Phwoar. What a wonderful advert for League One football. On balance, a draw was probably a fair result, as they squandered chances just as we did (even if we had the better of the second half).
We started slowly and were ruthlessly punished in the second minute with - to be fair - a lovely finish from their right back. They then looked fantastic for 20 minutes and I thought they were simply a better team - as good as the Wigan team I saw play us when they won 3-0 (I think) down here last season. They were effective in closing down every avenue forward when we were in possession, and their attacking players were excellent. Aiden McGeady is terrifying; Maja and Wyke are very good strikers for this level; and in midfield McGeouch was bossing it (and kept Fosu quiet while doing so).
But we got back into it at the end of the second half: Albie Morgan started to impose himself(!) on the game and we upped the tempo. I think the crowd was pretty encouraging today, and helped us improve - once the annoyance at passing it round the back was got over. But we were met with some solid defence from Sunderland and probably deserved to be 1-0 down at half time.
Lord knows what Bowyer said at the half but it worked. Sunderland looked half asleep at the back - I think it's probably because we're the best attacking side (or one of the top ones) they've played against this year. Taylor was - of course - absolutely phenomenal. Tactically we were outmanoeuvring them easily and passed the ball very well. Were we unlucky not to score? Yes. However, they had their fair chances too, especially on the counter (which looked dangerous every time), and I'm thankful Duncan Watmore left his shooting boots at home. (Would sign him in a heartbeat btw, along with Maja/Wyke/McGeouch/their keeper to be fair whose distribution was excellent.)
As for the players individually:
- Phillips was much better distributing on counters in second half, and did well to keep a few things out. Communication is still a bit of an issue and that will hopefully take no longer than two more games to sort itself out.
- Dijksteel was troubled all game by McGeady and, after the first two minutes (1-0 down), performed well enough. He looked immense second half, especially going forward. He'd be much better in his preferred defensive midfield role, though. Page (or Greg Leigh, or whoever) can't get involved soon enough.
- Bauer was good - dealt well with Wyke - while Sarr was fantastic. He put in a vital block when their man was through; a couple of goalmouth clearances; and a few excellent through balls to boot. Bauer's calm was nearly as worrying as Sarr's general worryingness!
- Solly played admirably, but he's not a left back. He just isn't. Can't wait to see him back in position. Did well with their pacier players especially as he's lost a yard of pace in recent times.
- Bielik was classy but gave the ball away a bit often today, and the header to put Wyke through was criminal. Relatively poor game and he was still pretty decent, says something about his ability.
- Morgan was fantastic. He bossed the midfield from 35 minutes onwards and kept asking the right questions with his passing. He's ball-hungry, too, which is a great trait. I agree with the decision to take him off as I assume it was based on heart rate or steps or some other scientific stuff, and his replacement in Williams/Joniesta was good. He is clearly a class footballer and when fit, see you later Reeves. He just looked switched on and a great technician, too.
- Pratley had a few good moments second half, but his age is showing and he missed a relatively easy header. Serviceable but obviously not a first choice player these days.
- Fosu was quietened very well by McGeouch, but he always looks like he can spark something. Not today unfortunately, but he's got to keep playing. I think he's a little timid because of injuries, and maybe the CAM role isn't for him. Hopefully this isn't too detrimental on the mental aspect of his game.
- Karlan has pace to burn and he worried them, clearly. Shame he wasn't able to find the back of the net. I can easily forgive him an off day against one of the better sides in the league.
- Lyle Taylor is just immense. Every time he got the ball he was able to help craft the attack. He's fantastic aerially in terms of winning the ball, and THEN also keeping it! Deserved a goal and sort of got one. We have a gem of a striker here and I am praying that we can somehow keep hold.
PWR but I can’t remember a game so different in each half before. Woeful in the first half, truly dreadful, really poor backwards passing was all we did. Think we got the Ball in their box twice with no real threat until maybe the 42/43rd minute. Second half was a total turnaround and but for a couple of narrow margins/poor decisions we had them beat in all but score line. Really enjoyed it, didn’t even notice the cold.
Funny how it works, before the game I would have said take a point all day and now I'm gutted we didn't win by at least 3 goals.
It wasn't a game of two halves imo, we come on very strong with around 15 to go in the first half, second half starts and more of the same, absolutely battered them. Dreadful one on one by Taylor, kicked it right at the keeper, Grant could have done better for his chance, Sarr unlucky not to knock it down for Taylor and I think Pratley missed a pretty clear one as well. Sunderland should count themselves lucky our players clearly didn't have their shooting boots on today.
We knocked it about fantastically, had great pressure and our wing play was also pretty tidy at times. They defended for their lives at the end and were imo one of the most cynical sides we have played. Max Power could have been sent off arugably, Fosu was clearly taken out twice, one wasn't even called for a foul and the other the player didn't get booked. Taylor got taken out and the ref bottled a booking again. In all honesty a shit ref. If we play like that every game until the rest of the season we will be up there easily.
Unlucky to the lads I see and I cannot wait to make the trip to Shrewsbury now
Great effort by Bowyer and JJ. We noticed how long Bowyer spoke with Pratley shortly before half, time a long chat with outstanding results, no doubt underlined over a cup of tea and a Jaffa cake at half time!
Apologies for repeating most of the above but that sideway passing crap, negative possession, at home, when losing is totally frustrating and pointless. When we upped the anti from the end of the first half in to 2nd, Sunderland looked VERY WORRIED ! Second half was incredible, Taylor unplayable, plenty promising signs from JW. It is no surprise that Phillips lacks confidence having been overlooked when Steer was with us. We need another keeper. The marking for their goal was schoolboyesque.
Apologies for repeating most of the above but that sideway passing crap, negative possession, at home, when losing is totally frustrating and pointless. When we upped the anti from the end of the first half in to 2nd, Sunderland looked VERY WORRIED ! Second half was incredible, Taylor unplayable, plenty promising signs from JW. It is no surprise that Phillips lacks confidence having been overlooked when Steer was with us. We need another keeper. The marking for their goal was schoolboyesque.
Apologies for repeating most of the above but that sideway passing crap, negative possession, at home, when losing is totally frustrating and pointless. When we upped the anti from the end of the first half in to 2nd, Sunderland looked VERY WORRIED ! Second half was incredible, Taylor unplayable, plenty promising signs from JW. It is no surprise that Phillips lacks confidence having been overlooked when Steer was with us. We need another keeper. The marking for their goal was schoolboyesque.
Need to make the most of our opportunities.
Please now Roland, give us the best news ever....
Don't think Phillips was lacking confidence, his kicking isn't best but his throwing was top drawer.
Mostly skipped through everyone's posts but think @PaddyP17 gets it spot on with his opening remarks... What an excellent advert for this level!!
Two honest teams that went for the win, neither sat back and both teams at times were forced back - From the opening exchanges I dont think I've seen a side pass better than Sunderland this season (and have seen both Barnsley games who I think are equally good); they could have been out of sight within 20mins but themselves were wasteful and whilst Maja was excellent (relieved when he went off) I thought that Wyke was your typical Striker at this level who could be standard for any team at this level and was never really dangerous
For Charlton I made my feelings known at half-time about those who hadnt shown up but come the second half there wasnt a red shirt who didnt put in the effort for Bowyer!!... Pratley I thought was unfortunate in their box a couple of times and did well getting forward whilst Fosu caused them endless problems (sadly Ref got the free-kick right on the line correct) - Only disappointment in that second period for me was the disappearance of Albie Morgan who I felt had another good 45mins but to have played the full Walsall match and then the majority of this one was testament to his character.
Man of the Match though was a VERY close call between Naby Sarr and Lyle Taylor with the latter probably just edging it - Naby though has really improved all of a sudden at Centre-Back and loved not his late goal line clearance but his sweeping tackle out on the Left when it surely looked as though the Sunderland player would be clear, it wasnt just being able to sniff out the danger but the fact he came out of the challenge with his ball at his feet and then proceeded to join the following attack.
Failure to win makes me think we'll have to settle for the Play-Offs but dont think we'll be reliant on squeezing into them at the death
After that early shock we were, well, shell shocked.
The high press pinned us back and Sunderland were brave enough to push both full backs up the pitch at the time, often leaving it two on two at the back.
I looked to see if Karl Robinson was back with the endless, meaningless passing around the back five.
But we finally went longer, hit Taylor a lot with diagonal balls and put them under some pressure.
Flukey but deserved equaliser and made for a really great game to watch.
Hope the new owners were there to catch a glimpse of what this club can be.
And all with half the starters missing.
Nearly ran over @Addick in SW16 on the way home as he checked his phone while crossing the road.
As Uncle Plum said, the big gain from the first half was that we were only 1-0 down. They hit the woodwork, Belik nearly played them in and Sarr pulled off one of at least two last ditch tackles he made in the game. Sunderland scored early and had us on the back foot, though we did rally from about the 35th minute. It was still a worrying game against arguably the best team we have played at the Valley...up until half time.
If anything is to be said about the second half, it is Sunderland are not quite as good as maybe they think they are, and we are better than we sometimes believe we can be. Massive credit to Lee Bowyer for his second half approach, and Lyall Taylor for being Lyall Taylor at his best, Sunderland found him darn near unplayable in the second half.
The thing is when you draw at home it's two points dropped, but a draw away at Charlton today for Sunderland is an excellent result. I think they will make the automatic places if they don't mess up this transfer window. The 20 was very decent, but so was the 8, and the 14 and I also like the 9 who was difficult for Bauer and Sarr to keep quiet.
So to any neutral the game was a draw, a good game, but probably overall a draw, because just as Sunderland didn't absolutely dominate the first half, we didn't totally dominate the second.
Phillips wasn't at fault for the first goal, where we were diddled on the left, switched to the right where Solly had been pulled out of position, and the finish was a good one. Phillips kept a clean sheet thereafter, and Solly up against an excellent player, never shirked, and but the end of the game was on top in his contest.
Bauer was in a battle throughout, and Sarr was too, but he peppered that with some woeful passing and some brilliant blocking action. Hard to know what to say about Djiksteel, beyond observing that he is more suited to the Belik position than right back. Even then Anfernee contributed, and at times going forward was threatening.
I thought Belik dropped his standard a bit today, he was OKish, but nearly cost us a goal, Fosu was about average, but he has the huge advantage of drawing opponents away from other players. Albie Morgan was arguably our best player in a difficult first half, he is full of potential this lad, but the timing of his substitution for Williams was right. Good lad, well played Albie. Pratley heaved and hauled about the place, mentally positive, but oh for Josh Cullen's return. Sorry Darren, though you were not good, you weren't bad either.
Williams is obviously a good player, but needs to stay fit, if he is as good as he can be then Reeves has a problem, one lovely and clever switch of play was a hopeful sign.
Karlan might have had a couple of goals today, their keeper was strong, and he missed an awkward angle far post volley with his left foot which might have been a goal. However like Tarique I believe he has improved a lot in involvement and work rate, and played well enough to give Sunderland some worries.
I seriously don't have the right words to talk about Taylor. Sitting at the Covered End end of the East Stand, opposite the tunnel, and this season at home seeing Lyall play so much in that area, right there, I see it with my own two eyes, he is genuinely special. How on earth had he been knocking around clubs hither and thither? Lyall played fantastically well in the second half, especially for me and those who sit around me and my man love is pretty unconditional at the moment.
The disappointing stark arithmetic is that we are eight points behind optimum. That means winning every home game (Portsmouth and Luton amongst them), winning four of the remaining away games and doing the equivalent of drawing the rest. If we actually had a fully fit squad I would fancy us to manage that, but it ain't going to happen. We have to play really well for the rest of the season, and deeply embed the positive qualities we have so they become second nature if we make the play offs.
Thought he would replace Dijiksteel and `Fosu at halftime. We showed them much too much respect first 30 minutes. I think we then realised they are not very good. Taylor was unplayable second half. Amazing that their goal on minute 2 was their only shot on target. On another we would have nicked it, but never mind. We actually watched a game of football, it’s been a long time.
Thought he would replace Dijiksteel and `Fosu at halftime. We showed them much too much respect first 30 minutes. I think we then realised they are not very good. Taylor was unplayable second half. Amazing that their goal on minute 2 was their only shot on target. On another we would have nicked it, but never mind. We actually watched a game of football, it’s been a long time.
