The 2-2 draw between Charlton and Blackpool has four main lessons: Addicks have the firepower to bounce back, but they must stop giving goals away first Charlton came from 2-0 behind in the final ten minutes to draw with Blackpool. Here are Louis Mendez’s four observations from The Valley drawing:
ANOTHER RETURN
The first 45 minutes against Exeter City on Tuesday bore many similarities to the first half. Blackpool sat back and waited for their time, while Charlton had a lot of the ball but struggled to create chances with a highly stacked frontline.
Ten minutes before halftime, James Husband dribbled past the backline into a gap on the left and squared for Jordan Rhodes to score his first goal.
When Karamoko Dembele scored Blackpool’s second goal with 20 minutes remaining as a result of Michael Hector’s misfortune, that shift appeared to be stopped in its tracks.
However, Charlton showed some grit and, more significantly, the firepower to continue, and they were back in the game when, on the 81st minute, Aneke squared for Alfie May to score his eighth goal of the season.
Corey Blackett-Taylor’s magnificent curler brought the comeback to an end two minutes later. Six Addicks games without a loss, five for Michael Appleton.
This season, the South Londoners have already saved eight points from dire situations. In each of the previous two seasons, they had only taken six. Hopefully they are hardening up from their soft underbelly that they have experienced. It would be preferable if they could halt
PUSHES HIM ON
Chuks Even by his standards, Aneke was a handful when he entered the game. He usually makes a difference when thrust into the action.
Even though Charlton had maintained some measure of control the entire time, they appeared dull until Aneke introduced his physicality to the game soon after the hour mark.
When he set up Alfie May, his selfless performance earned him his first season assist, but what really impressed everyone was the way he completely shifted the tempo of the game when he entered the game.
Fans of the Addicks will be hoping that Aneke can be given a good stretch of games by the team’s medical department.
DEFENSIVE ISSUE
Charlton has preserved two fewer clean sheets this year than only three other teams. It’s possible that, similar to last year, the Addicks’ failure to shut them out at one end will prove to be more detrimental to them than their ability to score at the other end.
Yesterday, the Addicks allowed two of the goals to which they are susceptible.
The kind of eye-catching individual misstep that numerous Charlton defenders have been plagued with over the years was committed by Michael Hector in the second half. Hector has experienced it multiple times this season, but he is not the only one.
When questioned, Michael Appleton responds that these kinds of issues will resolve themselves in due course. They’d better go quickly because they’re
MAY RETURN IN PAGE TEN
This time, Theresa wasn’t. When Alfie May was asked to play the deeper 10 role against Exeter in midweek and one more yesterday, eyebrows may have been raised.
But because of how much territory May covers, he can play wide one second, central midfield the next, and then suddenly appear in the perfect spot at the right time to score in front of the net seconds later.
He touched the ball 52 times yesterday, which is a lot more than any other striker on the field. Although his seven goals thus far are a spectacular return, he adds so much more to Charlton’s games. A genuine asset.
There are definitely discussions to be done about using other strikers in wide positions, but
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