POST-MATCH THREAD: Charlton Athletic v Wrexham: Saturday 28th February 2026: KO 15:00
A somewhat surprising starting eleven saw five changes, with Will Mannion come in for this season’s ever-present Thomas Kaminski (out with an apparent hamstring injury), whilst Luke Berry and Conor Coventry were given the nod over Conor Coady and Greg Docherty. Reece Burke comes in alongside Lloyd Jones and Harry Clarke, with Collins Sichenje on the bench. Up front, Lyndon Dykes and Tyreece Campbell led the attack, with Miles Leaburn and Luke Chambers dropped to the bench.
This one got off to a slow start, with Wrexham controlling possession, probing the unexpected formation, looking for ways through. Collins Sichenje didn’t have to wait long to enter the field of play when, on about 11 mins, Reece Burke went down with what looked like an issue with his left thigh.
Not long after the ball fell to Tyreece Campbell in the box after a poor clearance from the Wrexham keeper but he fluffed shot and it came to nothing in the end.
On about 19 mins, Sichenje did something we don’t seem to see enough from the other of our centre backs, and he’s done it before; he played a brilliant out ball through the Wrexham lines into Lyndon Dykes, who had dropped deep, that led to a counter attack down the right through Tyreece Campbell. Campbell broke free on the edge of the box and played Luke Berry into acres of space. Berry didn’t strike it first time but transferred it to his left, loosely, which unfortunately, gave Wrexham time to make a tackle. Soon after, Sichenje struck again with a tackle on Keiffer Moore that started another counter attack. It ultimately came to nothing but the home side were in the ascendancy and the young Kenyan was proving himself more than capable yet again, in only his third appearance.
On 27 mins the best chance came when Sonny Carey’s eighteen yard shot ricocheted into Harry Clarke’s path but his shot went wide when he should have done much better right in front of goal. Only minutes later it was Ollie Rathbone whose contested shot from the edge of the box, flicking up on his right to strike across goal with his left, went through traffic and past Will Mannion, giving him no chance. The goal came against the run of play and conjured largely out of nothing. It was a moment of individual quality that we seem mostly incapable of but then money and lorryloads of it is the key ingredient in attracting that kind of luck on a regular basis!
On 36 mins Campbell brilliantly battled through two or three challenges to break into space on the left. His pass into the box unleashed Lyndon Dykes but he was closed down, so recycled the ball back to Tyreece and then on to Kayne Ramsay. His cross into the box was easily dealt with but it showed some weakness in the Wrexham machine.
Our lack of quality in front of goal, combined with a greater lack of quality in the midfield, was what separated the two sides at halftime. But Charlton were unlucky to be down having given as good, maybe even better, then they got in the first half. Had the numerous chances been taken this could have been a great half. Nonetheless, the battling Addicks were still in it.
Joe Rankin-Costello replaced Luke Berry for the second half. Three minutes in a good bit of interplay resulted in a whipped in ball and it was Rankin-Costello that was studs short and a half second too late on getting a touch as he slid through in front of goal. Kayne Ramsay then made a very good block at the other end to prevent a Wrexham shot on target.
Conor Coventry and Rankin-Costello as a partnership provided more fluidity in possession as the second half progressed. On about 67 minutes that possession resulted in releasing Dykes on the right. He battled a couple of defenders and managed to create enough space to whip in a beautiful cross that Tyreece narrowly headed over. He was well marked and rooted to the spot but managed to get his head on the ball and with a bit of luck might have done better. Only moments later there was a shout for a Charlon penalty when Harry Clarke burst into the box and was barreled over. The referee was having none of it though.
On 74 mins Bell and Coventry went off for Miles Leaburn and Charlie Kelman, changing formation to a back four and a more attacking lineup. Almost immediately there were a few chances including one where the ball went into the box and Leaburn laid if off for a Sonny Carey shot that was blocked out for a corner. The corner caused a big of concern r the visitors and the home side had the bit between their teeth. Of course, this did not result in anything other than losing shape and allowing Wrexham a numerical advantage on the break. Luckily, Sichenje showed the heart of a lion to stymy their attack on his own, sliding in to neutralise the shot.
On about 80 minutes Leaburn conjured a good opportunity to keep the pressure on. Dykes whipped a ball in that Leaburn swiped at but his shot went over. Kayne Ramsay was then replaced by MacCauley Gillesphey, perhaps for ability to hit effective cross field balls or for his set pieces. At that point, Charlton deserved an equalise but Wrexham weren’t giving in easily. It was within a minute of regular time expiring that Charlton forced the issue in the Wrexham box. Patiently they prodded until the ball fell to Sonny Carey on the edge of the box. The ball was driven hard into the ground, through traffic across the goal but it was a tremendous save from the large, long Wrexham keeper who parried it out in dramatic fashion.
Four minutes of additional time saw the Addicks huff and puff. A header from Dykes, and a set piece from Gillesphey saw some pressure on goal but no equaliser was forthcoming. This was an entertaining match and the Addicks will feel hard done by. Wrexham somehow managed to keep a clean sheet and continue their very good run of form. Charlton put in a very good performance without managing to secure any points, the reverse of our recent form where we’ve picked up draws on the back of poor performances. Surely it will come together soon to see out the season!
Sichenje signaled an injury in the final minutes, which will be a worry, as will Burke’s injury but, conversely, Lloyd Jones seemed to have shaken off his ankle problems to turn in a very good performance. Will Mannion did himself proud today and Lyndon Dykes worked his socks off and was at the heart of a lot of our best chances.
A moment of individual brilliance outdone us today, which is progress in terms of our recent performances against this lot. It stings but we can take heart in the performance and go again soon.
Charlton 0 Wrexham 1
Over to you.
Comments
-
Sigh..........6
-
One of the only times this season I’ve walked away from a loss feeling alright. Leicester was probably the other.
Lots of positives, other than the fact we couldn’t put the ball in the net. 12 shots, 1 on target sadly tells the story.
Thought Carey played well second half. Kept the ball moving and with lots of intent.
Campbell with lots of nice play, but ultimately no end product again.
Clarke is quality, but need to practice his finishing. Two very big misses so far.
That Jones/Sichenje/Bell back 3 looked really good. Especially pleased with Sichenje who just gets better and better.
Really confused at how Wrexham are up there. Defensively they were a mess and didn’t have much going forward at all. Surely they can’t be going up playing like that.
I can’t count the amount of incredible saves Okonkwo has made against us. Hugely frustrating considering some of the howlers he’s made for Wrexham.
Play like that we will be fine. That’s the standard we need to aim for over these next 12 months.
47 -
Much better performance. We clearly do train to play it on the floor, just need to do it more often in game19
-
Why the hell did Berry start? NJ really needs to stop this love-in for him, its becoming a farce20
-
Fantastic performance. If we keep playing like that our future is bright in this division. Keep the second half midfield!10
-
I thought JRC had a decent cameo too20
-
You can't really say you're 'unlucky' when you have only scored 33 goals in 35 games.
We played well but our glaring weakness shows up again.29 -
Wrexham will be buzzing with that. Very frustrating to not have taken our chances, particularly first half but can’t fault the effort and endeavour. We’re a cobbled together championship side that will have succeeded if we stay up.
Love Collins Sichenje too. Loves to take a risk on the ball and in the tackle but has a lot of potential. Excited to see him grow.15 -
Deserved at least a point. A defeat sucks. However with other teams losing, and the performance not feeling too bad.8
-
As good a performance in defeat as you will see from us and greatly improved from our recent games.No harm done with the other results and we move on.Golfie probably wouldn't agree but we will be fine.17
-
Sponsored links:
-
Bit like Leicester in that their one moment of individual quality won all three points against our battling performance. If the rest of the results to end the season mirror the results of the beginning of the season in that way then we’ll be fine!5
-
A game where were on top for periods and couldn't quite make it pay. Points are what matter most, but if we're going to lose, i'd rather we lost in that manner.
Other results saved out afternoon feeling awful.3 -
So so frustrating. God knows how Wrexham are where they are. We must have caught them on an off day and we just didn’t take advantage.
