Plenty To Be Pleased About

Time for us to be the underdog yesterday, despite the record of recent years. Portsmouth, having done what every club says it intends/wants to do and got the bulk of its transfer dealings done early, appear capable of dominating the league this season in a similar fashion to Sir Chris’ side. Of course the wheels could come off (and for them have done before), but unbeaten in 15, 10 of those won tells its own story. And we’ve already been beaten by the three teams currently below them, most recently falling some way short against Bolton. The bookies had Portsmouth odds-on to win and no question we would have viewed coming away with a point as a good result.

Indeed, for most of the game coming away with a point looked less than likely and very welcome. In spells – such as the opening 10 minutes and following their two goals – Portsmouth upped their intensity and threatened to blow us away. That they didn’t can be attributed to some sterling defending, with Hector and Jones both giving all they had, an outstanding display of goalkeeping from Maynard-Brewer, albeit blotted by the rash decision which resulted in their penalty, and sometimes less than clinical finishing. They were always dangerous from set-pieces but seemed to lack the pace to catch us unawares and between the lines, as others have done. Crucially, they were never able to get more than a goal ahead.

But this was no plucky underdog performance from us. We created our own chances, especially in the second half, and in a crazy finish might have scored a winner (and might have conceded again). Portsmouth dominated in spells but so too did we. In the end we just about deserved our point. Appleton previously described one of our games as a great advert for League One. I didn’t agree that time, but the words would be apt for yesterday’s game, which left all of us breathless at the finish. In that context, mixing it up with the team at the top and coming away with something, the game was very encouraging for us. Hopefully it will have impressed on the players the degree of intensity and effort required to succeed and that this will be applied not just to the cup replay.

The team was, ahem, expected to show some changes from Sunday’s FA Cup tie, basically to revert to the one which had taken the field against Wigan, with a replacement for the injured Camara. In the event there were two changes from that starting X1, with Edun coming in for Asiimwe, getting the nod over Thomas with Watson switching back to his usual right side, while Campbell(T) came in for Camara, with May taking the No.10 slot and Blackett-Taylor and Campbell either side of Leaburn, rather than Fraser coming in. To the surprise of some no doubt McGrandles was given one of the slots on the bench, with less surprisingly Kirk back out of the squad.

I don’t know if it’s Portsmouth’s way to try to come out of the traps very fast; yesterday they did. We were hanging on in that early spell but managed to come through it without conceding, and in the following 15 minutes or so began even to get the upper hand. Leaburn blasted over from a tight angle when a ball across the box might have found an unmarked Blackett-Taylor. Then after good passing May shot across goal, the ball going just wide and replays showing that their keeper did indeed get a touch on it. And a Campbell cross almost reached May as their keeper this time failed to cut it out.

Consequently it was a tad harsh for us to go behind on the half-hour. I remember thinking Portsmouth were allowed to play the ball out of defence down their left side far too easily and win a soft corner. That proved costly. The ball into a packed six-yard box was headed out but fell invitingly for their guy just outside the area in acres of space. He decided to take it on the volley and controlled the effort well, sending it over the bodies in front of Maynard-Brewer but with the dip to find the far corner of the net. Very well taken for sure, but we were too complacent in the build-up to the corner and had nobody on the edge of the box to close down their guy.

We were a little stunned and Portsmouth put in another burst. From another corner cleared but played back in, a far post downward header was well gathered by Maynard-Brewer. If we had conceded again in that spell the game may have gone beyond us. Instead we made it to the break with no further setback – and might even have levelled things up as a blocked Campbell shot dropped for Watson(L), who was able to put it onto his left foot but the shot tamely from the good position.

The second half saw chances at both ends. May sent a cross to the far post back across the face, but Leaburn wasn’t alive to the possibility, another Portsmouth corner (played short) produced a powerful header from close range turned over the bar well by Maynard-Brewer, we so nearly had May in for a one-on-one after their defender slipped, but so too did Campbell, delaying his pass forward, by which time May had run offside. Then probably the closest Portsmouth came to extending their lead as from yet another corner the guy who scored worked some space and sent in a shot. Maynard-Brewer reacted well to divert the ball onto the woodwork and their guy hooked the rebound against the bar. And then a May shot from just outside the box was blocked clearly by the outstretched arm of their defender. Would undoubtedly have been given by VAR, although whether it was inside or outside the box was unclear.

Finally, with around 20 minutes left on the clock, the game had another goal. Fraser had come off the bench for Campbell, taking the position in the hole with May moving to the right. By accident or design it paid off as Watson(L) found him. May played it back to him and from a tight position Watson managed to play a reverse pass inside to the advancing May. He made the ball his, beating a couple of defenders to it, and from a very tight angle blasted the ball low between the keeper and the post (yes, a cardinal sin from their perspective).

Portsmouth responded immediately and Maynard-Brewer was called on to keep us level, then just a few minutes after our goal made his one mistake. A Portsmouth one-two on their right played their guy in. Maynard-Brewer was alert to the danger but decided to speed out of his goal for a ball he was never going to make. Their guy clipped it over his outstretched arms and gleefully accepted getting clattered by MB’s follow-through. Hard to argue that one. And it was duly converted.

