Lee Bowyer took a step last night towards saving his job. His side managed to halt the recent decline with a performance of far more solidity than we have seen in recent weeks. It may only have been against bottom-side Wigan, but it was a desperately needed result.
The shambolic home performances of the last two months have raised questions about the motivation of the players and Bowyer's ability to influence games through tactical and player changes. The last few, in particular, against Gillingham, Burton and Blackpool pointed to the players having given-up on the manager, something that almost inevitably leads to a change of Gaffer.
Last night, with Akin Famewo back in central defence, Jason Pearce was able to focus on his position alone and he looked far more solid as a result. Matthews anchored the right-back berth even if Maatsen was still a bit adrift on the left. Nonetheless, the defence stood up to Solomon-Otobor, The Aasgaard and Gavin Massey and, for a change, there was some welcome relief from midfield.
Matt Smith was picking the ball up in space in the centre of midfield and holding it long enough to find another red shirt in space. Helpfully, Forster-Caskey was far more active than in recent weeks and together they were able to keep Wigan occupied defensively which made life easier for our back four. Watson passed more than he fouled and it was only Millar who looked a little out-of-sorts.
Wigan were tidy going forward and might have scored at least one on another day from the chances they created. However, it was a mistake by their central defensive pairing which was their undoing early in the first-half. A through ball from Matt Smith bisected the pair and with Chuks Aneke on the charge, they looked like sandwiching him off the ball but in a move reminiscent of the Charlton backline this season, they got in a muddle, crossed over each other and left Chuks to gallop though and draw Jones before firing left-footed inside the right-hand upright.
We should have had a penalty before half-time after Aneke was blatantly pushed off the ball and onto the ground but somehow, neither the referee or his assistant appeared to see what everyone else watching did, including the two Wigan commentators I was listening to. That meant the game remained cagey and with Charlton doing much less in the second-half, it increasingly became a rearguard action but one which was successful for a change.
Oxford United will present a stronger threat on Saturday but Bowyer has something to build on if he doesn't tinker too much. Another result would really help his cause because then we have to face three dreaded consecutive home games inside seven days. Bowyer's future should be clearer by then but he will need to have found a way to stop the rot at the Valley.
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