Pessimists were forecasting a hammering for Charlton at Bolton this afternoon, but instead the Addicks secured a 3-3 draw in front of 456 of their fans. At least it shows that you can't read results off the table. Reaction on social media has been unusually positive.
Of course, once again Charlton's defensive weaknesses showed with the Addicks twice conceding a lead. But at least Nathan Jones seems to have given the team some fighting spirit. The 12 minutes added on were nervy though and the referee seemed intent at one time on sending a Charlton player off.
Jones's critics said that he should have started May instead of bringing him on as a late sub, but I thoight he was underwhelming.against Lincoln. As it was, Kanu put in a decent shift and Small scored his first goal for the club.
Charlton remained 20th, one point above Cheltenham and two above Port Fail, both of whom have games in hand.
The Addicks threatened to gain a first win over their hosts since 2017 when Thierry Small and Lloyd Jones struck after 22 and 40 minutes.
Small's deep cross - on his Charlton debut - deceived keeper Joel Coleman who endured a nervy afternoon deputising for the injured Nathan Baxter.
Icelandic super sub Bodvarsson replaced Adeboyejo at half-time, and six minutes after the interval Paris Maghoma curled in a spectacular right-foot leveller. Daniel Kanu restored Charlton's lead just past the hour.
Bolton, however, protested that referee Ross Joyce should have stopped the game for a potential head injury to Josh Dacres-Cogley in the build-up.
But Bolton rallied and Bodvarsson turned in Dacres-Cogley's centre for a point for the home side who had been expecting three.
Charlton went 'oop north a day early and trained at Everton thanks to Sean Dyche before heading for the former Bolton University stadium (now the appropriately named Tough S*** Community Stadium): https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-thanks-charlton-hierarchy-and-everton-boss-sean-dyche-for-away-day-switch-that-enabled-energetic-performance-at-bolton/
Nathan Jones thought that the result was a positive one: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/sport/nathan-jones-positive-point-at-bolton-shows-that-charlton-athletic-are-progressing/
A Bolton blogger reflects on the day: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/24127126.fans-view-time-togetherness-heroes/
To be fair Wyn. If you believed before kick-off yesterday, Charlton would gain any points from the game. You were very much in the minority.
ReplyDeleteThose of us you describe as pessimists certainly did not have a difficult afternoon. Indeed we are delighted with the point.
Unfortunately, we're still deep in trouble and need to start picking up wins.
I had it written off as a loss and would be delighted with a draw,. I agree that we are still deep in trouble and fans seem to have swung from excessive pessimism to excessive optimism. I still think it is 50/50 in terms of staying up. I may do a poll.
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