All Over & Out

With all the focus seemingly on Appleton – rumours he had already been sacked, speculation that defeat tonight and the owners would have no choice – the danger was forgetting there was a crucial (for us) game of football to be played. Really no way of predicting in advance how this one, against opposition in good nick, might go, which of the new players would feature and how they might be coming together, so soon after the deflating Burton defeat, plus whether all the negative vibes since then might have got to Appleton and the players.

In truth it could have gone either way. After an even first half marked by two goals for them that owed much (yet again) to poor defending and two for us involving an element of good fortune, we did enough in the second to have won the game, other than the obvious. We were on the end of more poor refereeing decisions, with a penalty shout not given and a second yellow and red for Edun which the ref simply got wrong. Sure, Northampton were also not given a stonewall penalty, but that came after those two incidents. Instead the game entered its closing stages still level, and we know what that usually means. As we tired and made questionable replacements, while not making other more obvious ones, still chasing the game with 10 men, we lost at the death to a goal which smacked of fatigue. No points and Appleton was history.

The team showed two straight replacements in defence, with newcomers Gillesphey and Edmonds-Green in for Ness and Thomas, who took their places on the bench, with Jones retained. Well, they were brought in to play and none of our defenders could complain had they been dropped, given our recent track record. Otherwise it was as you were in midfield and attack, and as regards the 3-5-2 formation.

After a chance apiece – Maynard-Brewer saving well then Ladapo bullying his way into a good position only for the shot to be blocked – within the first 10 minutes we were behind. Bakinson lost out in midfield and their guy had time to look up. Against a team fielding three centre-backs, his one target was wide open through the middle, with Jones advancing to look for offside and Edmonds-Green hanging back. A simple pass and the guy was able to cut back onto his left foot and score from the edge of the area. Soft, but we’ve seen it all before.

Within 20 minutes we were level, deservedly on the balance of play as we were causing them problems down the right side. After Ladapo had already scuffed a good Edun cross from the other side, May played a ball forward to him in a clearly offside position. That was cut out, but from the rebound May was able to take it further forward and then deliver a low cross. Ladapo this time managed to completely miss the ball, but a bemused defender connected with it and did the job for him.

Within a couple of minutes we were behind again. Failed to clear our lines and a ball in from the right side found a guy around the penalty spot completely unmarked. He’d not made a run, just stood there, in space, ignored. He took it well, but you’d have thought somebody might have marked him, or just occupied that space.

In the remainder of the half we had more half-chances, not least from a free-kick Gillesphey connected well only for his header to rebound back off the head of Ladapo. Edun picked up a yellow for a poor challenge, while late on May seemed, like Saturday, to be losing his rag. It was all building up to a very difficult trudge back off the pitch for the players when we equalised again. From a decent attack Ladapo’s shot inside the box was blocked, but it ran kindly for Watson(T), who drove it in well from a tight angle.

That did change the mood at the break. More goals in the game surely, perhaps, just perhaps. Appleton made a change during half-time, with Jones withdrawn and Thomas on. Whether that was a knock, tactical, or due in part to his role in their first goal we don’t know.

We had a clearer territorial and possession advantage as the second half progressed and were the ones looking the more likely. And with around 20 minutes of normal time left we had the first major incident of the half. Their offside trap was sprung and Dobson got the ball into Ladapo. He couldn’t get the shot off but it fell for May, who hit a strong shot past their keeper. However, a Northampton defender had sensed the danger and dropped back to the line. He got his body in the way of the ball, which then looped up for their keeper to collect. My first reaction was a penalty for handball, which would also have meant a red card, and the replays seem to support that. As pointed out on CATV it might have been a tough one for the ref to call in real time, but it should have been a penalty.

Shortly after we had another near miss as an Edun ball in found May, who played in Bakinson. He couldn’t get his shot off and Dobson on the right side overhit the ball back in. Then on 75 minutes Appleton sent on fresh legs, with attacking intent. Fiorini and Campbell were introduced for Coventry and Watson(T), which meant a more attacking midfielder and a young winger playing wing-back. It seemed like a gamble, perhaps from a man knowing he needed a win to keep his job.

Whatever the motivation, the task was complicated shortly before the 90 were up as Edun brought the ball out, took too heavy a touch, and it ended with a 50-50 with their guy. Once again hard to call in real time, but the replays were clear enough. Edun had reached the ball first, feet on the ground, and nicked it past their guy, who ended up catching Edun with his studs halfway up his leg. Whether or not their guy deserved a red was an open question as the ref saw things differently, pulled out a second yellow for Edun, and he was off. When your luck is out …

Now at that point, with seven minutes of time added, surely we should have made more changes. Ladapo and Bakinson were both out on their feet and Kanu and Watson(L) were obvious replacements, especially with a need to tighten up being one man down. Nothing was done. Almost predictably in the final minute we had a throw and just tried to send it down the line, lost the ball, were slow in getting back, and one of their guys fed another who scored from inside the box, Fiorini being the closest to him. Cue disbelief all round on and off the pitch as the final whistle sounded on Appleton’s spell.

Just who replaces him I’ve no idea, whether a Charlton legend, a veteran, or a fresh face. We’ve tried them all in recent years. You ask yourself just how bad can it get? Trouble is the answer is obvious, just look at the league table.