We maintained our unbeaten start to the season this evening but laboured to a draw with an uninspiring looking Sheffield Wednesday. The game exploded with a superbly taken shot from Bradley Wright-Phillips which roared past O'Donnell in the Wednesday goal and Charlton bossed the opening 25 minutes. We needed a second to take the game by the scruff of the neck but it didn't come and in truth we were probably just short on quality to have got it. After that Wednesday came into the game and in the end deserved the point which substitute Clinton Morrison grabbed for them after the break when a defensive mix-up at the near post allowed a corner to skite across the face of goal and enable Morrison to apply a touch.
As in the Scunthorpe game, I felt we needed a lift well before we eventually made our first substitution and predictably enough it was Jason Euell, when I felt we need some more width or even a change in the middle. Euell is a player to bring on when you have a lead and are pressing, not necessarily when you are trying to get a goal but I guess Hayes was tiring and BWP had to be kept on.
The back four played well enough this evening and I think it was Hamer to blame for the mix-up at the near post but I will need to see it again. Morrison does more work than Taylor and both Solly and Wiggins were solid enough again.The problem today was more our style of play. We didn't hold the centre of midfield and Dale Stephens didn't see anywhere near enough of the ball, and the glorious chance he missed after 16 minutes should have set a fire burning in him to ensure it didn't cost us the win. As it was, we relied far too heavily on long balls down to the front runners and high balls in from the touchline which was tactically naive against a big Wednesday side (aren't they always). Danny Hollands launched plenty of long throws but against the lunk Jones, it was like feeding buns to a bear.
There were no boos at the final whistle (there were against Scunny) but once again we missed a national television opportunity and those missing Addicks (14,014) who may have been tuning in to see what all the fuss is about may well have decided that Saturday's Exeter match is still too soon to return.
Plenty of work to be done this week and we need to find a way to keep the energy levels high - that may require earlier substitutions and tactical changes to counteract our opponents. Our failure to do that cost us two points today.
As in the Scunthorpe game, I felt we needed a lift well before we eventually made our first substitution and predictably enough it was Jason Euell, when I felt we need some more width or even a change in the middle. Euell is a player to bring on when you have a lead and are pressing, not necessarily when you are trying to get a goal but I guess Hayes was tiring and BWP had to be kept on.
The back four played well enough this evening and I think it was Hamer to blame for the mix-up at the near post but I will need to see it again. Morrison does more work than Taylor and both Solly and Wiggins were solid enough again.The problem today was more our style of play. We didn't hold the centre of midfield and Dale Stephens didn't see anywhere near enough of the ball, and the glorious chance he missed after 16 minutes should have set a fire burning in him to ensure it didn't cost us the win. As it was, we relied far too heavily on long balls down to the front runners and high balls in from the touchline which was tactically naive against a big Wednesday side (aren't they always). Danny Hollands launched plenty of long throws but against the lunk Jones, it was like feeding buns to a bear.
There were no boos at the final whistle (there were against Scunny) but once again we missed a national television opportunity and those missing Addicks (14,014) who may have been tuning in to see what all the fuss is about may well have decided that Saturday's Exeter match is still too soon to return.
Plenty of work to be done this week and we need to find a way to keep the energy levels high - that may require earlier substitutions and tactical changes to counteract our opponents. Our failure to do that cost us two points today.
We are short of a goalscoring threat from the bench. Euell is certainly not it, Benno could be but I'd still like to see a loanee.
ReplyDeleteWould have preferred Pritchard to come on tonight with 25 mins to go.
It was a very good flick on to Morrison for their goal. However, we did not deal well with the set pieces. Damn those ex Palace strikers. After the goal we were playing too much to a Megson team's strengths, long ball into the box. Still, it wasn't a loss, just a pity we can't seem to put it together for the cameras? Was our last good TV game a win against Reading? Can't remember it seems so far back.
ReplyDeleteDave - I think Hamer was definitely to blame for the goal. Coupled with a somewhat uncertain display at Bury, it's a bit of a concern. He doesn't seem as vocal as Elliot and I'm not sure he marshalls the defence adequately. Probably too soon to bring in Sullivan (who I also have reservations about having seen in pre-season), but Hamer needs a good game against his old club at the weekend.
ReplyDeleteStephens looked slow and off the pace, agreed that another midfielder should of come on with 20 mins to go, even Jackson had a quiet game by his standards, I thought Hollands had a fine game.
ReplyDeleteWord on the street is that Paynter might be coming on a season loan....we need another proven goalscorer at this level, he may be the answer.
I'm getting worried that we seem unable to dictate the tactics and change direction in home games - I fail to understand why we went to long ball tactics for the last 20-30 minutes when the Wednesday defence clearly had our number. Surely a switch to 4-5-1 with Pritchard replacing Hayes was called for. You also don't leave substitutions to the last 15 minutes if you want to change your approach. Megson and Knill were both able to make tactical changes which allowed their teams back into the game.
ReplyDeleteChrissy is clearly a good coach but I think he needs a little advice on the tactical side.
Miss Kish - last one I recall was at the O's a year ago?
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave, forgot all about that one.
ReplyDeleteAgree about not holding the centre of midfield. Thought Semedo was one of the best players on the pitch last night. Should we have kept him to add a bit of steel?
ReplyDeletefirst 20-30 minutes our passing game was looking quite fluent and was creating opportunities. later on, balls were longer and with their size at the back, it didn't work so well, i thought.