Four takeaways from Charlton’s defeat at Bolton Wanderers: Addicks punished for two lapses in concentration

Charlton fell to a first defeat in five as a late winner from Will Aimson rendered Chuks Aneke’s equaliser 15 minutes from time redundant. Dion Charles had put the Trotters into an early lead. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from the University of Bolton Stadium.

ADDICKS CAUGHT NAPPING

A duo of defensive lapses were punished as Charlton contrived to lose a game that nobody deserved to win at the University of Bolton Stadium. Their four-match unbeaten run looked in threat as early as the 10^th minute when Akin Famewo horribly misjudged a lofted ball forward to gift Dion Charles an opener. The South Londoners did worm their way back into the contest after the interval and drew level when substitutes Scott Fraser and Chuks Aneke combined to see the latter plant a firm header beyond James Trafford 15 minutes from time. But they were made to pay for another moment of fragility late on when Will Aimson’s deft header from a set-play etched the game’s decisive goal. Those slips at the back will frustrate Johnnie Jackson as the contest barely registered as a game of association football for the majority. Chances were few and far between. Defences certainly on top. But Jackson’s side aren’t the clean sheet kings they were at the start of his rein – six shutouts from his first nine games have turned into just one in the last eight outings and these margins mean you don’t prolong good runs.

OUTMUSCLED UP TOP

With Jayden Stockley still out injured and Chuks Aneke unable to go through the rigour of another 90 minutes so soon after the weekend, the visitors didn’t have the muscle to compete with Bolton’s rear guard for the first hour – especially the outstanding Ricardo Santos. Mason Burstow is still a boy and boy did we know it when he was facing up to the 6ft 6 Portuguese brick wall. Conor Washington works best when feeding off someone who can hold the ball in the frontline but that wasn’t happening until Aneke entered the fray later on. Jackson would love to be able to feature Aneke but it is simply the case that his minutes have to be managed otherwise he risks picking up injury problems and Charlton certainly can’t do without him in the long-term.

SWITCH IN SHAPE

Jackson will have been pleased that despite struggling to impose themselves on the Trotters for the opening hour, they were able to stifle their hosts and were still well in the game going into the final half-hour. The Addicks boss tweaked his formation to a 4-4-2 diamond and it had the desired result. It also allowed him to utilise new arrival Scott Fraser effectively – the midfielder providing the perfect cross for Aneke’s equaliser and also coming close to snatching a point with a driven shot in added-time.

REFRESHING HONESTY

It’s rare you hear a manager admit that their side were lucky to keep 11 men on the field but that’s what Bolton boss Ian Evatt had to say following Gethin Jones’ X-rated first-half challenge on George Dobson. I guess it is easier to be more forthright when you know the referee has seen the incident and already issued a booking so there’s no chance of any retrospective action. But it was nice, nonetheless. He was also correct that Jason Pearce may have been lucky to have escaped a second booking for two grapples in a short amount of time – but Jackson withdrew him soon after with his captain walking the tightrope.

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS