Another Two Points Down The Drain

Before we took to the pitch this one felt a lot like Cambridge: just win, collect the points, hopefully close the gap a little, keep the dream alive. Perhaps the thought of four crucial points having not been accrued in the last couple of games due not least to referring error would spur us on, also the starting of some clearing out with Kirk’s contract terminated and Udinese seemingly cutting short Abankwah’s increasingly pointless loan. We may have won only one in our last five (despite being six games unbeaten), but that was one more than our opponents, who arrived on the back of five straight defeats. Nobody was anticipating a classic, we were expecting the points.

And perhaps that attitude was the problem. This was a game of football, the focus should be on going out and playing well, winning the key battles, defeating the opposition. Not trying to take points and go home. We didn’t do enough today to deserve to win but were ahead for 70 minutes and perhaps the team, like me, expected we would win right up until their late equaliser. Burton came with a plan: men behind the ball, deny space, stay in the game, see where things stood towards the end and make changes if necessary. They stayed in the game and that meant we were always vulnerable. The game stats showed we had two efforts on target all game. By a distance not good enough.

The team showed a couple of changes from last time out against Barnsley. In central defence Thomas made way for a fit again Jones and up front Kanu was given the start over Tedic, both of those replaced moving to the bench. Otherwise it was as you were, with Campbell(C) having gone quickly from out of the squad to starting in the No.10 role, Dobson and Fraser also in midfield. Mbick was the one to miss out on a subs spot. It meant May once more starting on the right side, but whether he would stay there was anyone’s guess.

The first half, as the second would prove, was really all about two moments in a game of few real chances. That we controlled possession (60%) meant nothing. We had started brightly, creating three or four moments which might have had a better end-result, with Campbell and Blackett-Taylor to the fore. But that enthusiasm seemed to peter out as we failed to make the breakthrough, then Burton astonishingly failed to go ahead. Some scrappy play led to a corner and from that their guy found himself with what looked like an open goal from close range. He made a mess of his shot and Maynard-Brewer was able to push it away. Just as astonishing, a few minutes later we were ahead, with a goal from a defender from a set piece, something we have been waiting for all season. The original ball in from Fraser from the left beat everyone but Hector chased it down, turned, and delivered an excellent cross. Jones decided it was his and he climbed above his man to head powerfully down into the net, taking a knock on the way down for his effort.

That goal settled us but it also failed to rattle Burton. We started to seem more comfortable to just knock it sideways or back, they posed little threat but were doing enough to keep May peripheral on the right side and CBT most of the time cramped for space on the left. Kanu was doing OK in isolation, but it all added up to pretty dull fare.

At the break it was reasonable to assume that a second goal would be enough, perhaps open the floodgates by obliging them to change shape. But it was also one that would be criminal not to win.

Through the second period there were again moments when we threatened, without their keeper ending up being called on. Whether that was down to good defending or our lack of precision was unclear, probably both. Changes were made to try to freshen things up, with Watson(L) on for Campbell(C) after the hour, Campbell(T) for Fraser, then late on Tedic for a tiring Kanu. Nothing seemed to change the pattern of play, except that Burton had made changes of their own, with more attacking intent.

Not surprisingly we looked the more tired as we just wanted the game to be over. But with a couple of minutes left on the clock the chance came to seal the points. They lost possession down the left and for once CBT was in, with space ahead of him. He also had Tedic to his right. He opted to go it alone and did get the shot off, but from a narrow angle and it was turned aside from a corner. After that we were just pleasantly surprised that there would be just three minutes added.

There seemed little danger as around the halfway line Watson(L) was robbed and he pulled back their guy to give away the free-kick. There seemed little danger as a long, high one was sent to the edge of our box. But nobody was well positioned to get in a header clear, allowing their guy to head inside, then nobody stopped another touch. Suddenly all our defenders bar one were converging on the ball, only for it to be nicked away from them back to another of theirs, with Edun slow to move out and probably ensuring he was onside as well as in the clear with just Maynard-Brewer to beat. He didn’t miss. Aside from their other chances we had defended pretty well to that point, but we lost our heads when it mattered. 

So another immensely disappointing result, the consequences of which are all too apparent from the league table. But what is more dispiriting than the two points was the fact that we really were not robbed, we had failed to seen off another poor team down on its luck. To be fair to them they did a good job on our two most potent threats and they will say that aside from a defender’s header from a set piece they had protected their goal well, plus that they really should have taken the lead. That is true, but just another reflection of the fact that we were not good enough to see them off. All the talk of the January window and what we might do/need to do has perhaps diverted attention away from the job in hand and it’s hard not to be downbeat about the chances of us improving in a fashion that brings the play-offs into view.

