding TC, but his cross couldn’t pick out Leaburn. And after Rankin-Costello had replaced Carey in stoppage time the game was perhaps summed up as Clarke went on a splendid run forward, foxing a couple of defenders, only to squander the chance by blazing over the bar.

At the end it was handshakes all round but neither side/manager will have been really pleased. Wednesday will point to them dominating possession, but quite frankly we’re used to that. We will point to twice hitting the woodwork, the second time especially, they will continue to claim they should have had a first-half penalty. All ifs and buts, fact is we had the opportunity to all but secure our place in the division and didn’t take it, making it six without a win.

The other results mean that everyone is looking at Leicester – who will be relegated unless they win their final three and others falter, or West Brom get deducted points – and Oxford, who are five points adrift with three to play (Wrexham, Sheff Wed, before finishing the season at Millwall). If both Oxford and Leicester lose tough games on Tuesday night, we would know that a point against Ipswich would be enough – and for that game the emphasis would be clearly on defence. We may be limping over the line, but are still likely to avoid the drop. Today we could have made it all but certain.

Another Tight One Goes Against Us (Part Three)

I know we want to win all our games, and we knew that today’s result – whatever it proved to be - wouldn’t put an end to the uncertainty. But I really, really wanted us to win this one. Get three points, care little about the results of those below us. Anything less and we are really looking over our shoulder and the pressure to get a win next Saturday at Sheff Wed would become very strong, with three tough games after that to end the campaign.

In the event, for the third consecutive home game we lost, again by the odd goal, again with opportunities to at least get a point late on in desperation as we threw caution to the wind, again not managing to do that. In a strange game we might have been if not out of sight then at least two up after 20 minutes. Then after conceding an equaliser rather against the run of play we shrank and for the best part of the next hour either side of the break were second-best to a team able to pass the ball and keep possession, went behind to a breakaway goal, then tried all we could in the closing stages but came up short. Again. Just happened too many times for us to be complaining about the outcome.

The team showed two changes from Watford, both the result of injuries. In defence Clarke it seemed has picked up a knee injury and Fevrier – who has I think impressed with his cameo sub appearances – would start as the right-side wing back, all else unchanged. Coady was deemed unavailable after his dramatic intervention and, perhaps surprisingly, was replaced by Rankin-Costello and not Coventry, who remained on the bench, to team up with Docherty and Carey. Up front it would be Dykes and Campbell again, with both Godden and Kelman waiting in the wings and joined by a fit again Leaburn, giving a very attack-minded bench. With Kaminski still unavailable Brooks would again be Mannion’s back-up, Gillesphey and a now available Burke the defensive options, with Fullah and Berry also among the subs, with Knibbs missing out this time for some reason.

The introduction of Fevrier and Rankin-Costello did freshen us up, gave us more attacking momentum from the start. Both teams had a decent chance each in the first minute, first a Charlton attack ending with a good Docherty shot going just over, then a Preston guy didn’t make the most of space in the box, his shot saved by Mannion. And there were only three minutes on the clock when from a Carey long throw (him back in service with Clarke out) the ball was sent back in by Campbell and Rankin-Costello got to the loose ball ahead of his marker but his header came back off the post – and into their keeper’s arms to add insult to injury.

Preston did have moments in attack, with Jones having to deal with an awkward ball across the box facing his own goal. But the real chances were coming at the other end. Bell and Rankin-Costello combined on the left, with the former not quite getting off a decisive cross or shot, then Fevrier on the right helping to set up Campbell, whose decent shot was saved and put out for another throw. And on 17 mins this one proved decisive. The throw was flicked on by a Preston defender and dropped, Rankin-Costello again getting ahead of his man to sweep it into the corner of the net.

We weren’t done yet. A superb Fevrier run down the right to the byline, but his low cross couldn’t quite find Campbell, then Campbell’s ball across couldn’t quite find Dykes at the far post. At this point all seemed (very) promising. But on 24 minutes we were all-square, with what looked like a poor goal to concede. A routine ball in from their right caught our defenders rather static and their guy met it first around the near post. His scruffy header might have been deflected and looped up and over Mannion into the far corner.