For a while it was hard to see us coming back again. Signs of fatigue across the pitch and Portsmouth threatening a third. Only a desperate block from a low cross by Watson(T) prevented that. Inside the final 10 minutes Atkinson did bring on fresh legs, with Asiimwe and McGrandles replacing both Watsons. But as we entered seven minutes of stoppage time – the first couple of which were spent with a farcical display of timewasting by their keeper – it did seem the game was up for us. It wasn’t. Fraser played a square ball to Edun, who sent a lofted ball in to the far post. It cleared the defenders and McGrandles got his head to it well, doing all he could. That the ball went into the net, beating their keeper again at the near post, was an error for sure, but who cared?

In the final few minutes both sides came close yet again. Hector had to take a yellow for the team to stop one dangerous move, Blackett-Taylor – who had had a strangely quiet game – had a shot saved, as did Edun. Then right at the death their keeper conspired to hand us another opportunity, playing a ball out to a defender under pressure. He was robbed and Dobson was able to advance unchallenged into the box. It seemed either a May-style drive for the near post or a pull-back for any one of a few of ours and a tap-in would send us into ecstasy. Instead Dobson took a heavy touch and lost control, allowing their defender to slide in and put the ball behind. That was, finally, it.

So plenty of good stuff for Appleton to take on board. Maynard-Brewer would have been by a distance MotM but for his rash moment, Edun lasted the full game, Hector and Jones both put in a shift despite knocks and by the end very tired legs, and May was irrepressible and scored again. On the downside, the front three if you like of CBT, Leaburn and Campbell were generally kept out of the picture. Finally, there’s McGrandles. Fair to say his time with us has been difficult, we’ve seen so little of him on the pitch that it’s been impossible to draw any conclusions. But Appleton has and if his appearance and goal can be a springboard for McGrandles to start afresh with us, it would be like a new signing. Let’s hope that proves the case, for us as well as him.

In Defence Of Team Selection

I appreciate that these sentiments are not likely to be shared by too many Addicks. Perhaps they are influenced by not having had to watch the game itself (or shell out for a ticket), or to be around in London for the fall-out (although I’ve not been able to protect myself against the jibes of friends). But I’d make a defence of Appleton’s team selection for the Cray Valley Paper Mills cup game – which is of course not to say the performance or the result were OK. No question we are rightly embarrassed that we failed to win the game – and will be mortified if we lose the replay, with no disrespect to Cray Valley, who deserve all the plaudits. We expected better, even from what was – with one or two exceptions – the current back-up team. 

While acknowledging the pros of progress in the FA Cup (we are not obliged to give the modern title), including helping foster that desired ‘winning mentality’, I don’t really care about progressing in it, when set against the overriding goal of promotion. The FA Cup has a great history but no real future. It is irreversibly diminished in importance. The final was once a showpiece event for the season but is now an afterthought mixed in with play-offs. The glory days for the competition are not going to come back, which just leaves the enjoyment (present ties excepted) of upsets and for some teams the opportunity to measure progress against higher opposition.

I don’t really even care at present about the possibility of making the Third Round and getting one of the ‘big boys’, unless it provided more cash for the transfer kitty. That position may be influenced by the fact that I’ve seen us compete, and beat, the top teams over a number of years (others I appreciate have not had that pleasure). I want to see those times again, not some plucky, isolated performance against what would probably be a second-string team from leagues above. If we were in the Championship and progressing well, a good cup run and/or the chance to go up against a Premiership team would be appealing, an opportunity to pit ourselves against a top team. We are not. We are currently mid-table in the third flight and all that we do as a club surely has to be geared around maximising our chances of promotion.

I don’t think anyone would argue that if we are to be in with a shout of going up this season we have to improve. That can happen as a result of a team/squad gelling, getting the best out of each other, confidence growing etc, or it can happen as a result of changes of players in the January window – or of course both. In that sense, Appleton learning more about the players available on the fringes of the first team surely has value, whether what is learnt is positive or negative. And most of those chosen to start on Sunday seriously needed game-time. We are going to need at least some of them, sooner or later.

For example, we know that currently Hector and Jones are the first-choice centre-backs, with Thomas used as full-back but capable of moving back inside if necessary, including during a game. Ness and Abankwah are the ones waiting in the wings, in the event of injury or suspension (while Elerewe and Mitchell are out on loan). Ahead of January, Appleton has to decide both whether the current pairing are good enough to get us into the promotion mix and whether the back-ups will also be good enough – and by implication whether we need new signings. How else is he to be informed on the capabilities of the back-ups unless he sees them in action? And how can we expect them to step up to fill a gap capably if they haven’t been getting any game-time?

Before the game I sent around to friends my starting team for the cup tie. It ended up that eight of my 11 were chosen – and I hadn’t factored in Edun or McGrandles (I would have chosen them too). The fact that some of those chosen to start (but not all) singularly failed to grasp the opportunity provides Appleton with important, necessary information. Of course we all wish they had looked like world-beaters and given him selection headaches in key areas, but so be it. By the same token, May and Blackett-Taylor need to be kept in cotton wool as we are seriously screwed if they get injured, while I’m assuming that May and Dobson are still in danger of suspension.