Merry Xmas everyone.

Both A Point Gained And Two Dropped

This was always going to be a big one, potentially season-defining (or ending if you like). Win and we are reinvigorated, closing the gap on those above us; lose and the gap appears insurmountable, especially as we would have failed again to get anything from a game against a promotion contender; draw and … well, the uncertainty continues. Would we put in a storming and determined performance or feel sorry for ourselves (I didn’t like the way the club site preview listed all those not available through injury, as if we weren't aware and offering an excuse before the game had started) and succumb tamely?

We got the performance but not all the points. We started brightly and generally kept that up (underlining the point that if you begin slowly it’s very hard to up the tempo), with the play often crisp and flowing. The contrast in formations added to a lively encounter, with us often playing like the home team and Barnsley on the break. Their 3-5-2, as we used to find, often left space to exploit, especially for Blackett-Taylor, who might have been more effective in the final third but ended up redeeming himself with the equaliser. Equally both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances. While we dominated possession, Maynard-Brewer was called on to make a couple of excellent saves (one superb tip over the bar at full stretch) whereas all their keeper’s work was routine aside from our goal. Against that, the world and his dog knows that the ball was out and I’m in the camp which believes we should have had a first-half penalty for handball, their guy stretching out his arm having turned his back on a cross. I’ve no doubt that if it had been in front of the Charlton fans, a unified howl for a spot kick would have moved the ref. Perhaps those critical of VAR can be invited to see what we have to put up with in this division.

The team showed just one change from the starting X1 against Cambridge, with Rylah going from starter to out of the squad and Tedic doing the reverse. That indicated him playing centrally and either Campbell(C) or May taking up the right side slot in the front three, probably the latter, with one or the other in the No.10 role. The subs bench was unchanged. It looked like the opportunity to impress that Tedic had hopefully been waiting for.

Again, we were bright from the start, with Campbell and Blackett-Taylor involved. And the first real chance fell to him. A Barnsley defender made a hash of an interception and CBT had a run-in on goal on the left side. Into the box but then a weak effort which went wide. It looked a bad miss, especially with a square ball to May available, but I think the ball bobbled up as he went to strike it. Still within the first 10 mins a challenge on CBT inside the box might have resulted in a soft penalty.

In the first 20 minutes Barnsley had a couple of moments, one handed to them on a plate by a very poor Campbell pass and the shot from distance that Maynard-Brewer turned over. But it was rather out of the blue, adding insult to injury, when they took the lead on 23 minutes. Surely everyone by now has seen it, but a ball forward down their left side was overhit. Their guy chased it down, covered by Dobson. He got his foot to it, but not sufficiently to kill the momentum of the ball and, with the guy now on his back, Dobson was content to let it run out for a goal kick. When the prostrate guy played the ball again we paid it no mind, but play continued, he played it across the box, and another planted an excellent first-time shot back inside the far post. All you can say is that the linesman can have had no view from the other side of the pitch and it will have been hard for the ref from his position to be sure all the ball had gone out. Watching on TV we had the best angle and that left no doubt.

For the rest of the first half we persevered in the face of adversity, salt rubbed in when the ref inexplicably gave a goal kick when their guy under pressure from May had hoofed it behind. There was the possible handball penalty on 40 mins, when Edun’s cross was defelected – but perhaps crucially not fully blocked – by their defender’s outstretched arm. But at the break, despite the lion’s share of possession, we were behind and you felt another Barnsley goal, which they looked capable of scoring, and we could be done for.

We started the second half well too and had a couple of half-chances. Dobson found Tedic, who turned well and shot only just wide from the edge of the box, then CBT was played in by Tedic only for a couple of efforts to be blocked. That said, after the hour mark we had a sloppy period, relying more on long balls and passes not finding their targets, which seemed to let Barnsley in again. Maynard-Brewer was called on again, this time blocking an effort from close range, while another guy fluffed a shot from a decent position.

Consequently it was slightly surprising that we squared the game. Tedun seemed to be going nowhere down the left side, but his ball forward took a deflection which wrong-footed their defenders. Blackett-Taylor read the flight of it best and made it his, shrugging off a desperate challenge. Instead of shooting first time he had the calmness (I didn’t, screaming at the TV for a shot) to cut across the goal before from a central spot finding the net.

