Reading visited the Valley this afternoon having won their last three. Despite all of their long-existing ownership challenges, their manager having walked away, and young side they’ve made a great start to the season, challenging in the playoff places. Charlton have also won their last three and were looking to continue the momentum. Jones elected to go with the same starting eleven that’s turned things around of late and beleaguered striker Chuks Aneke was named in the squad for the first time in an ice November’s injury.
Reading got off to a good start and went on to make things difficult for Charlton in the first half. They had opportunities, more than one guilt edge, to go into the break one, two, or three goals to the good. But Charlton were resolute and, on the odd occasion, fashioned their own chances, mostly through Thierry Small on the right and Tyreece Campbell on the left. The half ended goalless.
Reading began the second half where they left off. Conversely, Charlton didn’t get started until after sixty minutes and from that point on they knocked and knocked on the door but were unable to find the breakthrough goal. Campbell, Docherty, and Small all got into good positions and tested the Reading keeper, but the best chance fell to Miles Leaburn who was unable to break the deadlock. The Reading keeper at times lived a charmed life and it seemed that there just wouldn’t be anything to separate the two sides today.
Charlton 0 Reading 0
Over to you.
7
Comments
We won’t not pick up 3 points playing like that rest of the season, we missed some big chances and another day score 3.
Defence solid again. Midfield 2 starting to gel now, both Coventry and Docherty work hard and we don’t seem to have big holes in the middle.
Small please mate, have a bit of composure ffs. Be a champ player if he took some time to think.
He’s got bags of pace and ability, but is also prone to miscontrolling simple balls - he either failed to control a pass to him or had a heavy touch when dribbling on numerous occasions. He also loses any composure when he sees the opportunity to shoot. If he can iron these flaws out he’ll be a fantastic player.
(I put this in the match thread, but it’s closed now)
Should’ve won by a couple
Defensively faultless.Jones is sensational.
Whole team playing on another level to a few weeks back, with drive and purpose.
So frustrating that almost every shot on target goes straight to the keeper - didnt even really make him work.
We play so much better having width to out performance, but its clear that Small and TC think theyre better than they are - so wasteful and nonchalant when attacking, and rather than beating their man they both prefer to check back or try a few fancy step overs- just get it in the box if youre not going to drive!!!
Defence looks solid, albeit gilesphey scares me everytime hes on the ball - our only real weak link there. Midfield solid too but with no magic or class to it.
Should really have won, but it keeps reading in touching distance... really need to start picking up points, especially the 6 pointers
Need 41 from the remaining 23 to get to the 75 mark that’s usually needed for top six.