POST-MATCH THREAD: Charlton Athletic v Wrexham: Saturday 26th October 2024: KO 15:00

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.