Was the team selection a mark of disrespect towards Cray Valley and the FA Cup (and those who bought a ticket)? You can see it that way. I’d rather look at it as a reflection of our current priorities. No complacency but if we win the replay, outside of Addicks circles it will all be forgotten in a couple of weeks. I’d be tempted to punish those who started on Saturday by picking the same X1 for the replay (and if we win that to have to go to Gillingham), but would understand that could be a gamble that Appleton will not be inclined to take with the nation watching.

Both Impostors To The Fore Of Late

No doubt about it, a win on the road, our first since April and against a team on paper in good form, was just what we needed after back-to-back defeats had wiped out the optimism generated by the win over Reading. And perhaps any assessment of just where we are, and might realistically hope to be, has to encompass that mini-series of four games, arguably the 10-game period since the departure of Holden. And the conclusion has to be, not surprisingly, that neither the post-Reading euphoria nor the post-Bolton gloom is justified.

The bare facts are that of the last 10 games we’ve won five, drawn three, and lost two, securing 18 points. Extend that return over a full season and you end up with 82/83 points and very probably a play-off place. OK, we can’t ignore what went before. We have 21 points from 15 games, so extending the recent return over the remaining 31 matches and adding in what we have you end up with 76/77 points for the full season. Last season that total would have had you on the fringe of sixth place, the season before out of the picture, and the season before that comfortably taking the final play-off spot.

Such calculations are for sure for the birds at this stage. But I’d suggest they are not entirely meaningless. They support the idea that the play-offs are still a realistic objective – automatic promotion quite clearly is not – if we can improve as a team through the remainder of the campaign. After all, we have League One’s joint top scorer and joint top provider (who has also contributed goals), while in many respects the team is still learning how to play together, is incorporating a number of youngsters still learning their craft at the first team level, and has had to adjust to a number of injuries, ones which clearly disrupted the start of the season (Aneke, Leaburn, then Fraser and Campbell) and continue to do so (Aneke again, now it seems Camara, plus Isted, Edun, Taylor and McGrandles).

We have to give a hearty cheer for the play-offs as without them we might be saying our season is already over. The top three are out of reach and if we do steadily improve they will be out of sight by the time we might be on their level, as Bolton taught us. As it is, we can work on improvement, on current form stay in touch with the top six, look to make some changes in the January window, and generate that momentum in the final third of the season to get a play-off spot and go into that contest with a realistic prospect of success.

Nobody of course can say this is going to happen. There are currently seven teams above us outside the top three with similar ambitions. Only that it is possible, perhaps with good fortune from now on with injuries and suspensions and with an inspired signing or two in January (I’m reminded of Curbs’ addition of Youds and Mills at just the right time). In the interim, games against any of those seven teams need to be viewed as six-pointers which, given we have ground to make up, we cannot afford to lose; and on that front we have no such challenges in November – which begins with trip to Portsmouth, where we always win, followed by three games which on paper at least we would be favourites to win (Northampton, Carlisle and Cheltenham).

I guess my conclusion would be that there are still good grounds for optimism but there are bound to be setbacks along the way, we are not at a level (yet) where we can blow away teams in this division with something to spare. We remain fragile at the back, as was still evident last night, and sometimes the opposition can snuff out our attacking threat, even if we have options to mix things up (less so now without Aneke and Camara). And we have yet to forge a strong and reliable spine, while as pointed out on Charlton TV some players are looking world-beaters when they come off the bench but struggle when they start.

That said, the squad itself is very consistent. All Appleton has done so far is make different selections from the same pack, using different players in positions but sticking to the same formation. That’s not a criticism btw. If we go into every game with an 18-man squad you’d say that, when all are fit and available, 15 or 16 places are pretty much taken: two keepers (and Maynard-Brewer has stepped up admirably), in defence Watson(T), Hector, Jones, Thomas and Ness, arguably Asiimwe too; in central midfield Dobson, Watson(L) and Fraser, out wide Blackett-Taylor and Campbell(T), up front May, Leaburn and (just about) Tedic. That leaves Abankwah, Edun (when fit) and Chin to be ready to step in to cover for absentees, Anderson and Kirk to do the same in midfield/out wide (with Camara, Taylor and McGrandles when fit), and Campbell(C) wide or up front, plus Aneke when he returns. Right now you’d say Abankwah, Anderson, Kirk, perhaps McGrandles, and Campbell(C) are competing for the final two squad places each game.  

Come January and nobody will be surprised if Kirk and McGrandles find other clubs, the real issue on departures being whether CBT or Leaburn are prised away. It would be surprising to see any of those currently out on loan - Mitchell, Elerewe, Henry, Jaiyesimi, Payne, Kanu – brought back to play a meaningful role this season at least; perhaps Mitchell or Elerewe and Kanu, depending on whether their development is best served getting gametime elsewhere and whether our needs have changed due to injuries.

