No goals but some entertainment

Talking online to Steve from Petts Wood before today's game against Reading we both agreed that a draw was the most likely outcome and at 0-0 Charlton remain in 11h place.  Reading's goalkeeper did a lot to help them.

Harlee Dean produced a vital goalline clearance as Reading earned a 0-0 draw at Charlton.  The Royals defender was in the right place to hook away Miles Leaburn's shot after goalkeeper Joel Pereira had spilled Thierry Small's cross in the 69th minute.

Both clubs came into the contest on a run of three straight League One victories but neither could break the deadlock in an entertaining contest.

Reading's Tyler Bindon had the best chance of the first half but steered Amadou Mbengue's cross wide of the right post in the 24th minute.

Tyreece Campbell's pace caused the visitors problems and his low shot was turned around the right upright by Pereira towards the end of the first half.

Charlton goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer denied Sam Smith just moments after the restart after the Royals striker was played through by Harvey Knibbs. The Australian stopper got just enough of a touch to divert it out for a corner.

Pereira needed to be alert again in the 75th minute, holding on to Lloyd Jones' first-time shot from Small's skimmed delivery from the right.

Serene supremo Nathan Jones said that the game showed that Charlton were one of the better sides in League One and were gaining momentum: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-after-goalless-draw-with-reading-were-now-showing-that-charlton-athletic-are-one-of-the-better-sides-in-league-one/

Whether we will gain enough momentum to get a play off place remains doubtful. but the hollowness of the 'relegation form' narrative has also been exposed.

Reading boss Hunt was delighted with his clean sheet: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/reading-boss-hunt-delighted-with-clean-sheet-at-charlton-athletic/

Losing Lloyd Jones in the transfer window would be a blow and the coach confirmed that contract talks were ongoing: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-asked-about-lloyd-jones-future-with-in-form-centre-backs-contract-talks-ongoing/

Author who wrote about Charlton passes away

David Lodge, who came from south-east London and wrote atmospherically about Charlton in the 1950s in one of his novels has gone to join Sam Bartram: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2nzgp5yp0o

Charlton were a leading first division side then, if a somewhat quixotic one. David Lodge recalls in one of his novels, 'they were always an interesting team to watch, fickle and unpredictable, but capable of heartwarming flashes of brilliance. More than once he and his friends left the Valley a few minutes before the end of the game, dispirited by their team's poor performance, only to hear, as they passed through the quiet, car-lined streets, a huge explosive roar filling the air behind them, indicating that Charlton had scored a last-minute goal and snatched a point.'

False modesty from the Royals

Reading manager Noel Hunt has got his alibi in first by praising Nathan Jones and Charlton ahead of tomorrow's encounter at The Valley.   If he gets a point, he can portray it as a great victory: https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/reading-boss-previews-fresh-charlton-050000522.html

The Royals are the only club in all four divisions under a transfer embargo because of the delaying tactics of useless owner Dai Yongge in refusing to sell the club.   I have covered this extensively on my business of football site, one report is here: https://footballeconomyv2.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-strange-decline-of-reading.html

Nevertheless, team spirit is high and they are challenging for the play off places and are fifth in the table whilst Charlton are 11th after the postponement at Crawley.

The Royals do seem to do better at home and have won just three games on their travels, although they have drawn four, losing five.   They beat Cambridge United away 3-1 on New Year's Day.

The ludicrous postponement at Crawley may have disrupted Charlton's momentum, but I still think we could beat Reading tomorrow.

It's a hard frost in the Midlands this morning and the covers are out at Your Co-op Community Stadium after the New Year's Day televised win over Hereford with a spectacular penalty save by The Hawk.   It's the Battle of the Spas against Buxton on Saturday.

As far as I can tell, any sleet and snow is not likely to fall in SE7 until the end of the day.

Reading are expected to bring 2,500 supporters.  CAS Trust preview here: https://www.castrust.org/2025/01/brave-the-weather-for-reading-clash/

Game off

This afternoon's game at Crawley has been called off after an exhibition of dilly dallying by the referee,  achieving new heights of haplessness for a referee at this level.

After an initial pitch inspection at 1.15, Crawley mobilised their two ground staff with brooms while someone else got to work with a roller that looked like it was borrowed from someone's garden.

A further pitch inspection was time for 2.15 pm, but still no decision was forthcoming.  Apparently the referee was concerned about the fact that it was still raining.   Both teams came out to warm up, probably damaging the pitch further.

Meanwhile Jonathan Grade, arriving at the ground, had someone go into the back of his car, presumably an off duty air traffic controller looking for the ground.

The sell out crowd has made a fruitless journey with the game called off at 2.40 pm.  It is very unusual for a game to be called off so late because of a waterlogged pitch.

Leamington v. Hereford is on and being televised live.

I suppose if the game had gone ahead it might have been abandoned.   As it is, Charlton's players get a respite from their busy schedule, but they may also lose valuable momentum.   An unchanged team would have played.

With most other games apparently on, the Addicks are likely to fall down the table.

Dismal stats for 2024

The Athletic has produced a series of statistics for all the teams in the Premier League and EFL in the calendar year 2024.   For Charlton the stats are:

• Win percentage 28.9 per cent, 20th from bottom
• Points per game 1.27, 33rd from bottom
• Won 13, Lost 14, Drawn 18