After that either side could have won it, but neither was able to fashion a decisive clear chance. Kanu, who had replaced Tedic (who I thought had a decent game leading the line) before our equaliser, was lively, Mbick came on the tiring Campbell, with Kanu moving to the right side and May dropping into the hole, while late on Campbell(T) replaced a knackered CBT. All to no avail.

As underlined in the post-match TV show, if we had taken the three points against Cambridge the draw away against a promotion contender would have been much sweeter. As it is now, we are 12 points behind Stevenage (on a points per game basis the team in sixth) with two games in hand and four places to climb to get into sixth. It isn’t insurmountable, it is obviously tough. As things stand, Stevenage are on course to get 83/84 points for the season. For us to get to 84 it will require we average 2.15 points per game. Things are never that simple of course, the chances are that one or more of the teams in the top six will fall away (surprisingly at the moment it’s Bolton) and the points required could be lowered. Either way, as Curbs stressed we will need to go on a run of wins sooner rather than later – and with Burton at home, followed by Leyton Orient away, Bristol Rovers away, Oxford at home, and Port Vale away all condensed into the festive season there are 15 points up for grabs. Irrespective of the transfer window, perhaps we have to take 10 points from these games, including a win against Oxford, if our position is to be strengthened. We are unbeaten in six, albeit with only one win in the last five, and as at Portsmouth showed that we are capable of at least matching teams above us.

As for what yesterday’s game said about January objectives, there were in my view positives. Again, I thought Tedic had a decent game, although clearly the guy needs a goal, and Kanu is looking less raw than last season. Although we are missing Leaburn, Aneke and Camara, that means we can choose between May (not really a choice, he is nailed on in whatever position), Tedic, Kanu, Mbic, both Campbells, and CBT, perhaps Rylah too, to fill three spots. We do at least have options. And I thought Hector, as against Cambridge, played well, marshalling the defence more clearly.

Finally, like everyone else I’m sending best wishes to Tom Lockyer and his family. Hopefully he and they will have a festive period they can look back on happily.

Unable To Close It Out

It doesn’t matter how poor we were in the first half, or who deserved what, when you have a two-goal lead at home with three minutes of normal time left on the clock (it proved to be 11 before the final whistle) and looking reasonably comfortable you can’t but feel gutted not to take all three points. And we really, really needed all three. Taking a step back, you have to give Cambridge some credit; they threw caution to the wind, didn’t give up, and got something out of the game to reward a decent travelling contingent. That’s no comfort at all for us.

Steve Brown got it spot on again in commentary early in the game. It was clear that Cambridge had a height advantage and were causing all sorts of problems from set pieces. We were keeping them out with some scrambled defending and desperate blocks. He stressed then that we could not afford to switch off once, not once, from any set piece. We finally did and their guy read the flight, made his move, and ended up with a free header from close range. The replays seemed to point to Thomas perhaps the culprit as from a central position he failed to adjust or get off the ground. And just when we thought we could in any event see it out, Edun put in what looked like a tired challenge and brought down their guy. The fact that replays showed VAR would have ensured the ref only gave a free kick on the edge of the box, the contact having been made outside, only added insult to injury.

The team did contain surprises. Jones it seems is out for a few weeks and Thomas came in to replace him, alongside Hector, with Watson(T) and Edun the full backs. Dobson and Fraser took two of the midfield spots, with McGrandles and Taylor still out of the picture, but seemingly out of nowhere Campbell(C) made the starting X1. And May and Blackett-Taylor were joined by Rylah making his full debut having featured against Reading, ahead of Campbell(T). On the bench there was no sign of Ness, that spot taken by the returning loanee Elerewe, while the options up front were Kanu and Mbick, with Tedic missing out.

All you can say about the first half was that we stank outside our box but managed to keep a clean sheet. The front three weren’t in the game (we had almost reached the break before a serious attempt on their goal, May shooting over from the left side), and there was no midfield control. Whether it was the front three not making themselves available or the midfield three not doing enough was hard to tell, probably both. Defensively we were getting caught out sometimes down both flanks and came close to panic whenever they had the opportunity to pack our box from the set pieces. They even created a chance or two from open play.

No question at the break Cambridge will have been kicking themselves not to be ahead. If we carried on as before we were very probably going to lose, the question being whether we would improve, either by working harder or with changes. In the event Appleton made one change, with Kanu coming on to play down the middle, May moving right, and Rylah making way. Appleton I thought went a bit far in the post-match interview, saying he held his hand up for that selection. Rylah had indeed struggled, but in that he was far from alone.