As for new signings, in defence that’s surely down to assessments of Hector and Ness, whether the former is our leader in that area and can better organise and direct than to date and whether the latter is ready to step in if needs be (last season the answer would have been ‘yes’). For me Fraser is a No.10 and either plays that role or does not start, him and Dobson in the central positions being too big a risk and asking too much of Dobson. Watson(L) is shaping up well alongside the skipper, but with Anderson currently not involved (surprisingly) and Taylor injured, we look light in that area. Up front, we hope we’ve not yet seen the best from Tedic and if an offer for CBT were to be accepted, given his contract expiry in the summer, he would need to be replaced.

As for last night, with hindsight we can be pleased. I don’t really know whether Wigan were just very much off form in the first half or that was just down to us playing well. They seemed very open at the back and generally lethargic, we took advantage. The three goals we scored were all pretty good in their own way: May finding space between defenders close to goal for a ball back in – and managing to once more bundle the ball home after his header had been very well saved; good build-up and movement creating the space for May to move across the box before shaping up and sending a low shot through bodies and into the corner; and then the pick as Dobson (who was also instrumental in the first) created space with a deft touch, played a good ball forward to Leaburn, whose delightful touch on enabled CBT to shoot straight away past their keeper.

That we came close to giving away two points is undeniable. Wigan’s substitutions made them more of a threat – and they were a threat before we scored our first, not just the free kick which came back off the bar but also another example of a fairly simple ball over the top into space leaving their guy with a run on goal as our advancing back line was torn apart, again. Late on it appeared we had seen off the danger and were coasting to the win, only for Wigan to score. That changed the picture as our substitutions – with Watson(L), Leaburn and Blackett-Taylor by then having departed – had left us rather disjointed, confused, and unable to react. When their second went in – the cross from the left somehow going between several defenders – with still six minutes of stoppage time to play out we did fear the worse. But despite a shot over the bar from their keeper up for a corner we did hold on, to much relief.

We would be feeling very different this morning had Wigan completed a remarkable recovery. Just as we felt very different after Bolton compared with after Reading. As someone once noted, “if you can meet success and failure and treat them both as impostors, then you are a balanced man, my son”. We are still very much a work in progress I suspect we will have more occasions to keep those words in mind.

Bring On Saturday For A Reaction

After Saturday’s win, you kind of felt ‘yeah, OK, I know it’s been seven unbeaten, including four wins, but if we can just make it five out of eight, then on Saturday six out of nine …’ There is just no satisfying fans. Then again, it has been a long time since we won away in the league, Lincoln despite winning on Saturday were not in the best of form it seemed, without a manager, so why not? In any event, this game would be a further measure of how we are progressing, hopefully with the outcome taking us closer to the top six. Instead we put in a below-par performance and were well beaten by a team which had either done its homework very well or just possessed the weapons to undo us – or both. Collectively they wanted it more than us. 

We knew there would be at least one change to the side, given Aneke’s injury. In the event, Appleton made four, mostly involving a shuffling of the pack. Leaburn started in place of Aneke, while both Watsons and Tedic were moved to the bench, Asiimwe, Fraser and Campbell(T) stepping up from it to replace them, the vacant spot among the subs taken by Campbell(C). Not surprisingly it indicated no change in formation but with Camara and Campbell(C) presumably seen as possible wide position replacements and Tedic now likely to be deputising for the central striker spot.

We started brightly, probing and threatening, and within 10 minutes were ahead with a well-crafted goal. They played the ball out of defence but Fraser tracked their guy back and gained possession, turned, looked up and spotted Campbell making a good run across their back line. He slid through a perfect pass for him to run onto. The low cross came in and it seemed their keeper got a glove to it but not enough contact to divert it away from the incoming May, who still managed to get enough on it to bundle it home.

Lincoln were not surprisingly taken aback and we generally bossed the next 10 minutes or so, carving out another chance or two, including a decent shot from Dobson which was blocked. But as Lincoln regrouped and played their way back into the game that really was as good as it got. Before 20 minutes they had their first real chance, a long throw into the box half-cleared met by their influential guy with a shot which Maynard-Brewer did well to turn aside, the ball having come through a number of bodies. And there was a near repeat a few minutes later, this time the possibly goalbound shot being inadvertently blocked by one of their own, taking one for the opposition.

We were still competitive in this phase but it wasn’t a real surprise that Lincoln levelled things up after the half-hour. Asiimwe lost possession and the ball was moved to the other side. Cross came in from their right towards a guy marked by Jones. He clearly thought he could get to it first and head clear, but failed to do so, taking him out of the picture. Their guy controlled it well, turned, and hit home from close range. A couple of errors, not howlers but we paid for them nonetheless.

For the rest of the first half we were pretty much under the cosh and were relieved to get to the dressing room still level. Hector was caught flat-footed on the right side and the ball across behind our back line was wasted at the far post with a wild shot, then a Lincoln break caught us all at sea and their guy was in on goal on the right side. Maynard-Brewer stood up well and parried his effort, only for the rebound to hit him and go on to rebound off the post before being cleared. Then a Thomas error led to a blocked shot.

It had not been our normal dull first half, the stats showing 18 attempts on goal (11 for them). But there were similarities. Leaburn had struggled to get into the game, up against strong centre-backs, while Lincoln had done a good job nullifying our threat on either side, handling both Blackett-Taylor and Campbell well. Equally, with May in the No.10 role, Fraser was having to concentrate on the defensive side alongside Dobson. So we were, after the opening period, not creating much. Nevertheless, you felt that the game was there to be won by either side and that with perhaps an adjustment or two we could still emerge with the points. That wasn’t to be as we were second-best through the remainder of the game, looking increasingly jaded and dispirited.

Lincoln had a chance or two before taking the lead, while we regularly gave up possession when moving forward. A move down their right and a ball played behind Thomas resulted in their guy moving clear, he squared it for a tap-in. That was followed by a change as Leaburn was withdrawn and Camara sent on, with May moving up front, then with around 15 minutes left on the clock Campbell(C) was introduced for Campbell(L) and Watson(L) for Fraser. Before they could settle in we were three down as we gifted possession around the edge of our box and saw the ball break kindly for their guy to shoot home.

That was that. Lincoln not surprisingly focused on preserving what they had and, while we buzzed around outside their box, we created nothing of note to get us back into it. Tedic came on for CBT in the final 10 minutes, to provide more muscle in the central position, but the game was up by then.

It was, after Saturday, a surprising as well as disheartening performance. Too many were off the pace, even Dobson seemed out of sorts. The one word you would not use to describe our display was compact. We were stretched all over the pitch, allowing them to break to good effect, while the defending was back to timid and static. Dobson and Fraser were often outnumbered and up front CBT looked frustrated, Campbell too often gave the ball away, and Leaburn showed again that leading the line alone against tough opponents is asking too much of him as yet.

Any lessons to be learnt, or just a bad day at the office? Both I’d say. For me, if May is played as a No.10, to operate behind the front guy, you don’t play Fraser – and vice versa. Not saying Fraser played badly, but we want him pulling the strings in the final third, not helping out Dobson. Also, if we want to start with one central forward and Aneke is not available, there is surely a case for starting with Tedic in that role and having Leaburn come on through the game. It’s true we haven’t yet seen enough of Tedic to know if that would work. And Campbell(C) and Camara need game time to be fully up to speed.

Most apparent, while last night will have taught Appleton a thing or two about the squad, Saturday’s game will tell him more. How we respond to the defeat is crucial. All teams have off days – and as stressed elsewhere realising we were having one should have seen the focus switch to being much tighter as a unit before we fell behind. Bring on Saturday as we need to start another run.

Turned Out Well In The End

This one felt like a tough game to call, despite the form guide. Most of us will have been surprised by Reading’s poor start to the season, even allowing for the dispiriting impact of their points deduction, while a two-week break might either see us spring out of the traps with recharged batteries or appear a little rusty. Although for much of the game it seemed to be the latter, as for almost the first hour Reading had the better of the exchanges and chances, it seemed once we took the lead their frailties were exposed; once we scored a second it was game over, the third and fourth goals just turned the screw.

The team showed just one change from Blackpool last time out, with Aneke and Leaburn swapping places for the start in a 4-3-3 (or 4-2-3-1 if it seems more modern). The bench saw some fresh faces as Walker came in as Maynard-Brewer’s back-up, while there was a welcome return for Camara, with Molyneux and Campbell(C) left out of the squad. That meant a pretty forward-looking set of subs, with Fraser, Camara, Campbell(T) and Leaburn, the other side of the coin being just two defenders (Asiimwe and Ness) and no real replacements for either Dobson or Watson(L) in central midfield. With Taylor and McGrandles both out of the picture for the foreseeable future I was a little surprised Anderson (if available after his international outing) wasn’t included to provide balance.

The first half wasn’t the worst we have seen of late from us, but it was pretty poor. Aneke seemed rather out of sorts and reserved, Blackett-Taylor was below par, losing possession the few times he had it, Tedic was anonymous on the right side, while May wasn’t in the game either. The result not surprisingly was few efforts on goal of note from us, really just a cut inside and disappointing shot from CBT and one effort from Tedic from the right edge of the box which may have been a shot or may have been an attempted low cross.

Reading didn’t exactly pepper our goal either, but that had more and better shots, drawing a couple of routine but still necessary saves from Maynard-Brewer, including one which he needed to hold onto as their forwards were in for a rebound. Add in a couple over the bar, some important last-ditch tackles and blocks from us, and they were at least shading the game. With hindsight their failure to get in front during the first half proved decisive.

Appleton opted for a change at the break, with Tedic replaced by Campbell(T), giving us much more pace down the right side. But you have to say in the first 10 minutes or so nothing changed – and Reading had perhaps their most threatening moments. Campbell was beaten on the right side and their guy’s low cross fortunately drew a crucial interception, which was followed by a dangerous corner whipped in which somehow eluded everyone and another Dobson block.

Then the game changed, rather out of the blue with a quality move and finish. Watson(L) played a perfectly threaded ball wide to CBT, who went on the outside and made the space for an equally perfect cross. No defender was going to push Chuks out of the way and he nodded home from close range.

Reading did respond and in the following 10 minutes could have levelled the game. An overhit cross from the right was gathered wide left and sent back in, the ball missed by all concerned, including Maynard-Brewer. Then a guy on their left cut inside and jabbed a shot with the outside of his boot which needed Maynard-Brewer to be alert to turn aside. And after a triple substitution by us just after the hour – with Aneke going down holding his hamstring the cue for Leaburn to replace him, both Watsons also departing with Fraser and Asiimwe coming on – Hector made perhaps his only error of the game, being rather flat-footed and beaten by their guy, only for the shot to be saved.

That was to prove Reading’s last meaningful attempt as a few minutes later the points were sealed. Thomas played the ball forward to Blackett-Taylor. This time he took the inside route, but instead of unleashing a shot played it square for Campbell in space on the right side, just outside the box. He had time to control the ball and pick his spot, leaving Button no chance.

The rest of the game was a catalogue of more chances and goals for us. Leaburn put in an excellent shot only to draw an equally excellent save from Button, then had a close-range header saved on the line. Our third came as CBT had the ball and saw plenty of space beyond his opponent. Skinned him for pace and sent another ball into the box. Seemed rather confusing as it seemed to take a deflection off their guy but that didn’t stop May from sweeping it home. CBT almost made it four on his own before leaving the scene to allow a cameo from the returning Camara, with May going wide left. Into stoppage time and Campbell found Leaburn advancing down the right side, onside and clear. Button was this time poorly positioned and Leaburn was able to shoot home with ease.

Although scoring four obviously grabs the headlines, the stand-out performances through the game for me came from Hector (and Jones), his one mistake notwithstanding, and Dobson, both highly instrumental in the clean sheet. We made no poor individual errors and seemed more switched on when defending than often of late. That, coupled with a set-piece move or two, suggests good work being done on the training ground. 

Of course we are now all on tenterhooks for news about the extent of Chuk’s fresh injury. If he’s out for another spell at least that would suggest Tedic getting time in his favoured position, along with Leaburn, Campbell(T) being first choice on the right, with perhaps Campbell(C) and Camara featuring. We have more options than last time around.

Otherwise seven unbeaten, including four wins, and we are surely the team form of the division excluding the top two. Up to tenth with games in hand over most of those above us, confidence surely blossoming. There’s a full round of fixtures on Tuesday night and our trip to Lincoln is tough to call. Their recent form has been indifferent and they just sacked their head coach, but did get the win at Fleetwood yesterday to stay on the same number of points as us. Five of the seven in our unbeaten run have been at The Valley, our last two trips away ending in draws. If I’m correct you have to go back to April for our last league win on the road (at MK Dons). So it is going to be another good indicator of progress and of just how high we should allow our hopes to get.

Working On Areas

The enforced break in proceedings should, we hope, have allowed time for Appleton and his team to work with the players (at least those not away) on addressing our obvious shortcomings: lack of organisation and awareness at the back which, coupled with individual mistakes, continues to cost us cheap goals; getting our forward options better sorted out to maximise available resources; related to this how to avoid sterile, ineffective first-half displays; and perhaps also how we might become a threat again from set pieces (which we have not been since the departures of Inniss and Stockley).

Coming on the back of a six-game unbeaten run from the start of September, it might appear that all is well, with a number of players having returned from injury and with the squad getting more used to playing with each other following the transfer window changes. Perhaps, but I think we’d all agree there is considerable room for improvement. There’s always room for improvement.

For the defence, individual mistakes are usually just something to accept as inevitable – and if someone keeps making them you bring in a replacement. More worrying is the regular lack of understanding and cohesion, whether it’s dealing with runners or coping with balls into the box. Simply changing personnel isn’t that easy as we are not especially blessed with options in central defence, with Elerewe joining Mitchell out on loan and let’s be honest Ness not yet this season having reproduced the form which filled us with such hopes before his injury and long break. As and when he gets back to that level he will no doubt hold down a regular slot. As it is, Hector and Jones are the central pairing with the shirts, with Thomas used in the full-back role. That really only leaves Ness and the as yet untried Abankwah as the back-ups. And centre-backs get injured and suspended.

Add in that the full-back positions are not yet nailed down. We don’t know if Thomas will be kept on the left side when Edun is back up and running, or whether it will be Watson or Asiimwe most of the time on the right. Then add in that the goalkeeper has changed, with Isted out for a while and Walker brought in as back-up for Maynard-Brewer. Given all this, perhaps a lack of understanding is unavoidable and only addressed over time. After all, Hector and Jones haven’t played together that often. Nevertheless, an effective defence usually needs a clear leader, the one the others take their cue from – and who dishes out the flak when someone isn’t doing their job. The obvious candidate is Hector, but you don’t see much sign of him performing this role on the pitch (perhaps he does it but quietly).

Quite frankly we seem rather docile (or confused) when we cough up chances and/or goals. It would be good to see greater animation and desire to put things right. Perhaps this will all just come with time, I certainly hope so, if only for the sake of Steve Brown’s mental health in the Charlton TV box. He regularly talks of what is and what is not acceptable and too often we are it seems falling short.