After that doubt crept into our play, or Preston made adjustments. Perhaps both. But from then until the break it was almost all them, dominating possession and probing, pushing us deeper and deeper. A shot from a tight angle was saved by Mannion and, although we got joy from Chambers playing balls inside their right-back for Campbell to run onto, nothing came of them. Jones was turned and picked up a yellow for pulling their guy back. He also seemed to pick up an injury and was down for a while, but ended up able to carry on. Then Preston had a couple more chances late on, our sloppy play enabled a guy to play the ball in but a free header was sent wide, then a clever ball down their right was sent in and they didn’t quite manage to get a clean shot away.

At the break that first 20 minutes seemed a long time ago and it was clear we would need to up our game and/or make changes to come away with the points. But it was all square and everything to play for.

Instead Preston continued to dominate. On 51 minutes a ball down their right led to a low cross to the near post which their guy got to first, only to put his shot into the side-netting when he should have scored. Jones the Boss had seen enough and on 55 minutes made the first changes. Fullah and Godden were brought on, for Rankin-Costello and Chambers. That indicated TC going to left-side wing-back and from that moment Steve Brown on CATV was highlighting the potential for Preston to exploit space down our left side, with Campbell not always tracking back. The only surprise was that when they scored again, on 64 minutes, it was from a breakaway, but it did end up with three advancing on two and the ball played for the guy on our left side, who finished well.

Still plenty of time, but once again we were chasing the game. On 75 minutes Fevrier, who seemed to have swapped sides with Campbell, went on a very good run to the byline, put the ball into the mix at the near post, where it was met with a heavy connection by their defender. It hit their keeper, who knew nothing about it, and went behind for a corner.

Leaburn came on for Campbell, resulting in a formation of who knows what but essentially three up front and the emphasis now on long balls forward, with Fullah filling in on the right side of defence/midfield. Just after, on 76 minutes, one into the box fell it seemed for either Dykes or Godden but the shot was deflected wide. As we pressed forward we of course took risks at the back. Fullah lost the ball and their guy had a long run in on goal, ending up scuffing his shot, and the next minute Mannion was required to gather the ball from another break.

On 81 minutes it was Berry for Carey and by now, through sheer weight of numbers, we were playing the game in their half (except for one breakaway when Preston managed to screw up a pretty simple two-on-one). On 89 minutes a Fullah ball in saw Godden’s shot deflected over the bar. We went into seven minutes of stoppage time and time enough for two more near misses. Dykes couldn’t get much power behind a shot from a good position, then best of all on 92 minutes he was put in by a ball headed on only for their defender to make an excellent last-second block. We had more corners, long throws, Mannion up for the last, but all to no avail.

The defeat, along with other results, including Portsmouth’s last-gasp winner at Middlesbrough and victory for Oxford, sees the gap to the bottom three reduced to five points, with four to play. And after that glorious week we’ve drawn two and lost three of our last five games, just two points from 15. We simply have to put in a good performance at Sheff Wed and win.

A Most Satisfactory Afternoon

After those two wins and a draw in a week had put us seemingly within touching distance of safety, relative ease, successive home defeats and the prospect of some (or all) below us in the league picking up points obviously raised the stakes for this one. A third consecutive loss and we’re looking nervously at the remaining fixtures; get something from the game and the gap to the bottom three would still look reassuring. It was a fixture which cried out for a performance of grit and determination on the road, a la Ipswich, Middlesbrough etc.

In terms of the game we didn’t really get that, it was a much more open game than might have been expected, with plenty of chances at either end. We didn’t manage to hold on for the victory having taken the lead, but can’t really complain, given that Mannion was clearly man of the match, making a string of excellent saves from among their 31 shots (and a fellow Addick has pointed out only on four occasions this season has a team faced over 30 shots, three times it has been us – and we’ve not lost one of the games, two wins and a draw). The point, plus three draws for the teams below us, and it all added up to a most satisfactory afternoon – not quite a glorious one but unquestionably good enough.

With a couple of games in quick succession there was always the possibility of Jones the Boss making changes from Friday. And there were two straight swaps for the starting XI, with Coady coming in for Coventry in midfield and Campbell brought in alongside Dykes, Kelman dropping back to the bench. With Kaminski not available with a shoulder injury, Brooks was the back-up keeper, while Berry was added to the subs, like Knibbs and Godden before him returning from injury, with Fullah not included.

