Charlton Athletic struggling for goals as their League One hopes take another dent against Forest Green Rovers

Charlton are still unbeaten at home this season, just three points behind the League One play-off places, and yet Tuesday night’s draw with Forest Green Rovers eroded a little bit more of any optimism that they can be play-off contenders.

With the gap to the top two already 10 points, finishing top six looks about the most attainable target still in play for the Addicks.

But after putting five goals past Plymouth Argyle in mid-August, easily their most complete performance under Ben Garner, Charlton have only scored once in their next four league matches. In midweek they paid the price for not making early dominance tell against opposition who arrived in SE7 in the relegation zone.

Charlton totted up 17 efforts but only two of the six on target were worthy of noting. Corey Blackett-Taylor lashed into the roof of the net in the ninth minute and then his cross was met by the head of Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, forcing Luke McGee into a diving save to his left.

The hosts’ threat in a promising opening came down both the wings but they fizzled out on a dreary, drizzly night at The Valley.

And there were plenty of home fans who opted against attending, many of them probably seeing streaming the fixture off Charlton TV as the most viable and attractive option.

The crowd was announced as 10,579 but that surely also accounted for season-ticket holders, whether they chose to turn up or not. It looked substantially lower than that total.

Forest Green Rovers at home on a midweek was never going to be one of the most attractive match days, but even less so when you consider that the minimum adult price to view it from the sides of the pitch was £29 – an increase of £6 on last season. The price rose to £32, with a £1.50 booking fee, if left nearer to kick-off.

Charlton owner Thomas Sandgaard felt that producing more attractive football would see more bums on seats.

But now, judging by social media reaction from the club’s fanbase, there seems to be some serious discontent at the direction in which the Addicks are heading.

The collapse of Macauley Bonne’s return from Queens Park Rangers has left Charlton under-resourced in attack.

Chuks Aneke is yet to play a minute of competitive football since injuring his calf in a behind-closed-doors friendly. And while both he and Jayden Stockley are proven goalscorers at this level, the change in system puts them at a disadvantage.

The only winner against Forest Green was Charlton fan Lewis Wheeler, who bagged £11,500 for striking the woodwork in the half-time Crossbar Challenge.

If the Addicks carry on with their current points return they will finish on 57 points, two fewer than the 2021-22 season.

STAR MAN
Jack Payne. Involved in all of Charlton’s good work in the first half.

BEST MOMENT
The emphatic finish by Blackett-Taylor.