It wasnt according to the BBC stats which says they had two
I definitely remember Phillips getting down low to stop a shot late in the second half too
Proper game of two halves. First half we were quite poor but Sunderland were also very good, moving the ball well and getting the ball into wide areas, causing us problems, as I anticipated and expected, hence the preview I gave. They were moving the ball around nicely but we definitely didn’t help ourselves. When we had the ball they kept things tight and as rightly pointed out already, Bielik was not given the space to play and push us forward.
Second half we were another animal, we were fantastic. Moving the ball as good as we have all season, progressive, pass and move, we had bite, aggression and flair. We looked dangerous and ought to have scored more and won the game. If I really have to be picky, Grant should be scored when he went with it with his foot rather than his head, he really should’ve head that chance in. Pratley was very good second half, he was almost everywhere but again, not getting that header on target and scoring was criminal.
Taylor showed Sunderland what they’re missing. Goodness me I am so glad he signed for us. Had he went to Sunderland I am confident they would be sitting top of the league right now. Dijksteel was poor first half but fantastic the second half. Fosu’s passing and decision making is what is stopping him being a top class player, he has everything but that final part of his game is really lacking sometimes. There’s definitely room for improvement.
Loved to know what Bowyer said to them and changed specifically at half-time. He really needs this takeover to go through and fingers crossed gets the backing he really deserves to push us up the league, and win promotion. This is a great bunch of players and staff that need to stay together and need the help to get them over the line this season.
Thoroughly enjoyable day and time at the match today. We played very well at times and I’ve come away pleased with what I saw, feeling good about the future and hopeful of some success this season. Was brilliant to have The Valley busy again.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend fellow Charlton supporters. Let’s hope for a memorable week ahead.
Great to see and hear a much fuller house and this added to a great second half made this game a highlight of the season. Pratley was the only one who didn’t raise his game. In fact Albi should have stayed on and he taken off. Johnny looked very good and made a difference when he came on. Yes it was a game of two halves and we showed them far too much respect and looked a bit nervy with all the poor passing going on. But second half with a noisy crowd is what we should all be happy to see. Yes we could have done with the three points but hey sometimes you have to just appreciate the moment. Hopefully we may get a few more next home game.
Second half, was the best 45mins of football I’ve seen at this level for a long time. They looked like they could counter well but Bielik, Sarr and Bauer were immense.
Huge credit to Anfernee’s character after that first half to put in that performance in the second. A young player with few first team starts against McGeady and Maja and really struggled albeit, with little support. I am surprised Sunderland didn’t attack more down that side in the second half but you could say we were so dominant they didn’t have a chance to.
Could easily have been 2-2 or 3-2 either way but I came away from that happy with the result and the fight displayed.
It’s a few years late but I feel like we’ve finally found our replacement for Kermogant. Can’t speak highly enough of Lyle’s desire but he has ability and is one of the most likeable characters we’ve had for years.
Cracking game that. Sunderland were all over our midfield for the first 25 minutes taking the lead with the first of many dangerous balls into our box. We stepped up the intensity and finished the first half the stronger side with decent shots coming in from Morgan and Bielik. We came out turbo charged for the second half and Taylor was superb and got his reward early on with a cross turned in by James. Fosu continued to be unplayable and frustrating at times and could have put Taylor in at the end had his pass been more clinical. Sometimes opponents bring out the best in our players and we upped our game against a decent Sunderland side although for most of that second half they were there for the taking and couldn’t handle our attacks and resorted to cynical fouls. Sunderland also could have won it at the end and I found myself virtually kicking and heading every ball in the last few minutes. And finally what a sight it was to see the covered end in full song and almost bulging at the seams.
Apologies for repeating most of the above but that sideway passing crap, negative possession, at home, when losing is totally frustrating and pointless. When we upped the anti from the end of the first half in to 2nd, Sunderland looked VERY WORRIED ! Second half was incredible, Taylor unplayable, plenty promising signs from JW. It is no surprise that Phillips lacks confidence having been overlooked when Steer was with us. We need another keeper. The marking for their goal was schoolboyesque.
Need to make the most of our opportunities.
Please now Roland, give us the best news ever....
