Four takeaways from Charlton’s 3-1 win over Wycombe: Late flurry highlights attacking options during Michael Appleton’s maiden win

Charlton scored two late goals to earn Michael Appleton his maiden home win as Addicks boss at the first time of asking. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from the Valley victory over Wycombe Wanderers.

AN IMPORTANT THREE POINTS

There’s plenty to dissect from that performance but the most important note is that was a significant three points. The season is still very much in its infancy, but Charlton can’t afford to find themselves wallowing miles outside from the top six by Autumn as they have in the last two campaigns.

They remain six points outside the play-off positions but haven’t allowed that gap to extend after an enjoyable contest at The Valley.

Both sides had moments in the opening half-hour but it was a piece of real quality that saw Charlton edge ahead. Tyreece Campbell showed Harry Boyes a clean pair of heels on the right edge of the area and squared for Miles Leaburn. The striker fashioned a yard with some neat footwork and drilled across the goalkeeper.

Wycombe, who were five unbeaten in League One having conceded just once in their last four outings, did carry a threat and were level after the break. Michael Hector headed a corner out to the edge of the area but it was met with an emphatic volley by Freddie Potts as the West Ham loanee grabbed his first senior goal.

The Chairboys were in the ascendancy from them on but were hit by a sucker punch as two Charlton substitutes linked up almost immediately after being introduced 10 minutes from time.

Alfie May held the ball up smartly in the Wycombe box until the fresh legs of Tennai Watson darted past on the overlap. He in turn teed up Slobodan Tedic for the worst finish you’re likely to see – a scuffed shot off his right boot that looped up off his standing foot and dribbled mischievously over the line.

Birthday boy Corey Blackett-Taylor added a captivating third as he tore into the area from a standing start on the left wing and drilled home. A dazzling strike to seal the victory.

A first win for Michael Appleton – and an important one for his side.

ATTACKING OPTIONS

All of a sudden, a front line that felt threadbare whilst Miles Leaburn and Chuks Aneke were out injured at the start of the campaign seems to be bristling with possibilities. Michael Appleton has some serious options up top when everyone is fit.

Alfie May is a tireless worker and already has four goals to his name. I’m concerned that Leaburn might be less effective out wide in a front-three but his ability when he did drift inside to grab his goal is encouraging. And he does still have the attributes to hold the ball up out wide and try and bring others into the attack so maybe he will continue to prove me wrong in that role.

Chuks Aneke is hell of an option to bring off the bench when fit. We’re still learning about Tedic but he is off the mark as well now.

With Appleton appearing to favour the 4-3-3, all of his options should get game time. Couple that with Tyreece Campbell – who is a real prospect – and Corey Blackett-Taylor feeding that front line and you’ll see that scoring goals again shouldn’t be a massive difficulty for the Addicks. The latter already has two goals and two assists to his name this season – an upturn in end product that started in the second half of last season and continues to improve.

 

TENNAI WATSON DEBUT

The introduction of former Milton Keynes man Tennai Watson in place of James Abankwah will hopefully be a taste of things to come.

It’s unfair on the 19-year-old Udinese loanee that his first two games have been out of position because it’s not creating an environment where he can show what he is about. He struggled at Stevenage and started slowly yesterday but will hopefully get a chance at centre-half at some point.

Watson is much more experienced in the role and will look to bring both balance to the Addicks’ back line and a threat on the overlap as we saw for Tedic’s goal yesterday and also when he scored at The Valley for Milton Keynes two seasons ago.

NOT THE FINISHED ARTICLE YET

Whilst Charlton killed the game off emphatically in the final ten minutes, there were large spells in the second period where the visitors were on top. Appleton described the second period as “uncomfortable” at times, admitting his side don’t have the “profile to sit in and defend deep.”

They may have only mustered one shot on target, but Wycombe had dangerous moments throughout the game. Luke Leahy’s excellent set-piece delivery caused issues – including when Sam Vokes headed against the crossbar just before the interval.

Lloyd Jones and Terell Thomas both made important blocks at 1-1. The evergreen, excellent Garath McCleary fizzed a viscous shot across the face of goal as well.

Wycombe are a top-half side so it was never going to be easy, but Appleton will want to see his side take the sting out of games at times if they are going to be serious about doing something this season.

Let’s hope yesterday’s win and the three-game unbeaten run can be the springboard the Addicks need.

PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS