Four takeaways from Charlton’s 3-2 win over Burton Albion: Addicks ending strongly but we’ve been here before

Charlton beat Burton Albion 3-2 at The Valley on Easter Monday. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from the clash in SE7.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE COMFORTABLE

Another winning afternoon at The Valley but one that Charlton should have been a lot more comfortable in. They raced into a two-goal lead thanks to the sublime Jes Rak-Sakyi’s brace.

But the lead was halved just before the break as Ashley Maynard-Brewer and Michael Hector got into a muddle – forcing the former to drop a deep free-kick into the path of Sam Hughes.

The Addicks restored their two-goal lead shortly after the restart thanks to Macauley Bonne’s second goal in successive home games – converting from the lively Tyreece Campbell’s centre.

The South Londoners had chances to extend that advantage further but Burton were back in it again fifteen minutes from time as the Addicks fell asleep at another set-piece. Josh Walker’s header gave the Brewers hope, before Jack Payne’s late double yellow saw the hosts end the game with ten men.

Two wins in two at The Valley for Dean Holden’s men as they bounce back from the Good Friday loss at Bristol Rovers.

JESURUN RAK-SAKYI

There’s not much that can be said that hasn’t already about Rak-Sakyi but the boy is mustard. His 12^th and 13^th goals of the season oozed the class that Charlton fans have become accustomed to over the course of the season.

He’s also been given space to develop over the course of a campaign. It’s easy to forget he had a slow December but that is all part of the experience he needed to gain during this season. He weathered that well and is ending the campaign in spectacular style with four goals in his last five games.

One other benefit from Rak-Sakyi’s time in SE7 is that it will hopefully send a message to other Premier League clubs that their youngsters will be given a chance to shine at The Valley if they were sent out on loan here next season. Some were nervous the opposite to that might have happened after Nile whatshisname from Spurs and whoever the geezer from Chelsea was never got any serious minutes last year.

ENDING STRONGLY

Charlton are in decent nick. Just one defeat in their last seven and four wins in that same timespan. It goes to show how poor the season has been as a whole that they would have mathematically been out of the play-off race today if Derby or Bolton had won and Charlton had dropped points.

Results went their way which means that will wait for a while longer – but the fact that one slip up now means it’s all over with five games of the season left to go shows how far Charlton are off being where they need to be.

Ending the season strongly is something that Charlton have done over the last two years as well. Johnnie Jackson won six of his final ten games. Nigel Adkins five, with just one defeat. Laying the groundwork is something the Addicks have done well over the last two years. Building on those foundations over the summer is what needs to be done differently this year. And those in charge of dealing with that mustn’t let the last few weeks of the campaign distract from what has happened over the course of the months that proceeded them.

PAYNE RED CARD

Jack Payne’s late red card was harsh according to Dean Holden but realistically two mistimed lunges can lead to the outcome that the diminutive midfielder was on the receiving end of.

The former Swindon man came off the bench midway through the second-half, as he has done on 25 occasions this season, but he struggled to make the sort of impact on the game he’d have liked.

With just four assists and four goals in all competitions this campaign, Payne hasn’t been able to provide any real impetus when call upon as a sub enough. This sending off was probably partly due to the frustration of a disappointing campaign. Charlton will need a squad with enough depth to change things from the bench if they are to challenge next season.