A game of two halves

Charlton went down 0-1 in the first half against Lincoln City tonight then drew level in a better second half.  Although this was billed as a 'must win' game, it was certainly a 'must not lose'.

In the first half, the communication and organisation of Charlton's defence was poor and too many spaces were offered to the Imps.   They are not Real Madrid (whom I watched on television at the weekend), but they are a competent if physical League One side and it was no surprise when former Addick Hackett scored.

The crowd was flat and nervous in the first half, but got behind the team in the second.

Everything I have read about Ladapo on social media has condemned him as useless and an example of the baleful influence of our scapegoat technical director, but his equalising strike (helped by Aneke) looked good to me.

Aneke made a difference when he came on, causing havoc in the Lincoln defence.   He does more in 30 minutes than some do in 90.   Camara also made a difference as a substitute.  Indeed, Jones got his substitutions right.   He also jumped up and down and gesticulated enough for those who like that kind of thing.

Apart from one mistake in the first half, Istead looked competent to me.

Alfie May was a bit underwhelming for me.   I thought that Kanu did more.  As Curbs said, Dobson is an underrated player.

Charlton are one point above Port Vale, but the side from beautiful downtown Burslem have three games in hand.

Satisfied supremo

Nathan Jones said that he was really proud of a young team, they had laid down a marker, of course they could get better.  'We won't get carried away' but he referred to the honesty, commitment and endeavour.  He believed we were the best team of the day.    You can't build something overnight but every week we would get better and fitter.  We could show more quality, but he saw a team on the front foot.    There was no real experience in the team, in time they could do something special.  We were going to be an aggressive team, we would grow and get better.   They could bounce back and take disappointment.  They were an honest group and athletic.   'Stay with us, get behind the team, enoy the ride.'

Scott Minto asked if Nathan was over positive and over optimistic.    Cutbs thought it was a start, Nathan was saying the right things, but there were some tough games coming up.