POST-MATCH THREAD: Wrexham v Charlton Athletic: Saturday 8th November 2025: KO 15:00
With the recent spate of mounting injuries, there were a few surprising changes for this trip to the land of legends and dragons (Wales, not Disney), possibly compounded by an illness running through the team (according to unconfirmed reports from Steve Brown). Nonetheless, Ibrahim Fullah’s inclusion in the starting lineup was well deserved after his mid-week cameo.
Harvey Knibbs and Tanto Olaofe also handed a start, replacing Greg Docherty Miles Leaburn. And making its men’s first-team debut, the black, Jamaica—inspired third kit.
The changes signaled a suprisingly attack-minded game plan and it paid dividends early with decent shots from Sonny Carey and Ibrahim Fullah. Carey dropped back into the role usually played by Greg Docherty, with Knibbs and Fullah ahead. The result was a much more fluid midfield when in possession and there seemed to be no corresponding weakness in defence. Perhaps the only question mark was with Tyreece Campbell once again in the wing-back role. He was exposed a couple of times in the first twenty minutes by an active Kaboré but he ultimately held his own.
It was down the right that Wrexham found their first decent line of attack. Campbell chased back and managed to thwart the initial Kaboré drive, but Wrexham regrouped and played a few back-and-forth balls that ended with a Cleworth effort in the box that needed Thomas Kaminsky to parry for a corner. The resulting ball ended with another attempt that went wide but was still threatening.
On about 23 minutes, Campbell beat his man on the wing and found himself driving forward in acres of space. His low cross made its way into the path of James Bree, who’s shot into traffic was blocked. The follow up was blasted well over the bar by Conor Coventry.
On 35 minutes, a scuffed Tanto Olaofe shot fell into the path of Harvey Knibbs in the box, which ended with a left foot snap shot beating the keeper but striking the crossbar and going out for a goal kick.
The half ended as it began, both sides scoreless. Ultimately, Charlton contained the home side effectively and had honest efforts to go ahead. In fact, it was clear Wrexham were frustrated on and off the pitch. Last season, we were down two early into the first half and never looked competitive and where the home fans were rocking, today they were kept quiet.
The second half kicked off with both sides unchanged. By ten minutes in, Charlton seemed to be lagging and the home fans could be heard off the back of a bit of momentum for their side. The best chance came from a deep free kick to the back post that Keiffer Moore headed back across the goal line. No one was there to tap it in and it evaded all of the moving bodies. Charlton were now living in a compact unit deep in their own half. Greg Docherty was brought on to replace a visibly tired, pushing Sonny Carey into his usual, more forward role. Not too long after, Onel Hernandez came on for Knibbs, and Campbell pushed higher up on the left, providing fresh legs and an outlet ball that had been missing.
On 75 minutes Wrexham found space on the right and a floated cross into the box seemed to be headed up by Hernandez. The referee called for a penalty. Apparently, the ball was adjudged to have brushed his outstretched hand. Even on the replay it’s unclear whether the ball actually touches his hand, though why his hand was in the vicinity and why he just didn’t let the ball drift out of play is beyond me. The penalty was summarily dispatched and the home side went ahead 1-0.
Luke Berry came on to replace Conor Coventry on 84 minutes looking to salvage something.
But it was Wrexham that had the bit between their teeth. On 87 minutes Thomas Kaminsky pulled off a spectacular double save to keep us in it.
When normal time expired, a whole nine minutes of stoppage time was awarded, giving a bit of hope to the travelling side looking to find an equaliser. By that time, it would have to be conjured out of whole cloth as we weren’t offering much and every blow of the referee’s whistle seemed to go against us.
With a minute left the chance came. Thomas Kaminsky cleared the ball forward, Sonny Carey swung it in, and Luke Berry directed a leaping header towards goal. The Wrexham keeper pulled off a stunning save, leaping to his right to force it out for a corner.
The second half ended with Charlton unable to equalise. Frustrating and disappointing were the take aways. There wasn’t much between the two sides but Charlton’s second half performance was flat off the back or our recent good run of form. Wrexham were dangerous from set pieces but we largely contained and frustrated them. Ultimately, it came down to an individual error (Hernandez or the ref!?). On the plus side, we’ve narrowed the gap between the two sides despite the amount of money behind the Welsh lot. We’re ahead in the table and will likely take this on the chin and move on quickly.
Wrexham 1 Charlton 0
Over to you.
Comments
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Back to 9th 🤬4
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Sounds like Wrexham did to us what we've done to other teams: withstand the pressure, nick a goal and see the game out. Very frustrating game, but with the way we play, the margin for error is almost always going to be very narrow and it won't aways go our way.28
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Disney 1-0 Real Football Club
Aside from the header at the end, we barely threatened after they scored. Frustrating way to lose by a pen though.
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International break coming at a very good time.
Take aways are that Docherty isn't the answer when chasing a game and we desperately need cover for Edwards in January as Hernandez isn't that.
With that said, if you'd offered 9th going into the November break with all of Godden, Edwards, Kelman, Bell and Burke out I'd have bitten your hand off.31 -
Wish Gillesphey could play a bit quicker, and cut out the passes to the opposition3
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Not a good day for the Battleship...
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Really disappointing. Second half before they scored we were making no effort to score / win the game at all. Then as soon as they score we start to play normally again.
As such we got what we deserved really. Think we looked better playing normally in the first half.
Think the break comes at a good time for us. Need to get a couple back.9 -
Let’s not lose sight of a great start to the season shame Berry’s header was saved but that’s life24
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So predictable! I f’ing hate Wrexham!5
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Fine margins. It’s hard to take but this is the kind of thing that’ll drive Nathan Jones and which he’ll use to emphasise the “us against the world” mentality.5
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The most 0-0 game of football you’ve ever seen. They’ve lucked out there massively.
Pitch was a joke. Players slipping everywhere. Our football is genuinely pretty rubbish for this level but theirs was just as bad.
Hernandez is an idiot for that but at the end of the day he isn’t a LB.
Leaburn not coming on was a real surprise. Feel sorry for Tanto who actually did pretty well with balls just being lumped to his head.
Knibbs has to finish his chance. Carey has to play further forward. TC isn’t a LB.
I can’t really say jones got it wrong because he’s working with a depleted back line, however I do think we have to work out our front 2. We just look so unthreatening for long parts of the game.
Still happy with where we are, but that just shouldn’t have been anything less than a point against arguably the worst side we’ve played this season. If Moore goes they go down.
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Didn't really turn up and looked full out of ideas.
Jones Kayne, Kammy and maybe Cov only ones to really come out with any credit.
Left hand side a bit of a problem now.
Gilesphey was shocking and I don't think Bree's been great the last few games2 -
All of the back 3 looked either in pain, undercooked or shattered by the end of that. 2 weeks rest at the perfect time6
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Not really upset with the team’s performance we had some good chances and defended well it’s just unfortunate to lose in that way. We’re still 9th in the championship and a lot to be pleased with. My only criticism is that Jones needs to be using apter more Bree has been pretty poor and I really don’t understand why he brought Hernandez in.4
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Just realised... @fenaddick... I'm going to let you off for a warning, but see what happens when you dont post the teamsheets? - Told you I was going to make you the scapegoat if we lost!! - @Briston_Addick as well, for taking a selfish holiday during the season5
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Think it's all about perspective and managing expectations. We're gonna lose away, just a shame it had to be against Wrex farkin ham, who are now firmly one of my most disliked teams6
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Very disappointing second half. Two questions from me, why didn't we get to see Leaburn? What was Hernandez thinking?8
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There's no other reason for losing that than Hernandez slapping the ball under no pressure in the 18 yard box. Abysmal.
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It certainly wasnt: "I wonder what'll happen if I touch this 'ere ball with me hand in the penalty area"Stig said:Very disappointing second half. Two questions from me, why didn't we get to see Leaburn? What was Hernandez thinking?6 -
Swear we always lose before the international break. Really poor second half but stars in the game until a silly handball under no pressure gifted them a goal2
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Fell asleep about 1-30pm.
Woke up and saw the last 25 minutes.
