Four takeaways from Charlton Athletic’s 3-3 draw at Port Vale: Thrills and spills in mid-table clash highlight Addicks’ pros and cons

Charlton led three times but were unable to end their winless streak as Port Vale became the latest side to bag a late goal against the Addicks. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from the 3-3 draw at Vale Park.

BITS OF IT WERE FUN

It was entertaining, I’ll give it that. Two mid-table League One sides slogging out what resembled a basketball game on potato patch on a freezing day in north Staffordshire that was full of thrills and spills.

Three times Charlton had the lead, three times Charlton diminished the lead. We know what this Addicks side is good at and what this Addicks side is bad at. We had both elements of it flung in our faces for 90 minutes at Vale Park.

The South Londoners led just before the half-hour mark as Corey Blackett-Taylor latched onto Louie Watson’s header to fire through Conor Ripley.

There were spells in each half where it felt Vale were camped on the edge of the Addicks box – particularly in the spell leading up to their leveller just before the break. Karoy Anderson handled Gavin Massey’s cross with former AFC Wimbledon man Ethan Chislett doing the honours from the spot.

Dan Kanu took advantage of a howler in the Valiant’s defence to restore Charlton’s lead moments before the hour-mark but that lead lasted just four minutes as the rambunctious Uche Ikpeazu beat Lloyd Jones to a cross and headed beyond Ashley Maynard-Brewer despite the Addicks keeper getting more than a bit of a hand on it.

Charlton seemed to have won it through Tyreece Campbell seven minutes from time but there was final twist in the tale when Massey restored parity in added-time.

This side hasn’t been much fun to watch recently. The Christmas period was a bit of a slog for Addicks fans as they saw their team play their way out of play-off contention with the season barely halfway through. There’s not really much to look forward to in the rest of the this campaign so it was nice that the game was actually a bit of a spectacle.

If you can’t win it, and Charlton certainly can’t at the moment, at least they can make it more exciting than normal.

Being marooned in League One for another season is a disaster for the club. Every additional season down here will be. So, it was nice to have some light relief in the form of an entertaining contest – even though it came with a sting in the tail.

CAN WE CANCEL THE SERIES LINK ON THE LATE, LATE SHOW PLEASE

Port Vale hadn’t drawn at home all season. The perfect remedy for that anomaly is to throw a Charlton side with a one-goal lead in added-time into the mix. A draw is almost guaranteed in that situation.

It’s the seventh goal that the Addicks have conceded beyond the 80-minute mark of the last seven games. That’s now eight points Charlton have dropped in the closing stages of those games. That 13-point deficit to the top six would look much more manageable if Charlton could hold their nerve.

Michael Appleton has blamed the inexperience of the side – but that doesn’t really reflect the fact that he is able to name a consistent and senior back-four at the moment. Yes, there are younger players in the midfield but marshalling a rear-guard stand for the last minutes of games should come naturally to the likes of Michael Hector and Lloyd Jones.

It was the latter who had Gavin Massey in space ahead of him on the edge of the area in added-time. Louie Watson had let the full-back drift beyond him. There has to be communication between the back line and the midfield to ensure these gaps aren’t there to be exploited. Watson clearly will have to take responsibility for his part, but Charlton need some vocal organisers on the pitch. Ashley Maynard-Brewer can see it all in front of him too so will also need to play his part.

Appleton said he wished he could get out there himself to deal with the late danger at times. He’ll know he needs to make sure that whole defensive unit – including the midfielders – are well-drilled to the extent that these late lapses stop happening. Be tight and hard to break down on the road. Be strong. This is mid-table League One and that will never be good enough.

GEORGE DOBSON ON CORNERS …. WORKED?

Charlton’s set-pieces have been so poor this season that it was about time that one or two of them looked threatening.

The sight of George Dobson lining up to take the Addicks’ corners was a surprise. In fact, everyone was so surprised that Vale let the South Londoners nearly score from one. Michael Hector’s dart towards the near-post led to a flick on that Ripley did well to repel.

The opening goal came from a set-piece that was only half dealt with as well. The Addicks only won four corners so it’s not a massive sample size but that two of them led to something happening was a pleasant shock. Whether Dobson is a serious contender for the responsibility of dead ball situations going forward remains to be seen but it’s been clear all season that they are a facet of the game Charlton simply aren’t good enough at.

JONSON CLARKE-HARRIS ON THE WAY?

Getting the prolific Posh poacher to sign on the dotted line would appear a serious bit of business. But as we saw last summer – it’s no good bringing in a proper forward if you don’t back him up with a balanced and capable side behind him.

Clarke-Harris brings a wealth of goals and hopefully a physical presence to aid a Charlton front line that has been decimated by injuries in key positions.

But it must be the start of the full-blown refurbishment of the side if they can get it over the line.

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS