All square at The Valley

Once again Charlton drew 2-2 with Swindon, this time at The Valley.   Two disastrous defensive errors saw Charlton 0-2 down at the break.   The Addicks showed more urgency after the break and levelled the game.   Another defensive mistake nearly saw the score go to 1-3, but Swindon hit the post.  Conor Washington nearly made it 3-2 at the death.

So often Charlton go behind and end up having to chase the game.   They also need to be more clinical in front of goal.   In the first half Swindon scored from just two attempts on goal whereas Charlton had numerous chances throughout the game.

Steve Brown said before the game that the start was vital and we must not concede another early goal.  Charlton were behind in the first five minutes.   After the game Curbs reiterated his theme of consistent teams bringing consistent results.

Schwartz nearly scored in the first minute, but the keeper just managed to tip the ball on the post.  He showed good awareness in creating the chance, but then was not seen very much for the rest of the half.

On four minutes Hope burst through on our right where he had plenty of time and space.  Matthews was poor in terms of trying to stop him.   The shot was powerful, but Amos should have done better and Swindon were ahead.   They knew that with our vulnerable defence we were there for the taking.

Two minutes later a Millar cross was just in front of Schwartz.  Williams put a good ball in, but Aneke shot straight at the keeper.  Charlton were playing some good football, but were being frustrated by a packed Swindon defence,   On 20 minutes Williams shot wide after a Matthews cross.   On 25 minutes Aneke was over and wide from the first Charlton corner.

Millar won a free kick on the edge of the area against two defenders.  His shot cannoned off the bar.

Swindon were capable of counter attacking and on 38 minutes a Palmer shot took a wicked deflection off Oshilaja to make it 0-2.

Bowyer looked as if he had just been told that someone had drained his French fishing lake, but he is hardly to blame for defensive errors on the pitch.  At the break Steve Brown said that it had been too easy for Swindon to get into dangerous positions.

HT: Addicks 0, Robins 2

Andrew Shinnie came on at the break to provide more link up play and he made a real difference.  Williams was withdrawn: he had had a decent game, but the change was needed.

On 56 minites Aneke made it 1-2 from a header.  The move was started by Pratley and Millar put in the assist,   Schwartz then put the ball in the net, but was caught offside.   Bowyer insisted afterwards that he was onside.

On 60 minutes Pratley was taken off for Morgan who provided more of an attacking option.  Forster-Caskey took the captain's armband,

After good play by Matthews and Morgan, Aneke went for power and hit the bar.  Bowyer said that if he had hit the ball into the ground he would have scored.  Maatsen went down injured and Pearce replaced him.   Morgan's effort was straight at the keeper.

On 75 minutes Aneke and Schwartz were replaced by Stockley and Washington as Charlton chased the game.   On 80 minutes there was a handball claim in the area, but it went to a Charlton corner.

With Oshilaja on the halfway line and Amos stranded, Charlton were fortunate that Swindon could only hit the post.

On 89 minutes Millar passed to Forster-Caskey allowing Shinnie to score in the six yard box.  Swindon players screamed for offside and one of them got a yellow card for his protests,

Bowyer said afterwards that Charlton were close to a good run, but had to cut out sloppy play.  They needed some luck.   The diamond worked well.

In six minutes added on Charlton mounted a good counter attack with Shinnie at its heart and won a corner.  Swindon then applied some pressure.   Following a Morgan through ball, Washington round the keeper but the angle was too acute and the ball went into the side netting.

Charlton are now 6th in the table, but teams around them have games in hand.

Lee Bowyer responded to critics of the failure to buy a centre back by noting the spending constraints and how well stocked the club is with that position: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/were-juggling-plates-at-the-moment-with-what-weve-got-to-spend-charlton-boss-lee-bowyer-says-it-will-be-difficult-to-add-another-centre-half-in-this-window/

The shell shocked supremo praised his players' character but criticised other aspects of their performance: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/lee-bowyer-praises-his-charlton-players-character-during-swindon-comeback-but-says-they-should-have-gone-on-to-win/