Four takeaways from Charlton’s home defeat against Bolton Wanderers: Addicks second best in benchmark test against one of League One’s top sides
Bolton Wanderers recorded their fifth successive victory over Charlton Athletic with a comfortable 2-0 win at The Valley. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from the clash in SE7.
GAME OVER AFTER 22 MINUTES
A routine win for the Trotters. Charlton enjoyed a reasonably lively start but Bolton soon settled and scored two quickfire goals to silence the home crowd.
A well-worked short corner routine unlocked space inside the area for Randell Williams to curl a cultured finish beyond Ashley Maynard-Brewer and in off the post on 16 minutes.
And it was two as the visitors took advantage of the Addicks being temporarily reduced to 10. Terell Thomas was waiting to be invited to return to play by the officials after being treated for an injury when the Trotters broke into the area. Dion Charles’ snapshot flew in with Charlton’s protests falling on deaf ears.
The Addicks were clearly second best in the first half but did show a reaction after the break.
Tyreece Campbell, who looked ineffective before the interval, saw a headed opportunity come and go soon after the restart. Miles Leaburn and Louie Watson, introduced from the bench, had an impact as well. Pan Camara and Alfie May were both off target when chances arose in the penalty area.
Bolton did squander some good moments to kill the game off on the counter late on.
The result felt inevitable after the two Bolton goals and one of League One’s top sides never looked like relinquishing their lead.
WHERE ARE THE ADDICKS AFTER THIS BENCHMARKING GAME?
Any game against Bolton can always be touted as a benchmarking exercise to see how the Addicks compare to one of the division’s top sides. Appleton said himself that it would be a measure of how far off the league’s top dogs his new charges are. There’s your answer.
Charlton have only taken two of a possible 18 points against sides in the top eight after just under a third of the campaign. The average position of the sides that Charlton have beaten so far this campaign is 17th.
It’s been clear throughout the season that, even in the unbeaten start under Appleton, the Addicks haven’t controlled games for long spells against sides from any region of the league table. The top sides do.
Summer has faded into Autumn, the season is in full flow and it’s a fair time to try and take stock of where the South Londoners are. Again, it was Appleton who referenced a requirement to rebalance the squad in the January transfer window.
Whilst it doesn’t come anywhere close to Ben Garner’s comments about the tools at his disposal in the early part of last season, it is an acknowledgement from the boss that the Addicks aren’t quite set up for a push at this point.
There’s been some positives. Going forward, Charlton certainly carry serious threats. There’s some concerns as well. Appleton warns that his squad will be vulnerable to off days like they saw at Sincil Bank due to its age and profile.
There hasn’t been a failsafe sign that Charlton are clear play-off chasers like Bolton are. They’ll have to really work for it if they are to be.
MIDFIELD CHOICES
One notable absentee from the starting line-up in the last two has been Luton Town loanee Louie Watson.
Scott Fraser took his place alongside captain George Dobson during the loss at Lincoln and again yesterday.
When asked about Watson’s absence, Appleton said: “What a lot of people won’t see, and this is just part of his development, is when the opposition midfield run off the back of him. That can hurt us at times.”
Whether Fraser provides that tracking back is up for debate. He did play the pinpoint pass through to Tyreece Campbell that led to Charlton’s goal at Lincoln on Tuesday. But it’s clear that the Addicks midfield have lost a grip on the last couple of games.
Watson has looked tidy in possession at times this season so it will be interesting will bring him back in for the game at Wigan on Tuesday.
ANEKE SIDELINED
Appleton confirmed the news that all concerned feared – Chuks Aneke is set for another lengthy spell out injured.
The attacker limped out of last weekend’s 4-0 triumph over Reading and it set to be missing for “a couple of months at least”.
His absence was felt keenly at Lincoln City in midweek as well as during yesterday’s defeat against the Trotters where his physicality wasn’t matched as Alfie May attempted to go toe to toe with the impressive Ricardo Santos.
Aneke’s return to the side coincided with the upturn in results under Appleton. It’s no coincidence that it’s tailed off again now he’s back in the treatment room. An ability to turn the tide from the bench was Appleton’s main trump card and it’s now diminished for the foreseeable future.
PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS/KEITH GILLARD