Don't think Phillips was lacking confidence, his kicking isn't best but his throwing was top drawer.
He looked very uncomfortable and certainly didn't seem to be on the same wavelength of the defenders....
Comments
We started slowly and were ruthlessly punished in the second minute with - to be fair - a lovely finish from their right back. They then looked fantastic for 20 minutes and I thought they were simply a better team - as good as the Wigan team I saw play us when they won 3-0 (I think) down here last season. They were effective in closing down every avenue forward when we were in possession, and their attacking players were excellent. Aiden McGeady is terrifying; Maja and Wyke are very good strikers for this level; and in midfield McGeouch was bossing it (and kept Fosu quiet while doing so).
But we got back into it at the end of the second half: Albie Morgan started to impose himself(!) on the game and we upped the tempo. I think the crowd was pretty encouraging today, and helped us improve - once the annoyance at passing it round the back was got over. But we were met with some solid defence from Sunderland and probably deserved to be 1-0 down at half time.
Lord knows what Bowyer said at the half but it worked. Sunderland looked half asleep at the back - I think it's probably because we're the best attacking side (or one of the top ones) they've played against this year. Taylor was - of course - absolutely phenomenal. Tactically we were outmanoeuvring them easily and passed the ball very well. Were we unlucky not to score? Yes. However, they had their fair chances too, especially on the counter (which looked dangerous every time), and I'm thankful Duncan Watmore left his shooting boots at home. (Would sign him in a heartbeat btw, along with Maja/Wyke/McGeouch/their keeper to be fair whose distribution was excellent.)
As for the players individually:
- Phillips was much better distributing on counters in second half, and did well to keep a few things out. Communication is still a bit of an issue and that will hopefully take no longer than two more games to sort itself out.
- Dijksteel was troubled all game by McGeady and, after the first two minutes (1-0 down), performed well enough. He looked immense second half, especially going forward. He'd be much better in his preferred defensive midfield role, though. Page (or Greg Leigh, or whoever) can't get involved soon enough.
- Bauer was good - dealt well with Wyke - while Sarr was fantastic. He put in a vital block when their man was through; a couple of goalmouth clearances; and a few excellent through balls to boot. Bauer's calm was nearly as worrying as Sarr's general worryingness!
- Solly played admirably, but he's not a left back. He just isn't. Can't wait to see him back in position. Did well with their pacier players especially as he's lost a yard of pace in recent times.
- Bielik was classy but gave the ball away a bit often today, and the header to put Wyke through was criminal. Relatively poor game and he was still pretty decent, says something about his ability.
- Morgan was fantastic. He bossed the midfield from 35 minutes onwards and kept asking the right questions with his passing. He's ball-hungry, too, which is a great trait. I agree with the decision to take him off as I assume it was based on heart rate or steps or some other scientific stuff, and his replacement in Williams/Joniesta was good. He is clearly a class footballer and when fit, see you later Reeves. He just looked switched on and a great technician, too.
- Pratley had a few good moments second half, but his age is showing and he missed a relatively easy header. Serviceable but obviously not a first choice player these days.
- Fosu was quietened very well by McGeouch, but he always looks like he can spark something. Not today unfortunately, but he's got to keep playing. I think he's a little timid because of injuries, and maybe the CAM role isn't for him. Hopefully this isn't too detrimental on the mental aspect of his game.
- Karlan has pace to burn and he worried them, clearly. Shame he wasn't able to find the back of the net. I can easily forgive him an off day against one of the better sides in the league.
- Lyle Taylor is just immense. Every time he got the ball he was able to help craft the attack. He's fantastic aerially in terms of winning the ball, and THEN also keeping it! Deserved a goal and sort of got one. We have a gem of a striker here and I am praying that we can somehow keep hold.
----------------------
I'm happy with a point, all told. UTA and COYR!
We’re going to be ok after this takeover lads.
Woeful in the first half, truly dreadful, really poor backwards passing was all we did. Think we got the Ball in their box twice with no real threat until maybe the 42/43rd minute.
Second half was a total turnaround and but for a couple of narrow margins/poor decisions we had them beat in all but score line. Really enjoyed it, didn’t even notice the cold.
Roland Out......
