The 1-1 draw with Sunderland at The Valley this afternoon was very much a game of two halves. Sunderland won the first half and Charlton the second.
An early Sunderland goal took the wind out of Charlton's sails and for the next half hour they played very defensively. Free kicks were invariably played backwards, while Phillips kept playing the ball out to the nearest defender. However, in the last ten minutes they started to play with more verve and looked more threatening.
Charlton equalised through an own goal created by Lyle Taylor and were much more of a threat in the second half, although the visitors were still capable of launching threatening attacks and had a late flurry. Taylor came into the game more and Fosu was more effective.
Sunderland made the perfect start when James' second-minute cross picked out the unmarked O'Nien at the back post and he volleyed powerfully past Dillon Phillips.
Aiden McGeady and Max Power both saw attempts from outside the box go just off target as the visitors continued to dominate the early exchanges. Charlie Wyke should have done better when he shot well wide from inside the box despite having plenty of time and space. The former Bradford striker went close again moments later when he headed agonisingly over, after Lynden Gooch's initial shot cannoned back off the bar.
Charlton were almost back on terms a minute before the break but Kyrstian Bielik's 20-yard volley flew behind.
They did draw level five minutes after the interval however, after the unfortunately-placed James converted Lyle Taylor's low cross into his own net. Lee Bowyer's Addicks were now in the ascendancy and should have moved in front when Tariqe Fosu whipped in a dangerous free-kick but Darren Pratley headed inches wide.
Black Cats keeper Jon McLaughlin saved with his leg to deny Taylor and Karlan Grant failed to tap home from close range after meeting Anfernee Dijksteel's delivery. Dijksteel was providing a lot of service in the second half.
McGeady and Duncan Watmore both tested Phillips at the other end, while Taylor's cross nearly dipped in as a relieved McLaughlin looked on. Watmore almost snatched it for Jack Ross' Sunderland deep into stoppage time but blazed wildly over.
Williams looked very useful when he came on as a second half substitute with his pace helping him to penetrate the Sunderland defence. Sarr distinguished himself with an excellent tackle which broke up an attack.
Given that the Jimmy Seed was packed out, the away fans seemed relatively quiet.
The Quest EFL show gave twenty minutes to the match, including interviews with Johnnie Jackson and Lee Bowyer.
Hard to understand why in the first half they didn't vary the passing and go long to Taylor when being pressed so high. Fosu too, frustrates when he so often has a simple and dangerous pass on but tries to beat his man instead.The second half was much better and a casual observer could be forgiven thinking this was a top Championship game.The Ref too was a cut above the dross we seem to see in Div 3.
ReplyDelete