Charlton’s star men were stifled by Oxford – with Karl Robinson fully aware of opposition’s strengths

CHARLTON 1

Taylor 25 pen

OXFORD UNITED 1

Whyte 71

BY RICHARD CAWLEY AT THE VALLEY

Familiarity, at least in respect of Karl Robinson and Charlton Athletic, breeds a stalemate.

In terms of contempt, there wasn’t a huge amount of it shown to the former Addicks manager on his first time back in SE7 since he walked out for Oxford United in March.

In fact, Ricky Holmes probably got a rougher reception. That came as a surprise. But it also perhaps reflects that the winger worked his way into the fanbase’s affection far more than the Liverpudlian ever did.

Robinson’s charm offensive with the Charlton public never wavered during his time in charge. And it still hasn’t, despite being in another job. But the admiration only seems to extend one way.

He knows so much about this Addicks side, and it showed on Tuesday night.

Even players like Josh Cullen and Lyle Taylor – not on Charlton’s books when he was in the home dugout – were ones he had identified as targets last season. Steve Gallen, brought in to head up the club’s recruitment department by Robinson, is still in that role.

So there was a real awareness of the Addicks’ threats – and a plan of how to stop them from ticking.

Cullen was allowed little to no time on the ball. The same applied to Tariqe Fosu. Taylor was the subject of niggling little fouls. In fact, there was a steady stream of free-kicks conceded – justified when it broke up the flow of the home side.

Robinson, a staunch believer in 4-2-3-1, even matched up the diamond midfield which his old assistant Lee Bowyer now favours. Two diamonds on show, but a distinct lack of sparkle as a lot of their work cancelled each other out.

It showed a respect to Charlton, who only showed their attacking qualities in fits and starts.

A passage of home play would look surgical but then the precision or decision-making would falter when it counted. Only four of their 11 efforts on goal were on target.

Charlton’s best half of football was the first one. They had more cohesion to their play, with Lyle Taylor pulling off to the left wing and showing he is more than just a goalscorer – with decent awareness of the runs of his fellow attackers.

The former AFC Wimbledon man’s astute pass to Ben Reeves led to the penalty – the former Milton Keynes midfielder was brought down by Oxford keeper Simon Eastwood as he cut into the box from the right. Taylor struck hard and down the middle for his eighth goal of the campaign, an equal split of them coming home and away.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” was the unsympathetic reaction of the Covered End to Robinson.

And that P45 might have edged closer had Joe Aribo put Charlton 2-0 ahead on 35 minutes. Karlan Grant, not at his effective best, picked out the young midfielder to present a great shooting opportunity but over-eagerness saw him make a complete hash of connecting with the ball.

That inability not to move further ahead always gave Oxford United hope.

They were also aided by referee Dean Whitestone only rebuking Rob Dickie, already booked, for tugging back Taylor. Instead of being a man down that warning gave Robinson a chance to replace the tightrope-walking centre-back on the hour mark.

Bowyer, not backwards in coming forwards in terms of criticising officials this season, was also left unhappy that play was not halted in the build-up to Gavin Whyte’s equaliser – claiming Josh Cullen was down with a head injury. But, upon playing back the incident, it looked to me as if the on-loan West Ham man came off worse as he attempted to obstruct Holmes – with no clash of heads that would usually halt proceedings quicker. Cameron Brannagan released the ball for substitute Whyte to flight a perfect and unstoppable finish over Jed Steer.

While Reeves curled a first-time effort comfortably past the left upright, a second Charlton goal didn’t look like coming.

Oxford had gained more of a foothold in the proceedings and Chris Solly needed to produce an impeccable and vital block to prevent Whyte once again testing Steer.

“It was scrappy,” said Bowyer. “They came and made it difficult for us. They had someone in front of the back four – it’s not like Karl. They came to maybe nick something. They’ll be more happy with a draw than I am.”

That last part is true. An away point for a struggling side is always an acceptable return.

But if Charlton can win at Rochdale tomorrow then a seven-point haul over an eight-day period is a perfectly fine return and keeps them in a congested pack of clubs who are all fancying a tilt of at least reaching the play-offs.

Charlton (4-4-2): Steer 6, Dijksteel 6, Pearce 7, Pratley 7, Solly 7, Cullen 6, Aribo 6, Reeves 7 (Ward 74), Fosu 5 (Bielik 88), Grant 5, Taylor 7. Not used: Phillips, Bielik, Marshall, Lapslie, Ajose.