It wasn't a game of two halves imo, we come on very strong with around 15 to go in the first half, second half starts and more of the same, absolutely battered them. Dreadful one on one by Taylor, kicked it right at the keeper, Grant could have done better for his chance, Sarr unlucky not to knock it down for Taylor and I think Pratley missed a pretty clear one as well. Sunderland should count themselves lucky our players clearly didn't have their shooting boots on today.
We knocked it about fantastically, had great pressure and our wing play was also pretty tidy at times. They defended for their lives at the end and were imo one of the most cynical sides we have played. Max Power could have been sent off arugably, Fosu was clearly taken out twice, one wasn't even called for a foul and the other the player didn't get booked. Taylor got taken out and the ref bottled a booking again. In all honesty a shit ref. If we play like that every game until the rest of the season we will be up there easily.
Unlucky to the lads I see and I cannot wait to make the trip to Shrewsbury now
What he does at half time!
Great effort by Bowyer and JJ. We noticed how long Bowyer spoke with Pratley shortly before half, time a long chat with outstanding results, no doubt underlined over a cup of tea and a Jaffa cake at half time!
Need to make the most of our opportunities.
Please now Roland, give us the best news ever....
Two honest teams that went for the win, neither sat back and both teams at times were forced back - From the opening exchanges I dont think I've seen a side pass better than Sunderland this season (and have seen both Barnsley games who I think are equally good); they could have been out of sight within 20mins but themselves were wasteful and whilst Maja was excellent (relieved when he went off) I thought that Wyke was your typical Striker at this level who could be standard for any team at this level and was never really dangerous
For Charlton I made my feelings known at half-time about those who hadnt shown up but come the second half there wasnt a red shirt who didnt put in the effort for Bowyer!!... Pratley I thought was unfortunate in their box a couple of times and did well getting forward whilst Fosu caused them endless problems (sadly Ref got the free-kick right on the line correct) - Only disappointment in that second period for me was the disappearance of Albie Morgan who I felt had another good 45mins but to have played the full Walsall match and then the majority of this one was testament to his character.
Man of the Match though was a VERY close call between Naby Sarr and Lyle Taylor with the latter probably just edging it - Naby though has really improved all of a sudden at Centre-Back and loved not his late goal line clearance but his sweeping tackle out on the Left when it surely looked as though the Sunderland player would be clear, it wasnt just being able to sniff out the danger but the fact he came out of the challenge with his ball at his feet and then proceeded to join the following attack.
Failure to win makes me think we'll have to settle for the Play-Offs but dont think we'll be reliant on squeezing into them at the death
The high press pinned us back and Sunderland were brave enough to push both full backs up the pitch at the time, often leaving it two on two at the back.
I looked to see if Karl Robinson was back with the endless, meaningless passing around the back five.
But we finally went longer, hit Taylor a lot with diagonal balls and put them under some pressure.
Flukey but deserved equaliser and made for a really great game to watch.
Hope the new owners were there to catch a glimpse of what this club can be.
And all with half the starters missing.
Nearly ran over @Addick in SW16 on the way home as he checked his phone while crossing the road.
When he went down early in the second half he looked in some discomfort but still carried on
Leads me to think he'd need to be hit by a bus to be out injured
As Uncle Plum said, the big gain from the first half was that we were only 1-0 down. They hit the woodwork, Belik nearly played them in and Sarr pulled off one of at least two last ditch tackles he made in the game. Sunderland scored early and had us on the back foot, though we did rally from about the 35th minute. It was still a worrying game against arguably the best team we have played at the Valley...up until half time.
If anything is to be said about the second half, it is Sunderland are not quite as good as maybe they think they are, and we are better than we sometimes believe we can be. Massive credit to Lee Bowyer for his second half approach, and Lyall Taylor for being Lyall Taylor at his best, Sunderland found him darn near unplayable in the second half.
The thing is when you draw at home it's two points dropped, but a draw away at Charlton today for Sunderland is an excellent result. I think they will make the automatic places if they don't mess up this transfer window. The 20 was very decent, but so was the 8, and the 14 and I also like the 9 who was difficult for Bauer and Sarr to keep quiet.