Getting the best out of our forward combinations is for me linked to the problem of dire first-half displays. We’ve gone from having no central forward options, with the pre-season injuries to Leaburn and Aneke, to having one with the signing of May, now to four with all available and the addition of Tedic, possibly five if Campbell(C) were to be used in that role. It’s a nice problem to have (one Holden could only dream of), but one I’d suggest needs to be worked on by all the squad, given that none of the forwards are especially similar in style or strengths, there are no real like-for-like changes. Given that, surely we need to consciously adapt our play depending on who is out there at any point in time.

It's no use saying just ‘Aneke, Leaburn, Tedic big guys, May little guy’. We have had ample demonstrations of late that Aneke is different from the others in that he is quite capable of battling two central defenders and competing for balls forward either on the ground or in the air. Leaburn is not as yet, nor is May, while Tedic we don’t know about yet in a centre-forward role. For sure the others offer different skills, with May for example adept at making runs between the back line. To make the most of that he needs someone to supply him with the well-timed pass and others to be working to help create the space. Alternatively you adopt the strategy that Spurs used to use when they had Clive Allen up front and Hoddle, Ardiles, Galvin etc in a packed and very talented midfield. I don’t think they ever played the ball up to Allen to do anything with it. His job – which he did very well - was just to get on the end of things and score. With Fraser, both Campbells, and Blackett-Taylor available that sort of approach has to be possible, as long as all understand that it effectively rules out looking for a simple ball forward to a lone central forward.

To go back to the sterility of first-half play, it seems we often begin brightly enough but then fade and seem to run out of ideas. Or rather we seem to stop working to create space with movement and become instead very static, giving the guy on the ball no real options. With Aneke the obvious out ball is available, with the others it is not. Without him determined opposition with men behind the ball are able to crowd out CBT and dominate the lone central forward. That’s when you need to break things up, look for central midfielders to combine moving forward, for the wide guys to stretch defences to make space for May or Leaburn to run into channels. Instead, too often we stand still, let the opposition progressively take the initiative and dictate the play.

Again, for me it’s all about adjusting our approach to who is on the pitch – as well as the opposition of course. We have to be flexible as we are, at least for now, looking for compromises which involve players not necessarily operating in their best positions and as starting Saturday we have four league games before the end of the month. If we want a No.10 Fraser is the obvious choice, but using May in the role allows the inclusion of another central forward. Leaburn and Tedic can be used in the wider right positions in order to have them on the pitch. Aneke’s inclusion also means we have to be flexible as he cannot be replaced like-for-like but neither can he last a full game.

Ah well, after all that (and let’s leave just why we are not scoring goals from set pieces, which for me cries out for trying some different routines) I just feel glad it’s not my job to make the actual decisions, when all the imponderables also have to be fed in: knocks, illness, performance in training, who did what and when etc. On Saturday we take on a side surprisingly underperforming so far, even factoring in their points deduction, one which hasn’t won for four games and lost three of them, which is having problems scoring goals (just 9 in 11). Would be good to see us at it from the start and not settle into a cautious, static mode if a bright start doesn’t deliver the goals we hope for, rather to look at what’s not working and adjust. Easier said than done for sure.

Point Gained - Thanks To Chuks

While the mood may have been more circumspect going into the Exeter game, yesterday, confidence bolstered, we, rightly or wrongly, expected a win. This may have been over-confidence as on Tuesday night we got the rub of the green in what was for a long time a close encounter, while Blackpool were not on an especially poor run, having won three of their last five. And after a pretty dry start to the season they had begun to score some goals to add to conceding few. And it did prove a tough encounter, one from which we emerged with IMO a point gained rather than two dropped.

Appleton described the game as a “great advert for League One”, reports have headlines of a ‘thrilling encounter’. I really wouldn’t agree. The entire first half was dull, we mustered no efforts on target (and just three attempts on goal), were contained by disciplined opponents with the front line simply not in the game, with Blackpool mostly content to hit long, hopeful balls in the direction of their wide men, most of which sailed harmlessly long. They managed one attempt on target in the first half – and scored with it, all rather reminiscent of teams last season coming to The Valley content to park the bus as they were confident we would offer up a chance or two sooner or later. In fact Blackpool’s defence spent the first hour of the game in complete control and on 70 minutes seemed to have sealed the points with another soft goal (from our perspective) from an individual error. That we came back and levelled the game with two goals in two minutes, and might have gone on to score a winner, is creditworthy. But in truth the game changed on 64 minutes when Aneke entered the fray.

After that Blackpool’s calm control was destroyed. They were incapable of handling him, he laid on our first and through his efforts brought others into the game who hitherto had been invisible, most obviously Blackett-Taylor. We ended up having had 18 attempts on goal, five on target. That Chuks should have scored one or two himself was clear, something he seemed to acknowledge as he showed his frustration at the end of the game. He may desperately want a goal, but I hope he reflects that his contribution resulted in us getting something from a match, something that had looked increasingly unlikely.

With it having been made clear that none of those on the injured list – Isted, Edun, Taylor, McGrandles, Camara – would be available for selection it was always likely that the team/squad would be much the same as on Tuesday. In the event Appleton opted for one change, with no surprise that Leaburn started up front and Aneke moved to the bench. Otherwise it was as you were, for the starting X1 and the subs, with the same 4-3-3 (4-2-3-1 if you like), with Leaburn flanked by Blackett-Taylor and Tedic, May playing in the hole. For the visitors Morgan would be among the substitutes.

