I'm glad I didn't have to travel down to London for this goalless draw on wet afternoon between Charlton and Sunderland. The lack of a target man for the Addicks was all too evident. Charlton did improve in the second half when Aneke came on, but were unable to take advantage of Sunderland's reduction to ten men.
Charlton started in the first half with a 4-4-3, but in an attempt to create more switched to a back four which left them exposed. Sunderland only failed to score because they wasted chances, notably Graham blasting over from a few yards out, while Ben Amos made three saves, two of them from Flanagan and Graham of real quality. Watson made a great block.
Charlton were poor going forward and had just one off target shot in the first half to eight for Sunderland. Their three corners were unproductive.
Half time: 0-0
Williams replaced Otzumer after the break. Watson got a yellow card for a foul and Levitt got a harsh yellow card. Sunderland made a double substitution, replacing their strikers.
Aneke replaced Vennings on 71 minutes. Flanagan got sent off for bringing down the last man. Scowen got a yellow card. Maddison came on for Levitt on 83 minutes and did show some quality. Willis got a yellow card for a 'foul' on Aneke.
In the five minutes added on Charlton played in too rushed and frantic a manner to create anything.
Charlton are 14th in the table.
Shell shocked supremo Lee Bowyer said: 'It wasn't good enough. It's not what I'm used to seeing. We looked nervy in possession a lot of the time and gave the ball away far too much. They were a lot better than us first half - they were braver in possession.'
On Maddison, Bowyer said: 'Even these two weeks isn't going to be enough to get him [Maddison] up to speed. He's had no pre-season, when you have five weeks and play five games to warm up.'
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