So to any neutral the game was a draw, a good game, but probably overall a draw, because just as Sunderland didn't absolutely dominate the first half, we didn't totally dominate the second.
Phillips wasn't at fault for the first goal, where we were diddled on the left, switched to the right where Solly had been pulled out of position, and the finish was a good one. Phillips kept a clean sheet thereafter, and Solly up against an excellent player, never shirked, and but the end of the game was on top in his contest.
Bauer was in a battle throughout, and Sarr was too, but he peppered that with some woeful passing and some brilliant blocking action. Hard to know what to say about Djiksteel, beyond observing that he is more suited to the Belik position than right back. Even then Anfernee contributed, and at times going forward was threatening.
I thought Belik dropped his standard a bit today, he was OKish, but nearly cost us a goal, Fosu was about average, but he has the huge advantage of drawing opponents away from other players. Albie Morgan was arguably our best player in a difficult first half, he is full of potential this lad, but the timing of his substitution for Williams was right. Good lad, well played Albie. Pratley heaved and hauled about the place, mentally positive, but oh for Josh Cullen's return. Sorry Darren, though you were not good, you weren't bad either.
Williams is obviously a good player, but needs to stay fit, if he is as good as he can be then Reeves has a problem, one lovely and clever switch of play was a hopeful sign.
Karlan might have had a couple of goals today, their keeper was strong, and he missed an awkward angle far post volley with his left foot which might have been a goal. However like Tarique I believe he has improved a lot in involvement and work rate, and played well enough to give Sunderland some worries.
I seriously don't have the right words to talk about Taylor. Sitting at the Covered End end of the East Stand, opposite the tunnel, and this season at home seeing Lyall play so much in that area, right there, I see it with my own two eyes, he is genuinely special. How on earth had he been knocking around clubs hither and thither? Lyall played fantastically well in the second half, especially for me and those who sit around me and my man love is pretty unconditional at the moment.
The disappointing stark arithmetic is that we are eight points behind optimum. That means winning every home game (Portsmouth and Luton amongst them), winning four of the remaining away games and doing the equivalent of drawing the rest. If we actually had a fully fit squad I would fancy us to manage that, but it ain't going to happen. We have to play really well for the rest of the season, and deeply embed the positive qualities we have so they become second nature if we make the play offs.
On another we would have nicked it, but never mind. We actually watched a game of football, it’s been a long time.
I definitely remember Phillips getting down low to stop a shot late in the second half too
Second half we were another animal, we were fantastic. Moving the ball as good as we have all season, progressive, pass and move, we had bite, aggression and flair. We looked dangerous and ought to have scored more and won the game. If I really have to be picky, Grant should be scored when he went with it with his foot rather than his head, he really should’ve head that chance in. Pratley was very good second half, he was almost everywhere but again, not getting that header on target and scoring was criminal.
Taylor showed Sunderland what they’re missing. Goodness me I am so glad he signed for us. Had he went to Sunderland I am confident they would be sitting top of the league right now. Dijksteel was poor first half but fantastic the second half. Fosu’s passing and decision making is what is stopping him being a top class player, he has everything but that final part of his game is really lacking sometimes. There’s definitely room for improvement.
Loved to know what Bowyer said to them and changed specifically at half-time. He really needs this takeover to go through and fingers crossed gets the backing he really deserves to push us up the league, and win promotion. This is a great bunch of players and staff that need to stay together and need the help to get them over the line this season.
Thoroughly enjoyable day and time at the match today. We played very well at times and I’ve come away pleased with what I saw, feeling good about the future and hopeful of some success this season. Was brilliant to have The Valley busy again.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend fellow Charlton supporters. Let’s hope for a memorable week ahead.
Huge credit to Anfernee’s character after that first half to put in that performance in the second. A young player with few first team starts against McGeady and Maja and really struggled albeit, with little support. I am surprised Sunderland didn’t attack more down that side in the second half but you could say we were so dominant they didn’t have a chance to.
Could easily have been 2-2 or 3-2 either way but I came away from that happy with the result and the fight displayed.
It’s a few years late but I feel like we’ve finally found our replacement for Kermogant. Can’t speak highly enough of Lyle’s desire but he has ability and is one of the most likeable characters we’ve had for years.