Stockport County 3 v Charlton Athletic 1

Make no mistake, we were going to be beaten this evening by League Two Stockport irrespective of who the manager was or what team they put out. They were always going to be too good for us at their place. Having said that, what painful viewing for Charlton fans and once again the alarm bells are ringing.

Caretaker boss, Antony Hayes, has been at the club for a few years and knows the players so how he picked his starting eleven is a mystery to me. Seven changes, Chin and Lavelle back in defence, no Dobson or Fraser in midfield and Aneke starting. We did at least finish with a better looking side but Aneke had gone off at half-time so there was zero upfront once again. This has been a long-running joke but it's now becoming serious. Why isn't Daniel Kanu being given a chance? He is at least a goal-scorer.

There really is a glaring problem with this team. There is no game plan and no leadership. We are playing lightweight wingers in striking roles and failing to push men forward when we attack. This evening we started with a compressed defence and midfield which Stockport pushed onto and we continued to try and play our way out. It was taking five or six short passes before we could eventually hit a longer ball and hope it found one of the two red shirts ahead. 

The fact we took the lead was a surprise but it was an own goal from a corner and County were level within twenty minutes. Aneke looked knackered from the off and after his one charge through on goal which ended with his scuffing a shot across the goal, he was done for and subbed at half-time for the much needed Dobson.

It was pretty obvious after that we were going to concede again and that the game was lost. A 73rd minute winner and a penalty in the 81st, both from Collar, ended the tie and we were lucky to finish with eleven men after taking five bookings for niggly or late fouls. We were fortunate to escape a first-half penalty too and County hit the woodwork twice. 

Too many of our players are small and lightweight. Easily knocked off the ball and quick to dive or otherwise act-up looking for a decision. It shrieks lack of confidence and it's hard to see how this ends. In the last five games we have exited the EFL Cup and the F A Cup, lost at home to Cheltenham Town, lost at Port Vale and drawn at the Valley with Burton Albion. We have bottom-of-the-table Morecambe on Saturday and I see another banana skin and another step towards the relegation places. God help us i Brighton play a strong team - it could be embarrassing.

At least those supporters who made the trip know who is responsible and he is really going to feel the heat when and if he appears at the Valley again. Like Garner, Sandgaard has run out of excuses and all he can do now is get out of the club. Unless we get a change of owner and a capable manager in, we are at serious risk of a catastrophic relegation to League 2.