A number of familiar faces travelled from Wales to the Valley for this afternoon’s fixture, including former captain George Dobson, Elliot Lee, Eoghan O’Connell, and, not least, former manager Phil Parkinson. The Hollywood circus surrounding Wrexham also brought with it some new faces, with the Valley crowd in excess of 22,000 for the first time in a long time. The club worked hard to capitalise on the spectacle, but unfortunately, on the pitch the Addicks failed to impress. With key players out to injury, including Lloyd Jones and Kayne Ramsay, and super-sub Chuks Aneke missing in action again, Nathan Jones’ starting eleven looked a little limp.
The first half was a bit stop and start at first. An injury to Tennai Watson in the first three minutes took time to resolve and then the referee himself knocked knees with Wrexham’s Rathbone and was down for multiple minutes. He continued for some time but was replaced before halftime when he couldn’t continue. When in play, the two sides managed to provide some entertainment, going back and forth, probing and testing each other. Wrexham drew first blood on sixteen minutes when a set piece was crossed in from the right and eluded everyone, except perhaps Conor Coventry, and flew between the post and Will Mannion, who palmed it in. Coventry was deemed to have scored an own goal, but it wasn’t clear to me that anyone got anything on the cross except Mannion. It was only seven minutes later when a looping Macauley Gillesphey header that fell perfectly in the far side of the goal to draw Charlton level. A number of minutes were played in added time but the two teams went in even at the break.
The second half saw Karoy Anderson off for Miles Leaburn and a change in shape from the box midfield to three at the back. This left us more open at times and Wrexham worked the space well. On seventy two minutes, Wrexham’s Cannon, who had only just been brought on, Vodun himself on the end of a peach of a ball into the box from George Dobson. Cannon pushed the ball in and continued his run to get on the end of the rebound and blast past Mannion from close range. The Welsh side looked in the ascendancy at that point. Charlton made necessary changes, bringing on fresh legs in Allan Campbell and Terry Taylor, with Luke Berry and Greg Docherty making way. It was back and forth as the Addicks tried to get back into it and Wrexham went into game management more. Of note, Danny Hilton came on to make his debut after eight-one minutes to replace Conor Coventry and become the 1000th Addick. The visitors looked likely to see out the remaining minutes and leave with all the spoils, but Charlton persisted. A last attack resulted in a fortuitous handball in the box and the Addick’s managed an equaliser with barely anything left on the clock. A penalty was awarded that Marty Godden dispatched with some venom, right down the middle to rescue a point.
A draw was a fair result. Nathan Jones’ side are draw specialists. Whilst we had the most possession, most shots on and off target, Wrexham were very clinical. They scored from both their shots on target and hit the crossbar with Elliot Lee. In all, they were organised and efficient, if not exciting. Conversely, we went from organised and difficult to score against earlier in the season, to now look vulnerable to pressure. Still, we came back from a goal down twice, which is something to hold on to. We didn’t deserve to lose but we only won the point by the skin of our teeth.
Charlton 2 Wrexham 2
Over to you.
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Comments
I was impressed by Wrexham’s game management, right up until the final 60 seconds with the rash hack on TC followed by the handball in the box. The previous 20 minutes though they had completely nullified us.
2-2 is a fair result from two poor teams.
1 win in 7 is concerning, even if we are drawing most of them.
COYR
Godden nerveless, some penalty for what was effectively the last kick of the game.
A penalty at the death glossing over another sub par effort. 1 win in 7, 11th in the league, and the pack is starting to pull away from us.
Wrexham were nullified in the first half without us doing anything, we were nullified in the second half without them really doing anything - I wont be rushing to buy the DVD, and the referee incidents being included in the highlights says a lot about the game
great to see Alex Mitchell winding McClean up at the end though
But I’ve once again sat through 90 minutes struggling to work out what we’re meant to be as a team. The stats don’t really tell the full story as, while Wrexham were unspectacular, I thought it was very much mid table v promotion in that second half.
All those glaring issues at the start of the season are still there. A lot of it could probably be solved if we weren’t carrying at least two passengers in midfield at all times, but with the limited players we’ve actively looked to sign we have to be better at the ugly side of the game at the least. Maybe I’ll get told I’m being overly negative but not optimistic at all after that.
I can’t remember a shot that Wrexham allowed between their second and the penalty. They were drilled, always found the right out ball and made intelligent decisions. Until the last moment.
Hate Wrexham and the way they play. Mullin and Palmer are shithouses of the highest order.
6 points out of 12 against teams in the top half isn't a bad thing. I know holes will be picked but I'll admit we need a win soon.
Still, we kept on and got a point. Last season we would have crumbled.
Also, fuck James McClean....massive prick.
Wrexham weren’t much better but they at least threatened when going forward.
Need serious investment in Jan if we are to scrape the playoffs but can’t see it.
The tourist/part time fans can stay at home as well, just makes everything more long winded and some of the Americans were unbearable.