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.