Both sides came close in the opening couple of minutes, as first Jones the Player couldn’t quite get on top of a Campbell cross, then Mannion made the first of his saves to divert a good shot from their pacey and dangerous winger. That kind of set the tone. On 14 minutes Campbell cut inside, shot was a mess but the ball dropped quite kindly for Carey, who was unable to get in an effort on target, then Campbell fed Docherty but he couldn’t quite get his shot away, the move ending with Chambers shooting over. Up the other end and Mannion was called on again to turn one around the post as we were caught on the break, and from the resulting corner the ball was played back in to the far post and with Mannion deceived it came back off the woodwork and we managed to clear. That was all in the first 22 minutes.

On 32 minutes we had a free-kick for a foul on Campbell sent to the far post, but the header towards goal was gathered by their keeper. A bad lunge on Campbell resulted in another free-kick (and a well merited yellow, after Docherty had harshly received one). This one was pulled back for Chambers. His ball into the mix resulted in a scramble and as it sat up Docherty met it first only for his header to come back off the post with their keeper nowhere. As if to even things up, a Watford free-kick wasn’t dealt with cleanly and ended up with their guy prodding it into the far corner, only to be pulled up for being offside as the kick was taken.

The stats at half-time showed they had 57% possession with eight attempts on goal, two on target, against our nine and two. That suggested parity, but in truth aside from Docherty hitting the post they had the better chances, hitting the woodwork, pulling out saves from Mannion, and having their effort disallowed. We were the more content of the two with the game goalless, but there were too many chances being created to be confident it would stay that way.

Indeed, Watford began the second half well on top. A break from one of our long throws ended with a Mannion save, followed by another. On 59 minutes Jones the Boss decided on changes, with Rankin-Costello replacing Chambers and Godden on for Carey, who had struggled to influence the game, with Campbell filling in as left-side wing-back. And glory be a couple of minutes later we took the lead.

A Clarke long throw from our right was nodded on twice, the first deliberate the second less so, and suddenly it dropped to Godden, who for some unfathomable reason had been left all alone around the penalty spot (let’s give him credit, he’d lost his marker). He took it on his chest and hit it sweetly into the corner of the net as it dropped. He hadn’t quite managed to get us an equaliser on Friday, but now he gave us something to hold onto.

Watford reacted well to going behind, putting us under pressure for a while. But on 65 minutes we did have the chance to move further ahead. Godden made a nuisance of himself for their defender and Rankin-Costello pounced to pick up the loose ball. He was just about in on goal on the left side but when it came to getting the shot away he was stretching and scuffed it, their keeper able to turn it aside. And that proved costly as Watford drew level on 73 minutes.

Unfortunately for us their dangerous winger had not left the scene injured late in the first half, and when they won the ball in the middle of the park it was played square to their guy, who hit an immediate inch-perfect pass to the winger in full flight. Ramsay couldn’t get back to him and although the angle was fairly tight the winger hit it crisply low and across Mannion, for the one and only time in the game unable to get a hand to it.

We were now on the rack and it was them against Mannion. One from a narrow angle was turned around for another corner, and he repeated the exercise a minute later. Jones the Boss made another change on 80 minutes to try and stem the flow, with Dykes withdrawn for Fevrier, with a switch to a kind of front three. Fevrier, as on Friday, made a real impact. He won a corner and from that Godden blocked off their keeper but a defender go to it first before someone could head it into an empty net.

A Watford guy cutting inside saw his shot, predictably by now, turned around by Mannion, then on 89 minutes, just as the officials were indicating six minutes of stoppage time, Watford play around our box ended with substitute Ince hitting a fierce shot which hit Coady on the head and poleaxed him. After a long delay he was stretchered off, Gillesphey replacing him. I haven’t seen any word yet on how Coady is doing, but hopefully all will be well after some rest. Talk about taking one for the team.

Six added minutes became 15. There was still time for another Charlton break, with a three-on-three. But Rankin-Costello didn’t quite make up his mind and eventually his shot was diverted wide for a corner. And that proved to be that.

Before the game we would have been content with a point – and the other games all finishing as draws, meaning the gap to the bottom three stays at eight points with another round chalked off. Only five to go now. Of course Jones continues to talk of finishing the season on a high, but the overwhelming priority is just to be in this division next year. We now have Preston at home followed by Sheffield Wednesday away. If we can take four – ideally six of course – points from these two, we could be all but mathematically safe with three games to play. That, let’s not forget, will be no mean achievement.