No matter, the change did have an immediate impact as Kanu unsettled them and with May to his right suddenly we carried more threat. It was a different game. And just five minutes after the restart we were ahead. An excellent crossfield pass from Hector found Kanu on the right and he moved forward then delivered a low cross. Fortune favours the brave and when their defender made the interception the ball ran kindly for the incoming May to shoot low into the net.

Fifteen minutes in and we were 2-0 up. CBT held up play on our left side, jinked one way then the other, finally bought a yard of space to get to the byline and dink in a cross just begging for someone to attack. That person was Campbell, ghosting in well and burying the header. A game which could have been beyond us at the break suddenly seemed to be in the bag.

For the next perhaps 20 minutes we might have added another as we dominated play, with Blackett-Taylor increasingly influential. And he nearly sealed the points, working a great position only for his shot to be deflected by a flailing defender for a corner. Cambridge did have their moments, with Hector making a superb late tackle to deny one guy and Watson making sure a cross to our far post wasn’t converted. But they seemed less of a threat than in the first half and perhaps we started to think that, against a team which had lost nine of its 19 league games and had no doubt before seen decent displays go unrewarded, they would fade away.

To their credit that didn’t happen. Instead the CBT shot was as good as it got for us. Inside the final 10 minutes and Blackett-Taylor stayed down, to be replaced by Campbell(T). By now we were content to run down the clock and Cambridge, with nothing to lose, leaving players up front, pushed us back. Maynard-Brewer was called into action a couple of times, then a blocked header led to the corner that swung the game again. And when their guy headed home we all hoped the ref wasn’t really going to add on that much.

Eight minutes. Curiously I thought Campbell(C) had by then been replaced by Mbick. I couldn’t fathom that one as surely we needed another body in midfield to shore things up and keep the ball, either Watson(L) or Asiimwe for fresh legs. Into stoppage time and May was withdrawn for Elerewe to provide more defensive cover. By now any thought of actually controlling the ball and the game seemed to have gone out of the window, we were just hanging on. Which we failed to do, thanks to Edun’s late lunge and the ref not really focusing on where the original challenge and contact was made. The penalty was scored and there was no way that we were going to respond in the final couple of minutes. We may have felt gutted at the final whistle but were well aware that if the game had gone on another 10 we probably would have lost.

Those extra two points would have put us in a far better position to travel to Barnsley next Saturday. Now, lose that one and many will say that the season is already effectively over. Where to lay the blame? Appleton has to take some. Opting to start with Rylah over Campbell(T), or starting with Campbell(C) wide right, will have ended up doing nothing for either’s confidence. Not having Ness or Tedic on the bench seemed strange, the late replacement of Campbell(C) for Mbick seemed to me the wrong choice of replacement for the circumstances, and removing May for an extra defender just failed to have the desired impact. Far from being able to hold the ball towards the end and play out time we became increasingly disjointed. Of course injuries: Isted, Jones, Taylor, McGrandles, Camara, Aneke and Leaburn is just too many to be able to cope with (and for heaven’s sake let’s hope CBT is not included here again). For good measure let’s add the ref. It wasn’t a howler but everyone’s first thought was inside or outside and he was close enough with a clear sight to have got that one right.

The Good, The Bad Or The Ugly In January?

Two exits and a hamstring. Not a great few days. I’m indifferent to the bare fact that we are out of the two cups (of course in both cases there are good reasons for wanting to win and progress, but for me the league is paramount). Equally there is damage done. Fans feel more dispirited and/or apathetic after Saturday’s trip to Gillingham, murmurings about Appleton increase, he in turn talks in a downbeat fashion about what is in the dressing room is all we have and points to the January window, and general cynicism is expressed about the chances of our new owners providing the funds to improve the situation.

Let’s remember, however hollow the words may have been before the campaign began it was made clear that the goal was a top six finish (not in my opinion a good objective to state; you aim to be the best team, to get promoted, automatically if possible and if we failed in that via the play-offs). The owners now have a decision to make, made more acute by the Leaburn news. It is clear to all and sundry – and has been for some time - that if we are to make the play-offs we have to improve, beat the teams above us, as a result of either the squad gelling and performing better, those on the fringes getting a shot and doing well, or fresh blood – or a combination of all three. Leaburn’s absence clearly reduces the chances of the first (as do the extended absences of Isted, Taylor and Aneke), from displays in the cup confidence in the second is low, so it does seem to be over to the owners.

