POST-MATCH THREAD: Bolton Wanderers v Charlton Athletic: Tuesday 21st January 2025: KO 19:45

It’s about damn time one of these games went our way 

My take on the game after watching it on Sky.

• Didn't think their bloke deserved a 2nd yellow.

• Dont think the ref saw the "stamp" on Small. Not sure it was a "stamp" anyway.....more like a "tread" (not that it makes much difference but it wasn't forceful). 

• For a tall man Leaburn is crap in the air - hardly ever wins a header. Saw the difference when Aneke came on.

• Like to see Godden start. Maybe instead of Leaburn ? 

• Would like us to sign an attacking midfielder & a speedy wide player. Cant see it happening though. 

• It will be so Charlton-like to now lose against a bottom 4 side at home. Saying that, if we can somehow win our next 4 home games & get something at Blackpool then we go into the Birmingham game on a high. Might even beat them too 😃. 

•  Finally......did anyone mention the fact we came from conceding the first goal to win 😉. And Millwall threw away a win in the last minute. 

What joy.

Would like to see Godden start with a fit Chuks, if Ramsey is close then NJ'S 3-5-2 picks itself as he and small can interchange. Was an average game of football but nice to see us go for it, now games are coming thick and fast we do need to have a plan b or c which I think NJ is finding isn't a bad idea. Next 2 weeks are pivotal, not just in terms of games but squad too. Didn't see the stamp but the subsequent double melee would suggest it wasn't nice. First double of the season, chance to double that on Saturday. Doubt it will be the same scorer somehow but just need to concentrate on what our best team is in situations, not just starts. But ultimately pretty happy with that 

I said in the match thread, when I saw the starting line up, that I was happy to see NJ show faith in the team that has been doing so well for us since early December. He gave them a chance to show Saturday was a blip and they largely did. In return, while it might not have been the most fluent of performances, he got a ton of effort and commitment from them. We’ve been a soft touch for so long now I’d almost forgotten what it’s like to have a team with some genuine fight and willingness to give a bit needle to an opponent.

I thought a lot of the first half was fairly even albeit they definitely looked slicker in attack. They turned up the heat towards the end of the half and, by half time, you had to say that AMB kept us in it with a few sharp saves (he really deserves a bit more credit for his shot stopping, but I think a lot have decided they don’t rate him and are now almost blind to any of the good things he does).

Second half they were on top and the goal had been coming, both in terms of the balance of play and the nature of it with them getting behind us on a breakaway. We had a few near misses that way and should have done more, sooner, to shut it down.

The triple sub and associated change of shape really swung things for us and they totally collapsed after we scored. The weak mentality they showed after being pegged back is what we have seen from Charlton too often in recent seasons. We looked likely winners from that moment on and showed a lot of fight, desire, and fitness to push on and claim the 3 points. The way the winner came was maybe a bit lucky but you make your own luck. Anderson wanted the ball more and when you get bodies in the box and take shots things often happen as a result.

Their manager can get bent with his football snob “I wouldn’t want to watch that every week” comment. Two months ago we were a very tough watch and really were too direct too often. However, we’ve been getting the balance right since early December. We’re quite happy to work through the thirds and/or use our width and pace to get in behind, which we did at times last night, but we can mix it physically and be more direct when that’s the best way to hurt an opponent. Out working and out fighting an opponent is a perfectly legitimate way to get results. The “I wouldn’t want to watch that every week” comment is basically an admission that his team weren’t up to the fight. It’s sour grapes and, in all honestly, I’d rather watch the way we play now than the endlessly sideways, backwards, sideways, rigidly principled but largely ineffective, passing for the sake of passing we were subjected to by the likes Garner and Robinson.

Reading the match thread is pretty amusing this morning. 65 minutes of people having a meltdown, not good enough, we're shit, i'm not going to games any more, why bring on Anderson and then.........bang we've somehow snatched a win and done a 'golfie'.

We do always seem to do fairly well against the better sides. This season:

Against top half sides.      W5 D6 L2
Against bottom half sides W5 D1 L6

If we can up our game against the 'lesser' sides then we've got a chance of making the play offs.

ateamofcorygibbs said:

Is that the first time we’ve come from behind to win in the league?

Nah, we did it twice in 2021 😉

I'll now watch from Utah on Saturday at some godforsaken time on Charlton TV.

I am glad for one we won but this division is absolutely horrendous this season.

We DO have the chance with the next run of fixtures but mentioned above, our form against the bottom half is pretty poor.

Chuks made a huge difference.  Players are terrified of him.  Well done Karoy.

Gillesphey, the cross aside is very poor.   TC marginalised out wide in that formation.   Re-inforcements needed if we are going to stand a realistic chance.

It's the hope that kills you.  It really does.

I wish I could have @Callumcafc positivity- but I can't.   There have been way too many piss poor performances this year.

I travel 320 miles round trip for home games so they need to repay my faith (even if I hide it at times)!

IF we win 4 of the next 5, I may start to believe.   It genuinely somehow, is in our hands. 

But.....

JamesSeed said:

Yeah, it was a decent last 15 minutes, but there’s some serious result influenced marking going on in the Players Marks thread. Can’t see how anyone deserved an 8 if I’m honest. 

Thought Maynard-Brewer had a great game. Cops stick constantly but made some crucial saves to keep us in it.

Those Evatt comments are absolutely hilarious. He could have easily switched their formation when we made the triple sub but no he has to think he's some kind of football genius. Being that married to a style of play at this level when the fans are on your back and you badly need a result is always going to cause problems. 

Not as if he lacked options off the bench with Mcatee,Lolos and Adeboyejo all available to him. Just seems like an incredibly weird bloke.

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Davo55 said:

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Davo55 said:

What a turnaround. Although we battled hard it’s undeniable that we were outplayed for at least 60 minutes of that match. Great credit to Nathan Jones for the tactical and personnel changes that helped us turn it around. Yes, it was a fortunate deflection for our second goal but don't underestimate the skill with which Karoy Anderson turned to create the space for his shot.

A hard won win and three invaluable points going into our next two, very winnable, fixtures.

OK I'll say it.

I don't get the great credit toJones for the tactical and personnel change line

Firstly, the starting team was crying out for a couple of changes. Anderson probably should have started. And the subs were nearly left too late - Leaburn had one of those nights when he should have been taken off much earlier. 

Jones has been a lucky man tonight and if we had lost that, the comments here would be very different.

All that said, huge credit to the team for nicking a win after what has been a long and tiring run and to every one of the 156 fans there who travelled. The real men of the match.

Understand that point of view but have to disagree, I thought he was right to start with the same team, partly because they had done very well in the recent weeks leading up to Rotherham, and partly because they would have been fired up to put that dreadful performance to rights. It certainly paid off in terms of fight and determination and Jones had both the bottle and the nous to make the changes he did when we needed to both change and up our game.

And I can see where you are coming from.

But let's be honest, for 70 minutes we were second best and never really looked like scoring until Gillesphey floated in a superb cross. (Where did that come from after a pretty poor earlier performance from him?). We've nicked that win. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we did but let's not think that Jones produced a tactical masterpiece tonight.

Maybe it's my bias but I thought it was fairly even before their goal. Two average teams without ideas or a cutting edge, probably best summed up by the long periods of head tennis on the edge of Bolton's box. 

Charlton did press well and looked threatening building possession but put in 100s of aimless crosses or let Thierry Small blaze wide from outside the box. If Thierry gave the shooting a rest and found a pass instead he would be a real asset. 

Charlton and on said:

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Davo55 said:

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Davo55 said:

What a turnaround. Although we battled hard it’s undeniable that we were outplayed for at least 60 minutes of that match. Great credit to Nathan Jones for the tactical and personnel changes that helped us turn it around. Yes, it was a fortunate deflection for our second goal but don't underestimate the skill with which Karoy Anderson turned to create the space for his shot.

A hard won win and three invaluable points going into our next two, very winnable, fixtures.

OK I'll say it.

I don't get the great credit toJones for the tactical and personnel change line

Firstly, the starting team was crying out for a couple of changes. Anderson probably should have started. And the subs were nearly left too late - Leaburn had one of those nights when he should have been taken off much earlier. 

Jones has been a lucky man tonight and if we had lost that, the comments here would be very different.

All that said, huge credit to the team for nicking a win after what has been a long and tiring run and to every one of the 156 fans there who travelled. The real men of the match.

Understand that point of view but have to disagree, I thought he was right to start with the same team, partly because they had done very well in the recent weeks leading up to Rotherham, and partly because they would have been fired up to put that dreadful performance to rights. It certainly paid off in terms of fight and determination and Jones had both the bottle and the nous to make the changes he did when we needed to both change and up our game.

And I can see where you are coming from.

But let's be honest, for 70 minutes we were second best and never really looked like scoring until Gillesphey floated in a superb cross. (Where did that come from after a pretty poor earlier performance from him?). We've nicked that win. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we did but let's not think that Jones produced a tactical masterpiece tonight.

Maybe it's my bias but I thought it was fairly even before their goal. Two average teams without ideas or a cutting edge, probably best summed up by the long periods of head tennis on the edge of Bolton's box. 

