Charlton Athletic 1 v Forest Green Rovers 1

The glaring weakness of our Summer-recruitment-on-the-cheap was there for all to witness last night. Against what must be one of the division's weaker sides, a team that has just bobbed up from League Two, we failed to beat a team who were there for the taking despite taking a tenth minute lead and dominating play in the opening forty-five minutes.

Ben Garner rang the changes following the limp loss at Bolton and handed three full debuts to Leaburn, Payne and Chin. He also brought McGrandles in for new Dad, Scott Fraser and Corey Blackett-Taylor returned as Kirk was rested. 

We bossed the early stages. CBT was all over their right-back, with Payne quick to attack through the centre and Rak-Sakyi lurking on the right-side of the box. It was all a bit rushed but CBT managed a Rak-Sakyi-style shuffle and shot to open the scoring and it looked like it would be all over by half-time. However, we didn't find the composure the goal should have given us and instead our attacking became even more hurried and more error-strewn. CBT has pace to burn but he overhits too many crosses and his shooting is wild. Leaburn, playing the Stockley role, like Stockley, didn't see much of the ball. He ended up dropping back, like Stockley, to look for touches and consequently wasn't there when the one or two decent crosses we did manage were played in. 

Payne managed a low shot at McGee from distance and Rak-Sakyi made a fine downward header from one decent CBT cross but McGee got down quickly to push it out at his back post. In between that, Rovers did try to get forward and managed to squeeze a shot in from a narrow angle which Wollacott failed to hold and it trickled over the line. What looked like a late flag for offside saved us but the replay showed he was a yard onside when the ball was played out to him.

The injustice was righted on the stroke of half-time when a cross from the left was fluffed by Wollacott who stretched over O'Connell to reach it but succeeded in only in letting it slip to the deadly Conor Wickham who doesn't miss when presented with gifts and the chance to get one of his two goals a season (I should have known). 

The chorus of boos as the whistle blew told you what to  expect second-half and they didn't disappoint. Rovers emerged emboldened and for twenty minutes they tore into us and exposed our defensive frailties as they created a succession of opportunities they couldn't finish. The ball whistled past the post and across the face of goal but we survived. McGrandles, who had been booked and done little else was hooked on the hour for Albie Morgan and that helped stop the rot. On 72 minutes, Dickie Chin (who had a decent game) was brought off for Charles Clayden and Myles Leaburn made way for Jayden Stockley. 

The game moved back in Charlton's favour and we put Rovers under a bit of pressure before the end. Stockley managed a snapshot at McGee but also put a header over the bar when he should have had it on target at least. The last main action of the game saw us play a free-kick to the back post which Innis went for but was too far from the ball and succeeded only in stretching to head-butt the covering defender who was pole-axed. In the scramble that followed, the ref flashed a second-yellow and then red as Inniss was sent off once again. Some may have sympathies but not me. I remember reading his contrition after that shocker last season when he nearly crippled a defender with a late and dangerous tackle that only had one intention. He said he had somehow matured after the game and was now confident that it was now out-of-his-system. Suddenly I have some hope for the arrival of Tyrrel Thomas.

The crowd weren't happy and gave full vent at the end. Garner and Sandgaard will have been pleased that the gate was so small. Given as 10,579, there were probably only 7-8000 actually present. 

Such a sad but predictable evening. We now sit 14th after eight games and this season is now mapped out. Ben Garner's post-match reactions are going to become very interesting. So far he has been very honest with his assessments and has avoided excuses. It will be hard to talk about last night's performance without commenting on the contradiction of trying to play a quick pressing move and pass game with strikers who are predominantly aerial threats or lurkers and lack pace. That is a real conundrum for Garner. How long does he persist and avoid the temptation to go more direct in a traditional 4-4-2? Maybe it won't make much difference with the players he has but it would be a huge statement to Thomas Sandgaard that he hasn't been given all the players he needs to play the style of football they both promised. 

It's so depressing but at least the matchday pricing policy has meant I haven't suffered it in person yet this season - I haven't yet been persuaded to cough-up thirty-odd quid when I can watch it indoors. Welling won 1-0 at Eastbourne last night and moved into fifth place. They entertain Bermondsey-boys Fisher Athletic in the F A Cup on Saturday for a tenner and then hold their prices for Non-League Day the following Saturday when at home again to second-place Havant and Waterlooville which promises to be a cracker. It's not difficult to get onside with your fans and really get their attention but Sandgaard and Co have absolutely no idea how to do it. As I said, so depressing.