Presumably plans for the transfer window are formulated, if not already set in motion. I’d guess the approach will be one of the following three, even if we will only know it by inference from what is actually done: the good (‘we have a group of players capable of continuing to climb the table and nail down a play-off spot if we can add some more quality in key areas, which we are ready to spend to achieve’); the bad (‘we will look to improve the squad in January if the opportunity arises in the context of our long-term plan of steady improvement’), or the ugly (‘this season is effectively a write-off, ruined by injuries, and there’s no point splashing the cash in January; instead we’ll look to the youngsters to provide fresh impetus on a wing and a prayer and to keep fans interested’).

I’d guess right now most people, including myself, are expecting the bad, sitting on the fence (perhaps someone can ask the question which it is to Rodwell and Scott at the upcoming Bromley Addicks Q&A). The third option may be ugly but it would be honest, if that’s how the owners actually feel. And if two things happen in January we can conclude that it is the way they are thinking. First, if Blackett-Taylor is sold. He is out of contract in the summer and nobody could really blame him if he decided then to take an offer from a Championship side. Presumably there have been discussions over a new contract, but if one isn’t going to be taken up and an offer for him is made in January, whether or not it is accepted will be an acid test for this season’s ambitions at least. Second, quite simply if we do not spend cash, real cash, preferably well before the window closes.

I do think it’s premature to write off our promotion chances. We know we have real weapons, also that the squad could use strengthening in all areas, including the defence (we have a worse goals against per game ratio than anyone above us). For sure the focus at present is on at least one more forward, but I hope all areas have been explored and we are ready to move on day one.

Have to start with whether any will be leaving in the window, leaving aside the CBT issue. Kirk managing to find another club would be good news for all concerned, he needs to kick-start his career and we need to save the wages. I’ve no idea whether the loans for Campbell(C) and/or Abankwah have recall options, but if neither could be included in the squad for last night you wonder what they are doing with us – and so must their clubs. I’ve no idea why Campbell in particular can’t get a game, he impressed me in his few cameos, but who knows what happens in training etc. When the manager says after a bad performance that he has to lift the dressing room as what’s in there is pretty much what we have and you’re not in it surely you draw your own conclusions.

As for incomings, clearly with May the only nailed on starter and Tedic, the only other more experienced option, so far failing to make his mark, backed up just by the returning Kanu and emerging Mbick and Casey assuming that Campbell(C) stays unused, to say that we are light without Leaburn and Aneke is obvious. We all of course hope Tedic comes good and/or that the three coming through prove capable of making the step up quickly. But you can’t say it’s a situation that holds out the prospect of pushing us into the top six; rather the temptation is to conclude, albeit prematurely and ahead of fresh signings, that the injuries to Leaburn and Aneke at the start of the campaign set us back (and did for Holden) and their fresh injuries, along with that of Camara, will prevent us from mounting a promotion bid.

This all of course remains to be seen. For the record I missed the Carlisle game as I was en route to London for the International Addicks match against Cheltenham and some convivial glasses with the German, Swedish and Swiss contingents plus others. At half-time on the pitch Watson(L) joined the travellers and shook hands with all, asking where they were from. That prompted the following brief exchange: ‘I’m from Blackheath’; ‘what are you doing here then?’; ‘I live in France’.

Too late for a report for what was in any event a fairly non-descript game, one which we were eventually pleased to just take the points from. But perhaps a few things of note.

First, I was struck by whenever Cheltenham had a set piece and we were loading our box, just about everyone was shouting and pointing at each other. Now the temptation has been to attribute our defensive frailties to a lack of communication, but this looked like a case of too many cooks and nobody actually in charge (or nobody listening to whoever was supposed to be in charge). Perhaps this is the plan but it smacked of chaos. I’ve always assumed that the keeper commands the box and the leader of the defence works with him to give the orders.

Second, and related, it didn’t look to me as though Dobson and McGrandles were comfortable playing together. That’s not a criticism of either, may also just be down to the fact that they haven’t had the time on the pitch to gel (and with McGrandles currently out it may not be an issue).

Third, anyone thinking our club has a good future in this league would only have to look around on a night like that. I often cite a game I went to at home to Rochdale in January 1973, when a few thousand were scattered around the terraces on a freezing day. King Arthur may have scored another to give us the win, but that night we looked like a club on its knees. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, expectations have changed, but there was just a scent in the air as May went about his business.

So here’s hoping the players blow away any cup hangovers with a good performance and victory over Cambridge on Saturday, especially as it will be Spanner Harris’ first one in charge. We can’t move up any places in the table, but both we and the owners need reason to believe that this season remains worth fighting for.

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.