Charlton did press well and looked threatening building possession but put in 100s of aimless crosses or let Thierry Small blaze wide from outside the box. If Thierry gave the shooting a rest and found a pass instead he would be a real asset. 

At half time

66% possession v 34%
5 shots on target v 1

It wasn't fairly even

However our subs made a much bigger impact than theirs.   That should be applauded.

Their managers comments 😂

definitely trying to divert attention away from
his own failings. He did the same last year with our equaliser. Claiming a foul when their player laid there holding his head. If he got up, he would have cleared the ball.

same yesterday, he should be focussing on his no 5 ducking under a cross 6 yards out and the poor discipline from many of his  players slowing us to step up a gear and win the match.

our players played as a team and had each others backs, that’s why we won.

his comments are those of a dead man walking.

supaclive said:

Charlton and on said:

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Davo55 said:

Fortune 82nd Minute said:

Davo55 said:

What a turnaround. Although we battled hard it’s undeniable that we were outplayed for at least 60 minutes of that match. Great credit to Nathan Jones for the tactical and personnel changes that helped us turn it around. Yes, it was a fortunate deflection for our second goal but don't underestimate the skill with which Karoy Anderson turned to create the space for his shot.

A hard won win and three invaluable points going into our next two, very winnable, fixtures.

OK I'll say it.

I don't get the great credit toJones for the tactical and personnel change line

Firstly, the starting team was crying out for a couple of changes. Anderson probably should have started. And the subs were nearly left too late - Leaburn had one of those nights when he should have been taken off much earlier. 

Jones has been a lucky man tonight and if we had lost that, the comments here would be very different.

All that said, huge credit to the team for nicking a win after what has been a long and tiring run and to every one of the 156 fans there who travelled. The real men of the match.

Understand that point of view but have to disagree, I thought he was right to start with the same team, partly because they had done very well in the recent weeks leading up to Rotherham, and partly because they would have been fired up to put that dreadful performance to rights. It certainly paid off in terms of fight and determination and Jones had both the bottle and the nous to make the changes he did when we needed to both change and up our game.

And I can see where you are coming from.

But let's be honest, for 70 minutes we were second best and never really looked like scoring until Gillesphey floated in a superb cross. (Where did that come from after a pretty poor earlier performance from him?). We've nicked that win. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we did but let's not think that Jones produced a tactical masterpiece tonight.

Maybe it's my bias but I thought it was fairly even before their goal. Two average teams without ideas or a cutting edge, probably best summed up by the long periods of head tennis on the edge of Bolton's box. 

Charlton did press well and looked threatening building possession but put in 100s of aimless crosses or let Thierry Small blaze wide from outside the box. If Thierry gave the shooting a rest and found a pass instead he would be a real asset. 

At half time

66% possession v 34%
5 shots on target v 1

It wasn't fairly even

However our subs made a much bigger impact than theirs.   That should be applauded.

In a game that turgid those stats are meaningless. I expect the away team to have less possession and Bolton were mainly just passing it around at the back without threat. When Charlton got the ball, it went down the wings and was given back to Bolton through poor crosses. 

Bolton created a couple of chances with their 66% possession and had the only decent chance of the first half but it's slim pickings.

Just very dull from both teams imo.

Not a great performance as a team and from some individuals, but win ugly away from home is the secret to getting yourself up there. Will take an away performance like that every time if it results in a smash and grab!

Gillesphey from Zero to Hero, Anderson lacks quality and finesse but the boy grafts, still young and bringing him on as a sub is the perfect role for him currently, one deflected goal doesnt deem a starting place, we've been there before. Leaburn, the whole time he was out the narrative was we missed his presence up top, and he'll bully defenders now hes back and not doing much with it its because he can only play with ball to feet, in reality, he's just another inconsistent young player that could do with a rest and not have the weight of the world dropped on his shoulders.

For all the talk of Gillesphey, Anderson and Jones - the plaudits go to AMB for me, really kept us in it with a few good saves when Bolton had us under pressure at the start of the second half, good come back from conceding 4 at the weekend.

Bolton - Looked good in patches and would describe them as comfortable in possession rather than a proper passing side. There wasnt much gulf in quality between us - if at all tbh.

Our last 10 league games have seen 5 wins, 3 draws and 2 losses, 15 scored, 9 conceded. I'd suggest we already started a little run, much like the Northampton spanking the reaction to Saturdays loss was dramatic. The nature of this piss league means anyone within touching distance of the top 6 has a chance of sneaking in, we could lose the next 3, win the 3 after and still be thereabouts.

Great result!