Four takeaways from Charlton’s goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday on opening day
Charlton shared a fairly uneventful goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday as the new League One season kicked off at The Valley. Fans were able to flock back to SE7 to see the Alan Curbishley Stand officially opened before the game but there wasn’t too much more excitement for them to get their teeth into.
CHARLTON EDGED IT
The Addicks were the better side – just. It wasn’t a classic but it was the South Londoners who looked more likely to break the deadlock as the game wore on. Sean Clare stood out for the hosts – he was a willing runner in the midfield. There were some nice touches from Diallang Jaiyesimi in the final third as well but the hosts will feel they didn’t work Bailey Peacock-Farrell in the Wednesday goal. Albie Morgan could perhaps have done better with two openings that fell his way in the second-period, whereas Wednesday’s best chance of the game came through Barry Bannan late on. Neither side registered a shot on target of note throughout the 90 minutes.
STILL WORK TO DO IN THE TRANSFER MARKET
Adkins didn’t make a sub until youngster Charles Clayden came on with a minute of normal time to go. The home side had named five players aged 21 or under on the bench – a sure sign of the lack of depth in the squad and limiting Charlton’s options when they wanted to inject some fresh legs into proceedings late on. Charlie Kirk has been linked from Crewe Alexandra and some more flair in wide areas certainly wouldn’t go amiss.
INNISS AND FAMEWO FORMIDABLE
Ryan Inniss and Akin Famewo hardly conceded a goal whenever they were partnered last season at the heart of the Addicks defence and they look to have picked up from where they left off. Sheffield Wednesday didn’t really have a sniff until Bannan’s chance late on. Addicks stopper Craig MacGillivray had a very quiet debut. Nigel Adkins will hope his defensive duo manage to avoid injury for as long as possible this year.
FANS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
17,639 fans packed The Valley and it was an absolute breath of fresh air. That surge of sound when a move is building. Hammering the ref for a poor decision. The sound of anticipation every time the Addicks win a corner. Hammering the ref again after some more poor decisions. My goodness how we have missed that noise. The atmosphere was a joy to behold as they returned for the first time en masse in 17 months – the behind-closed-doors game were a chore. One bugbear many of the supporters will share though – the Red, Red Robin being replaced by owner Thomas Sandgaard’s Addicks to Victory anthem as the teams emerged onto the pitch. Hopefully that was a one-off. Some traditions should be considered sacrosanct.
PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS
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