Best performance in weeks and weeks and come away from it with nothing. Maybe turgid football is the way to get points…8 -
Need to take our chances ….Clarke has cost us points2
-
We really need to beat birmingham as dont see as getting anything at boro away1
-
Thought Wrexham were poor…god I hate Hollywood FC13
-
Best football we have played for a while. Much more enjoyable to watch. Need to take our chances, unlucky not to get anything today. Sichenje was brilliant. I've been critical of TC but there was a lot more good than bad over the full 94 mins. We were crying out for a left foot between him and ramsay though, just didnt work with them both on the left. Disappointing from Kelman, never made it above a jog. Carey anonymous until last 15. A mixed bad from Coventry but we are a much better team with him, we try to play football.6
-
Some great play, but no finishing, and its cost us again. I don't think anyone can be said to be "crap" today, but there are a couple of obvious issues. Berry has something to offer, but its limited, and we need better. Cov works his socks off but wayward passes seem to be a speciality between him and Doc, and we need to improve there too. Our low scoring this year can be pointed to as lack of service but lets not pretend we didn't have those chances today. I know its all speculative, but if we had a fit Matty ......... but the "supply" side of supply and demand is obviously wanting.Overall I think that today shows that even when playing well, there are a few elements which can be shown to be "almost-but-not-quite-good-enough". We're going to have to be brutal with the chop in summer I think.....Wrexham .... were no great shakes today. It's just how it is.p.s. Sichenje fantastic again today. Rough around the edges, but there's clearly something, dare I say it, possibly quite special there.10
-
How was Mannion?1
-
Very frustrating game of football.
We had the lions share of possession and chances (for once) and they barely had a foothold in the game, yet we lose to a well placed strike from Rathbone, a couple of minutes after Clarke fired wide from 6 yards when it looked easier to score.
Positive changes in the second half gave us a plethora of bodies to aim for up top, but the ball just didn't fall to someone in a prime shooting opportunity.
Eventually it did fall to the man you want it to, Sonny Carey, but their keeper turned into Prime Buffon for 3 seconds and palmed it brilliantly but frustratingly wide.
Deep into the game the same thing happened, and it fell this time to home debutant Collins Sichenje, on early for the stricken Burke, the headlines were already being written as he pummeled the ball 15 yards over the bar, and that was all she wrote4 -
Sponsored links:
-
So slow and deliberate in our build up…..telegraphing what we are going to do….allowing defenders to face the ball and not have them on the back foot6
-
Really frustrating one. Just a lack of quality in front of goal and a class finish from Rathbone.
Play like that for the rest of the season and we'll surprise a few sides around the playoffs.
If Broadhead is what £12m gets you in this league then I'd rather do things the way we are than throw stupid amounts of money around. Did like Kabore their RWB though, on loan from Man City I believe.8 -
It's a cruel loss, with such a positive and a much more dynamic performance from us. We played so well, and made the taffs look ordinary.
We missed some absolute sitters today, and that's the only frustration. We just can't score!!
I liked seeing Mannion back in goal, he played well, and he couldn't of done anything with Rathbones shot.
Keep that level of performance up for the rest of the season and we will be fine.
UTA!
8 -
Better side especially in the second half but it's all wasted if you can't score what we're some really simple chances.
I thought Campbell in particular was excellent8 -
The Red Robin said:How was Mannion?Decent game, no chance with the goal and little else to do.... and he comes for crosses!17
-
An enjoyable game to watch for a change and just didn’t get the breaks. I really hope Wrexham go up as it will make my weekends next season to see them get battered every week ! How they are up there is beyond me
We need to carry on playing like that and we will be fine
the Kenyan lad is going to be some player I think4 -
Agreed with my brother. Wrexham are a very good shit team. But with a touch better finsihing and even a bit of luck in front of goal and we win that. Can't be cross based on what was a very good performance.3
-
Didn’t have enough to do to judge. Wasn’t at fault for the goal, caught a cross which was good but TK has been doing that a bit more recentlyThe Red Robin said:How was Mannion?5 -
Great performance by us especially after recent games
largely dominated and other than the goal wrexham did nothing
very strong performances across the team our obvious weakness is not being clinical
although that save from careys shot at the end was world class
we desereved at least a draw
unlucky andnoone should be that down after that we just have to move on and go again next game the same results and points will come
2 -
First time this season when I've thought we were the better side.
3 words. VERY VERY UNLUCKY
6
