The Oxford keeper saved a Ronnie Schwartz penalty to deny Charlton all three points at the Kassim Stadium this afternoon. It was difficult to argue, however, that 0-0 was an unfair result. Both mid-table sides showed a lack of quality.
Personally I would have had Shinnie or Stockley take the penalty.
It wasn't quite a question of watching paint dry, but of watching cars drive at Oxford's empty end. I have an interest in Oxford Pet Whisperers and it would have been a good game for them to sponsor with their 'no barking' policy.
Lee Bowyer said it was mixed emotions, 'the game's crazy.' He continued, 'They battled, they looked solid defensively, there wasn't much in the game at all.' He added, 'Connor is the penalty taker, he came off, I know that Ronnie has taken a lot of penalties, he's very good in practice. He normally goes a bit higher than he did there. I would trust him to take another one.'
Bowyer said that if he had one criticism it was that Charlton got into some good areas but the next pass or the second pass was sloppy, ''we should have done better in the final third.'
Curbs said that the need was to get the balance right between the defensive mentality and that aggressiveness.
Charlton remain 9th, four points behind Portsmouth in 6th place.
Match report
The side was unchanged from Wigan and Lee Bowyer said that it was the easiest decision he had made all season.
Millar received an early yellow card for stopping a promising attack. With the keeper way out of his goal, Washington needed a better touch to control the ball.
On 16 minutes Matthews had to be replaced by Gunter because of a muscle injury.
On 22 minutes Forster-Caskey (making his 100th appearance for Charlton) was fed by Millar, but it was an acute angle and his effort went over.
Oxford were finding some space on their right while Steve Brown said our crosses and finishes had to be better.
Just after the half hour a Forster-Caskey header was just over after good work by Gunter.
From the 40 minute mark there was a spell of sustained Oxford pressure and Steve Brown noted that our marking was not good. Aneke got a yellow card for making contact with Atkinson.
The half time stats showed one shot on target for Oxford and none for Charlton. Curbs noted on half time, 'We've got our defensive heads on, but it may take away from our attacking side.'
Aneke was sensibly replaced by Stockley after the break. On 61 minutes Ford hit the inside of the post for Oxford. Charlton then had a break, but Millar's effort was wide.
On 77 minutes Bowyer made a triple substitution. Washington (not making a real difference), Smith (tiring) and Watson (yellow card) went off. Shinnie, Schwartz and DJ came on.
Oxford had another late flurry. Then in the three minutes added on, we won the penalty after Gorrin tripped Stockley - before the game 'Gobby' had been urging his players to press for a penalty. But it was to no avail.
We got another clean sheet and we go again Tuesday.
Oxford Mail report here: https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/sport/19141654.oxford-united-0-charlton-athletic-0/
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