League Cup exit at Newport

A second string Charlton side crashed out of the League Cup last night, beaten 3-1 at Newport County. Thanks to Sky, the match wasn't available on any streaming service, so we were saved the misery of watching our team implode in the second-half as an injury-ravaged, League 2, Newport pulled us apart.

I haven't heard Dean Holden's explanation for this one yet but it's going to be a tough ask. He told us last week, with confidence, that we were going to Newport to win the game and for forty-five minutes we held our own and lead at the break from a Kanu tap-in/deflection however unconvincing. In the second-half, the introduction of Charlton subs lead to a Newport goal on three occasions. 

We had 18 attempts at goal but only five were on target. Starting with Kirk and Kanu upfront obviously didn't improve our chances but it was in defence where we really messed-up. McGrandles lost possession in our half for the first. Hector had a chance to put the ball into touch but played it back instead to McGrandles who was caught again by two pressing Newport players, one of whom shot through Isted's legs from an angle at the near post.

Newport's second came from a poor headed Ness clearance which dropped to their left winger who raced into the box and centered for the tap-in. The third was the worst of the lot when Hector tried to play it out from the back. Ness picked up the sideways pass deep in his own box and knocked it out to the wing under pressure where Newport pounced and played the ball back in for number three. 

From those who witnessed it, it was another of those disinterested and half-hearted showings, particularly in the second forty-five, where we failed to respond to the impending defeat. I have written many times about this and the need to recruit a spine to the side of winners and talkers who can maintain the team focus and keep them battling. We still looked desperately short last night. You might expect more from 'Big Hec' but hard to lead when you are throwing goals away yourself. 

What's more, we look to have picked up six knocks during the game as well. Egbo was apparently injured again pre-match and didn't feature as at all, although I was left wondering if he has thrown his toys out-pf-the-pram at not even being selected to start in a League Cup fixture? Either way he doesn't look long for this club, as does Jaiyesimi who again failed to appear. We really do have to move Kirk and McGrandles on so their is no danger of a temptation to play them again.

The notion that we will roll into Peterborough on Saturday and blow them out-of-the-water is for the birds. The pressure on Methven & Co will start to ramp-up if their much-vaunted promotion challenge fails to materialise and we don't improve this squad significantly in the next four weeks. The honeymoon is over.