We started brightly enough, especially as Blackpool appeared very limited in their ambitions in our half. But the initial enthusiasm seemed to wane as we struggled to actually create anything in their final third. It took us over 20 minutes to actually have a moment of danger, with May’s shot after a one-two with Dobson blocked for a corner. Then right on cue, just past the half-hour mark, Blackpool had their moment of danger and made it count, thanks to poor defending and astute attack play. Their guy advanced down their left side, not challenged, and for once they had runners and options. Tedic watched the ball as his opposite number ran in behind him, collecting the ball and getting to the byline. Hector and Jones prepared for a low, drilled ball in across the box. Instead Rhodes cleverly pulled slightly away from goal and the low cross picked him out, in space. It wasn’t the cleanest strike but wrong-footed Maynard-Brewer and went in. It reminded me of the goal Stockley scored against us recently, just by moving away from two static central defenders and being picked out.

For the rest of the half we huffed and puffed to absolutely no avail, Blackpool keeping their shape and discipline. No forward movement, CBT ganged up on, May unable to pull strings in the hole, Leaburn dominated by two centre-backs, Tedic just not in the game – and perhaps lucky to still be on the pitch after a sliding, studs-up challenge caught their guy. It was a good deal worse than the one which delivered a red card for the Exeter player in midweek (albeit that has been overturned). Would have been harsh, but I was slightly relieved when the card was yellow.

Might have been changes at the break but Appleton opted to wait until the 52nd minute before beginning the process, sticking to changing our right side as Watson(T) and Tedic were replaced by Asiimwe and Campbell(T). Nothing was happening – other than Blackpool almost extending their lead as first Thomas was caught out, leading to a curling shot just over, then Dobson just managing to intercept a ball into the box to their unmarked guy – and we had to wait another 10 minutes before Aneke entered the fray, along with Fraser and Ness, for Leaburn, Watson(L) and Jones (who it seemed had picked up an injury but with it later confirmed he had been ill during the week and had run out of gas).

It is no exaggeration to say the game changed immediately. Suddenly we were winning balls against their back line and finding space, with Blackett-Taylor set up by Aneke and shooting just wide, then Aneke brutally shoving their guy off the ball (fairly apparently) leading to CBT and May setting up Campbell for a shot over.

Just as things were looking a good deal brighter we went 0-2 down, a real sucker punch. A long ball out of defence was headed back by Ness, Dobson played it to Hector, perhaps a little too strongly. He took a touch and was suddenly pounced on by recently introduced sub Dembele. He made the most of the opportunity, shooting in off the bar. With around 20 minutes of normal times left that felt like game over.

It proved not to be, to the players’ credit. After another 10 had gone Asiimwe played the ball down our right side and Aneke beat the defender to it, touching it on and running on to the edge of the area. He then played a delightful ball in, managing something of a deft chip to take the pace off and allow the onrushing May to take it in his stride and adroitly fire home. It wasn’t a gimmee, easy one to hit into the stands, but he showed his Mendonca-like ability to shape his body in order to keep the shot down. Before we knew it we were level. Hector out of defence and on to Campbell. His pass to CBT, who cut inside and curled an absolute screamer into the far top corner of the net, giving their keeper no chance.

That still left almost 10 minutes plus stoppage time (proved to be six extra) and either side might have grabbed the winner. Aneke headed straight at their keeper, Morgan – who had been introduced at 0-2 – saw his powerful shot deflected just over the bar, one of theirs had a free header from a set piece, then a one-two between Fraser and Dobson saw the former put in a powerful shot tipped over. The final real chance fell to Aneke, but from a good position he shot over.

Undoubtedly the final 20 minutes or so had been very entertaining. Goals and chances at both ends, us looking capable of scoring each time we ventured forward. But that was all in stark contrast to what had gone before. In that extended period we had coughed up two more poor goals and had created nothing. Extending the unbeaten run was undoubtedly positive, but what lessons might be drawn?

I’d say still much work to do on the defence, our attempts to play offside were at times badly at fault and we continue to go to sleep at times. At the other end, perhaps at this point in time it’s asking too much of Leaburn to lead the line effectively on his own, against two centre-backs; and Tedic looked very much out of sorts starting in the wider role. We know Aneke isn’t available for a full game, but it’s not rocket science that he either starts and is replaced or comes on as sub. We need either Leaburn or Tedic as his replacement in the central role. Surely at least starting the game the wide right position can be taken by either of the two Campbells. That still leaves whether to have May play as an outright striker in effectively a 4-4-2, or in the hole in a 4-3-3; in practise there’s little difference, unless and until Fraser is on the pitch to be the No.10. And as a final thought, be nice if we were able to carry some sort of threat from set pieces.

There might be a break in proceedings now - aside from the EFL Trophy game, which will surely be used to give some gametime in their best positions; I’d like to see Tedic given a start as the central striker and for Campbell(C) to be involved, perhaps even Kirk (he is still around I think and we may as well try to use him). But plenty to occupy Appleton and his team on the training ground.