The lowdown on Charlton 1 Rotherham 1 – Attacking play still yet to click for Addicks as Ahadme provides graft but awaits a goal

Charlton Athletic drew 1-1 with Rotherham United at The Valley today.

Here is the lowdown on the match.

THE LINE-UPS

Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay, Gillesphey, Mitchell, Jones, Small, Coventry, Docherty, Berry (A Campbell 59), Ahadme (T Campbell 59), Godden (Aneke 59). Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Potts, Edmonds-Green, Watson.

Rotherham United: Phillips, Rafferty, Kelly (MacDonald 76), James, Powell, Nombe (McWilliams 76), Clarke-Harris (Hugill 76), Wilks (Osong 84), Odoffin, Humphreys, McCart. Subs not used: Dawson, Bramall, McWilliams, Hungbo.

SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME

A first draw of the season for Charlton, who produced the most (20) in League One in the previous campaign. This was a gritty old watch with some of the tedium eased by two excellent goals. Liam Kelly made the most of the hosts being slow to close him down as he found the bottom right corner of Will Mannion’s net from 25 yards. Chuks Aneke’s equaliser – opening his account for the season – was even better. Allan Campbell’s pass was controlled with one touch and then the substitute curled the ball beyond Dillon Phillips from the edge of the box. No classic but 10 points from five matches is promotion form. No doubt that the Addicks can, and need to be, more effective in the final third if they want to make life a little easier.

TACTICAL APPROACH
Addicks boss Nathan Jones made one change for today’s match with Matty Godden handed his first start since his summer switch from Coventry City. In the matches I’ve seen this season the South Londoners have failed to really click. Godden had 16 touches, the fewest of any of the player who started the match. Jones clearly was unhappy at Charlton’s inability to start the second period with any more momentum and Aneke and Tyreece Campbell had both been called over from their warm-ups and stripped to come on just before Kelly made it 1-0. The two attacking changes definitely jolted the hosts into a bit more life with Campbell’s pace and freshness giving the Rotherham backline more to think about.

STAR MAN
Lloyd Jones. I could just as easily have gone for Kayne Ramsay, but this time I’ll opt for the big centre-back. He won the most aerial duels (15) and made the most clearances (10) in the match. Did a good job on Jonson Clarke-Harris.

BEST MOMENT
Chuks Aneke’s goal. Alex Mitchell and Ramsay both produced excellently-timed tackles on Mallik Wilks but you can’t really put those ahead of a quality finish from Aneke, his 27th career goal for the Addicks. Eleven of his last 13 league goals have been netted after coming on as a substitute. Bench boost (if you play FPL you’ll see what I did there).

MOAN OF THE MATCH
When the press room has pies, Pukka ones at that, it puts you in such a good mood that nothing can spoil your day. I had steak and kidney, if anyone is interested.

A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Gassan Ahadme’s wait for a first Charlton goal. The striker has started all four of their League One matches but Jones has changed his two frontmen in the second halves of all of them. Had a massive chance early on against Rotherham as the ball dropped to him about 10 yards out but produced a wild finish that was comfortably wide of the target. The fact he stayed prone on the turf, holding his head, tells you that he felt the pain of that miss more than anybody. Does so much hard graft in matches and provides much-needed physicality, so this isn’t meant as a criticism of the former Ipswich Town forward.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“It is a really hard-fought point. We showed good character to come back from conceding. Look, the only time we look like conceding is when someone shoots from 30 yards. Apart from that we’re as good a defensive side as there is at nullifying an attack.”

PICTURES: KEITH GILLARD