Without a win in seven matches, an out-of-form Cheltenham welcomed an out-of-form Charlton to town. Charlton started brightly, having the best of possession in the first twenty minutes. However, we were unable to capitalise in any meaningful way. We also started to gift them opportunities on the counter attack through individual errors. Eventually, an error cost us a goal. Almost a carbon copy of the goal conceded in our previous match, Henderson spilled a save to the oncoming attacker who slotted it over him. The defending was certainly poor, but the keeper should have once again done better.
The goal once again seemed to dent our confidence significantly and we showed nothing that would suggest we’d turn things around. Cheltenham dug in and continued to frustrate us whilst seizing on individual mistakes to counter. We’re not as hopeless as the run of bad form under Adkins earlier in the season, but
A mostly hapless performance did nothing to reverse our form. But coming from behind to take home a point would be a welcomed consolation. This team needs a touch of luck to inject some much needed confidence and, on 94 minutes, that bit of luck came in the form of a corner and late header from Innis that flashed across the Cheltenham box. Aneke forced himself to the fore in the goal-mouth scramble and managed to force the ball past the keeper. Cheltenham will feel that they themselves are cursed. Jackson’s late changes paid off as we left with a point and something to build on. After having a late equaliser at Crewe was chalked off in our last match, history had repeated itself without that cruel, cruel twist.
Dobson continued to play well and Chuks scored and came close on a couple of occasions and managed an entire ninety minutes, suggesting his health issues may well be behind him.
Not inspiring, but we’ve stopped the rot and have something to build on.
Cheltenham 1 Charlton 1
Over to you.
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Comments
We are staying up say we are staying up. Absolute lions to a man to come back and save that. Heroes.
The late equaliser does nothing for me to be honest. What a pathetic bunch this lot are, to think I and many others stuck up for them in calling for Adkins head. Played their little hearts out to impress JJ, then slumped back into their careless, sloppy and weak ways once they won a few.
I’ll be at home games to see a few people and enjoy a beer but that’s the only reason between now and May I’m done.
When does this nightmare end, the constant 1 step forward 2 steps back? Derby lost 21 points and their players could be sold tomorrow because they need cash but they are fighting for the shirt and their careers, we need to take a look at ourselves.
In terms of our squad quality we are exactly where we should be, lower midtable in League One.
Something really drastic needs to happen
Stockley and aneke up top, with Washington on the wing could prove good but other than that - we look extremely boring and lacking of any real ideas.
lee a ghost of what he once was, Gilbey seemingly having to make do with scraps - defence is obviously decent but just leaks so many goals! Flat back 4 please (famewo, lavelle, purrington & Clare)
worrying, but get through this damp squib of a season and make a real (no , I mean a REAL!) go of it come august
We "created" chances but nothing that really troubled them (apart from the Inniss effort off the line early on) - Felt Cheltenham on the other hand passed the ball with intent, and were a constant threat, one of those performances from there where they actually win 6-1 had they showed more composure.
Was disappointed with Sean Clare, but he maybe needs a rest - As was said by someone (think it was SDAddick) on the Match Thread, both Gunter and Matthews have done well in the RCB slot, so stick one of them back there for a week or two.
Lee at the moment he's so out of form I'd send back to Luton - Morgan showed him today how to take set pieces, and even those were nothing special BUT THEY BEAT THE FIRST MAN.
I'll save my Morgan comments for his own thread.
The real winner today was the black kits. They are ace.
Thought he improved as the game went on, which is encouraging.
We need to go back too 4-4-2, preferably diamond as our wingers are shit. Not sure Jackson is brave enough to change it as he wants to prove the wingback system works.
Another fucked up season thanks to the people behind the scenes not getting their arses in gear before the season started.
We have some decent wingers in the squad, let’s try a formation that utilises them in their correct position. It’s not a coincidence that our wingers, who were once good, have got considerably worse being forced to play out of position. Every time DJ, Leko or CBT got the ball today they had 2 defenders on them straight away, and didn’t have anyone to overlap them. Makes it almost impossible for any of them to create anything.
It might not work, but at least try something new. Playing 5 at the back, week in week out, and expecting things to just change all of a sudden isn’t gonna happen.
We have zero true wing backs in the squad, why are we playing a formation that requires them?