Charlton started 2022 by losing 0-1 at home to Wycombe, the first home defeat for Jacko. It was an often disappointing performance by the Addicks although the Chairboys defended well. Charlton have dropped to 13th behind Burton Albion.
Gareth Ainsworth was not with his Wycombe team because of Covid.
The first Charlton foul and Clare was given a yellow card by the card happy referee. The opening twenty minutes was cagey with not a lot of chances. It had been stop start and lacking in quality. Charlton had not been able to use their width.
Charlton won their first corner as the half hour approached, but it was unproductive.
A foul on Gilbey led to a yellow card for Mehmeti. Gilbey tripped himself up in subsequent play, but he was the player making the most impression on the game.
A Wycombe counter attack saw the ball taken past Dobson by McCleary who was lost by Gilbey and the Chairboys took the lead through Vokes on 35 minutes. Up to that point neither side had really troubled the keeper in a tight game. There was no doubt that Charlton were missing Stockley. Davison was lacking confidence and making a couple of mistakes.
Lee put in a great effort, making use of space between two defenders and trying to curl the ball in at the far post, but Stockdale made the save. It gave Charlton fans some encouragement, but it was the first shot on or off target.
In the three minutes added on Wycombe won a corner, but Charlton were able to mount a final attack without result.
Steve Brown said it was a very frustrating 45 minutes, we knew we were going to come up against a very strong defensive side. Everything we'd tried had not come off. Structurally Wycombe were very good. The Lee shot was after we had kept the ball for three or four passes and retained our composure. Our passing had been sloppy. We had not done enough as an attacking side, the front two had not linked up. Sometimes you get players who are too similar. We needed to spend more time trying to create.
HT: Addicks 0, Chairboys 1
A half time change was needed and Davison, who had had a poor first half, was taken off to be replaced by Leko as Charlton shot towards the Covered End.
Wycombe had a chance just 40 seconds in. Pearce was caught in possession but former Addicks striker Hanlan could only strike straight at MacGillivray.
Wycombe won an early corner after the ball came off Jason Pearce, otherwise it might have found the net. Clare cleared the ball away.
Gilbey fed Leko but the ball came off the post as Charlton showed more urgency. Wycombe made a substitution in response.
The game became more stretched as Charlton pressed for an equaliser, but Wycombe took every opportunity to slow the game down.
There was a booking for Wheeler, the Wycombe sub, who pulled Gilbey back. A slick move between Dobson and Leko fed Lee who saw his shot charged down. Grimmer made a goal saving tackle to deny Leko in the box on 70 minutes.
McCleary shot straight at MacGillivray, missing a chance to put the game to bed.
A powerful shot by Washington after a great run went just past the post.
DJ came off and was replaced by Burstow on 84 minutes. Dobson came off to loud applause. Inniss came on and went straight up front. Charlton were struggling for possession in the closing minutes. Pearce had to put the ball away for a corner.
Five minutes were added on which was not very generous given that Grimmer went down with a head injury. McCleary got a yellow card. A free kick by Lee was punched clear by the keeper. Stockdale went down hurt in his goal.
Charlton got a last chance free kick, but it did not lead to a goal with the ball cleared off the line.
The pundits
Scott Minto said that Wycombe were a well oiled machine. Steve Brown said we needed to move them around more than we did. They forced us into what they wanted to do. You lose match sharpness in a short period of time. They are well drilled when they defend. We weren't great going forward, we missed Jayden. They stuck to the task defensively throughout, they never allowed us an easy opportunity, we were always under pressure. They always had a defender in the right area. The first ten minutes of the first half was our best period, but then we went back to struggling again. We didn't do enough to break them down. None of the chances in the second period you could have said 'That should have been a goal.'
Johnnie Jackson said he did not think it was a game we should have lost, in the second half we looked the most likely, pretty much one way traffic, not saying that we necessarily did enough to win it. I thought we stood up to their threats for 95 per cent of the game. Most of the game's not enough, you have to do it all the game. McCleary produced a little bit of quality, gave them something to cling on to. We didn't test the goalie enough. A draw would have been more than fair. It was a frustrating day. I can't fault the attitude of my team, the quality, the decision-making in the final third, you can look at that. The games are going to come thick and fast.'
More detailed comments by Jackson here: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-johnnie-jackson-gives-verdict-on-1-0-loss-to-wycombe/
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