Was we playing with any strikers?1 -
Certainly. And with Moore and Windass running around with them awful hairstyles made my blood boil. I despise them more than I do any Palace or Millwall players. And don't get me started on Parkinson thinking he beat their fiercest rivals. Fuck the whole lot of them.EpsomAddick said:Sounds like Wrexham did to us what we've done to other teams: withstand the pressure, nick a goal and see the game out. Very frustrating game, but with the way we play, the margin for error is almost always going to be very narrow and it won't aways go our way.
Anyway, we looked leggy as fuck. I don't give a flying fuck about the international games, but the break is welcome. Need to freshen up the team. What's up with Apter, Anderson, JRC and the likes?
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Knibbs has failed to impress me yet for the fee we paid, i don't know what he excels at15
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Weird that we've now lost all 3 games before an international break. Thankfully the last one of 2025.3
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Yeah he's definitely not as good as Carey on current showing, although doesnt help that Harvey's two starts in the League have come when Coventry or Docherty have been rested - So we've seen Carey having to be shoe horned which unbalances the whole Midfield.IR94 said:Knibbs has failed to impress me yet for the fee we paid, i don't know what he excels at8 -
I won't be posting them for Southampton either as I'll be at The Valley for onceForeverAddickted said:Just realised... @fenaddick... I'm going to let you off for a warning, but see what happens when you dont post the teamsheets? - Told you I was going to make you the scapegoat if we lost!! - @Briston_Addick as well, for taking a selfish holiday during the season1 -
Really poor from us today
Didnt really look to threaten from the off, despite what looked like an attacking team. The ball simply didnt stick up top, and just kept coming back to us in the middle third - the addition of knibbs didnt help this either.
Players slipping too often today, and NJ will rightly say "We didnt do the basics enough!" disappointing to not get a point, but not the end of the world!
The last two performances have been very lacklustre, in comparison to how we have played this season - way too many sloppy passes, tired legs and players that arent on the same wavelength- they look like total strangers at times!
Have a lot of injuries to contend with, but we seem to throw the baby out with the bath water when we deal with it - we seem to start from scratch and try to reinvent the wheel when we should be trying to put like for like replacements in....
We, once again at this point in the season, look somewhat depleted and missing that 'Plan B' in games.
Kelman a HUGE loss, his constant tracking and chasing down keeps us high up the pitch and our first line of press. Olaofe and leaburn dont offer this, and neither have really offered the Target Man nor the Hold Up role as yet. No idea what Apter has done to not get back into this side yet, especially being an unused sub so many times.
We looked our best with TC back attacking the flanks and byline, and Carey back in a more CAM role. Just let down by the lack of urgency and intent in the final third.
The International Break comes at a perfect time, just really hope Godden, Bell and possibly Edwards can reappear come the 22nd2 -
Been surprised with how bad Hernandez has been generally with his pedigree but today was a joke. Never seen anything like it - how can a professional footballer go to head a ball under no pressure like that.Need to sort the attack out - as we offer nothing going forward. Not sure Godden is going to be the saviour.Good start but even tougher games coming up. I just have nightmares of a repeat of last time in the Champ.See you all in two weeks at the Valley!3
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Will your mobile phone be broken of somefink?fenaddick said:
I won't be posting them for Southampton either as I'll be at The Valley for onceForeverAddickted said:Just realised... @fenaddick... I'm going to let you off for a warning, but see what happens when you dont post the teamsheets? - Told you I was going to make you the scapegoat if we lost!! - @Briston_Addick as well, for taking a selfish holiday during the season
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Seems like injuries are taking their toll & the seasons catching up on us.
Tbh we haven't looked good in weeks & got a fortunate win on Tuesday with a last minute goal, otherwise it would be 3 draws & a defeat in our last 4.
I think we'll stay up & should get 60-odd points, but the next 3 games are very tough. As I said elsewhere, we always seem to have a dodgy couple of months once the clocks go back and things dont usually get any better until the New Year.
Let just hope that Godden is back for Southampton, and the defenders are back fit soon after.
NJ teams are not a good watch.7
