Oxford target Holden

Oxford United want to talk to Dean Holden about their managerial vacancy following the dismissal of Karl Robinson according to TalkSport and other media sources

Charlton have not received an official approach.

We will see more of Kanu

Dean Holden says that Daniel Kanu will get more minutes but they will have to be managed: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/we-have-to-get-the-balance-right-dean-holden-asked-if-daniel-kanu-will-get-more-minutes/

Holden revealed that Lucas Ness apologised for his mistake that led to the first goal at Plymouth.  Holden admits it is not great being a Charlton fan at the moment, but we need to stick together: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/thats-shows-the-mark-of-the-man-deal-holden-on-defenders-apology-after-charlton-fall-to-defeat-at-plymouth/

Down the Football League we go

In line with my Badger League prediction, Charlton lost 2-0 at Plymouth Argyle this afternoon and fell to 16th in the table.

Charlton have now gone seven hours without scoring.

Second half goals from Ryan Hardie - just nine seconds after the restart - and substitute Niall Ennis saw the Pilgrims clinch their 15th home league win out of 17 games this season.

In his four takeaways from the game Louis Mendez notes that Macaulay Bonne has not scored in 420 days: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/four-takeaways-from-charltons-2-0-defeat-at-plymouth-seven-hour-goalless-run-shows-changes-needed-up-top/

Charlton had an early opportunity to test Argyle when they were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out after a foul on Jack Payne by Galloway.

The ball was clipped into the box and headed clear out of the penalty area by Wilson as far as Kilkenny, whose strike from distance went harmlessly over the bar.

Jack Payne fired over for Charlton from 20 yards out after the ball was flicked across to him by Kilkenny as the visitors made a confident, purposeful start.

Payne was influential for Charlton, playing in a central position behind striker Macauley Bonne, and from one of his crosses Sean Clare put the ball over the bar.

There was controversy on the stroke of half-time when Argyle were adamant they should have been awarded a penalty for a handball by Hector.  Woolmer awarded a corner instead of a penalty and Argyle continued their protests at the end of the first half as Hardie, Edwards and assistant manager Mark Hughes all went over to the referee.

Charlton took the kick-off after the break and the ball was played back to defender Lucas Ness, who went to hit it forward but had it charged down by Hardie.    The striker then advanced into the penalty area and chipped the ball over the onrushing Maynard-Brewer and into the net for his 16th goal of the season in all competitions.

With the home side in the ascendancy Dean Holden made a triple substitution as Hector, Macauley Bonne and Payne were replaced by Corey Blackett-Taylor, Miles Leaburn and Daniel Kanu.

Charlton had more attacking energy about them after the triple substitution and Argyle had to repel some promising attacks from the Addicks.  Rak-Sakyi sent one header across the face of goal and wide of the far post as Charlton started to enjoy much more possession in the final third and caused some anxious moments for Argyle.

Kanu sent a low shot wide of the far post after a Charlton break before Schumacher made a triple substitution, with Galloway, Azaz and Hardie, replaced by Lonwijk, Niall Ennis and Cosgrove.

Charlton pushed on with increasing urgency as they chased an equaliser and Argyle had to stay strong and look to play on then break, which they did successfully in the 87th minute.  Edwards broke forward and played the ball outside to Wright, whose low ball inside found Ennis and he sent a shot past Maynard-Brewer into the bottom corner of the net.

Sale of club unaffected by SE7 Partners dispute

Thomas Sandgaard and SE7 partners continue to make contradictory statements about what happened in the failed sale and it may need the courts to sort it out.  As far as fans are concerned, it is the search for another bidder that is now important, although I think that we had a lucky escape with Charlie Methven: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-owner-agrees-that-sale-of-club-unaffected-by-se7-partners-dispute/

The Athletic has a long feature article on the dispute today which mainly looks at it from the SE7 Partners perspective and does make a few new points: https://theathletic.com/4265459/2023/03/02/charlton-athletic-ownership-latest/?source=user_shared_article

VOTV website editor Rick Everitt is understandably pessimistic about the state of the club in his latest analysis of the situation and has some critical things to say about Sandgaard.  He is doubtful about whether Marc Spiegel has the resources needed to turn the club around: https://www.votvonline.com/home/the-2022-23-blogs/3-3-recycling-the-same-history-is-charlton-s-problem/

Argyle look for bounce back win

Promotion chasing Plymouth Argyle are looking to bounce back against Charlton tomorrow after their 5=2 defeat at Peterborough last Saturday: https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/football/plymouth-argyle-target-charlton-athletic-8207278#

Argyle have won 14 of their 16 home matches this season, losing just one.   However, they have slipped down the form table to a midway position.

My Badger League prediction was a 2-0 defeat and I don't see much hope of us getting anything from this game, but I would be happy to be proved wrong.

CAS Trust notes that it seems a long time since we beat Argyle 5-1 at the beginning of the season: https://www.castrust.org/2023/03/the-long-road-to-plymouth/

Louis Mendez says that Charlton have been a sleeping giant for too long: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-are-a-sleeping-giant-which-has-been-in-a-coma-for-too-long/

Aneke out for rest of season

Chuks Aneke is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-striker-chuks-aneke-set-to-miss-remainder-of-league-one-season/

It is difficult to recall such an injury prone player.

Muted Posh

Peterborough had defender Josh Knight sent off in a second-half flare-up during a goalless draw with Charlton.

Knight was dismissed by referee Andrew Kitchen in the 54th minute after kicking out at Charlton forward Jesurun Rak-Sakyi as the pair clashed on the floor.

Rak-Sakyi was hugely fortunate not to follow Knight down the tunnel, escaping with a yellow card for lashing out at Knight in retaliation.

Another Peterborough player, Jack Taylor, was also booked for an initial foul on Rak-Sakyi which sparked the incident.

Charlton were unable to make their numerical advantage count, with captain George Dobson firing over and substitute Corey Blackett-Taylor being denied by Posh goalkeeper Will Norris.

Ryan Inniss had earlier squandered Charlton's best chance of a low-key first half when heading over from a Sean Clare corner.

Peterborough rarely threatened, with League One's leading scorer Jonson Clarke-Harris coming closest when his header midway through the first half was kept out by a smart Ashley Maynard-Brewer save.

Taylor tested Maynard-Brewer in stoppage-time after dribbling from box to box only to be denied.

Charlton went up one place to 13th.