Charlton Athletic – unlike Line of Duty – can still make it a satisfying ending

And there was me planning to say that Charlton Athletic had something in common with Line of Duty – a pretty disappointing ending. But then Chuks Aneke had his say off the bench.

The man who puts the word ‘super’ in sub was at it again on Tuesday night. And that means there is still a chance for a dramatic plot twist in the 2020-21 League One season that can be enjoyed by Addicks viewers.

‘H’ could still be in Charlton’s sights next season. In their case it would be Huddersfield and Hull City in the Championship.

The Addicks might not be the favourites to take that sixth and final spot. But what they ensured with their 3-1 midweek win over Lincoln City is that the dial on the promotion thermostat was just cranked up that little bit more.

Would most fans have taken this scenario after the 3-0 loss to Blackpool in late February? Probably. Social media is never a totally accurate gauge on the mood of a fanbase, but quite a few seemed to feel Charlton’s race was run after successive draws against Crewe and Accrington.

It’s not over. And maybe, just maybe, the Addicks can overtake Portsmouth and Oxford United at just before 2pm on Sunday to be in the play-offs.

A bit like the National Lottery, you’ve got to be in it to win it. The difference is that the odds are a whole lot kinder for Charlton if they sneak in at the death than winning that particular financial jackpot.

I don’t buy into the thought process that the Addicks are better off with another season in League One to build solid foundations.
Okay, it isn’t a terrible outcome.  But equally Championship status would allow them to attract better players in the summer transfer window. One way or another it will be a rebuild. They have a major chunk of their squad coming out of contract and it gives Nigel Adkins a chance to extensively reshape things more to his liking.

If Charlton do get in the play-offs then they are as live a contender as any of the other teams aiming to get up and be mixing it with the likes of Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion, Nottingham Forest and QPR.

They are just six points – two wins – behind third-placed Blackpool. Sunderland, with a wagebill that dwarves the one Charlton were forced to operate under before the salary cap was lifted in February, are only five points ahead.

And Charlton have won this season against all of the clubs that are occupying play-off positions. They took four points off the Black Cats.

Everything suggests that if they did meet any of them again it would be a tight contest, riddled with the kind of nerves that genuine pressure situations bring.

It feels like much of Charlton’s prospects rest on the broad shoulders of Aneke.

His 1,491 minutes in 37 league games this season averages out as 40 minutes per match.

Aneke has the knack of being able to slot effortlessly into the action. Ten of his 16 goals this season have  come after being subbed on. It is a club record, surpassing Kim Grant.

Charlton were toiling against Lincoln and Adkins, fully aware a draw was not going to be enough, made his move at the break. He switched Ian Maatsen to left-back and took off Ben Purrington, Aneke joined Jayden Stockley in a twin-pronged attack.

It took just two minutes for Aneke to have an impact and the Addicks to have a precious lead. He got the perfect weight on a cushioned header to guide down Alex Gilbey’s cross and Stockley finished on the half volley with his weaker left foot.

Charlton’s attacking impetus was there like a flick of an Aneke-shaped switch. Although it should be noted that Ben Amos made two crucial saves from Callum Morton, one almost instantly after Stockley’s eighth goal of an excellent loan from Preston.

The South Londoners are a big team. The likes of Ryan Inniss, Stockley and Aneke need the footballing equivalent of the aircraft warning lights on The Shard. Their set-piece prowess was underlined in the 65th minute, Inniss finding plenty of space to head home Albie Morgan’s deep corner.

Two minutes later and Aneke struck after being cued up by Liam Millar on the edge of the box.

Harry Anderson’s consolation was no less than Lincoln deserved, with Amos preserving the hosts’ two-goal advantage with a sprightly double save from Tom Hopper.

The bad news for Charlton was the enforced removal of Jake Forster-Caskey in the 37th minute.

Confirmation arrived on Thursday that the midfielder – so influential this season and a leading contender to be their Player of the Year – is facing another extended spell on the sidelines after suffering ACL damage to his left knee. The absence of their most influential midfielder is definitely a setback.

Aneke risked sitting out Hull. The fired up attacker produced a foul which could easily have earned him a second caution but instead involved a final warning from Carl Brook, who had started the evening as fourth official before referee Kevin Johnson could not continue.

Adkins wisely subbed Tuesday’s gamechanger before he could undo his previous impeccable handiwork, especially with that play-off door still tantalisingly ajar.

STAR MAN
Chuks Aneke. Charlton needed a spark – he delivered it.

BEST MOMENT
Stockley’s emphatic finish.