Four takeaways from Charlton’s loss at Sheffield Wednesday: Addicks should have taken something from the game

Charlton were edged out by Sheffield Wednesday despite spending large spells of the game in ascendancy at Hillsborough – with boss Ben Garner suffering his first defeat in the Addicks hotseat. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from the trip to South Yorkshire.

A FRUSTRATING END

A case of what could have been for the South Londoners. Other than an early header from Barry Bannan that drifted across the face of goal, Charlton were incredibly comfortable during the first-half at Hillsborough. Dominating the ball and frustrating the home support, it took a little while for the chances to start to materialise, but they did around the half-hour mark. Scott Fraser and the energetic Steven Sessegnon were both guilty of failing to work David Stockdale in the Owls’ goal when well-placed – with Corey Blackett-Taylor also unable to make the most of miscommunication in the Wednesday defence.

The wideman had a pair of further openings shortly after the break but the game started to turn as Wednesday were able to call upon the likes of Lee Gregory and Tyreeq Bakinson from the bench – whilst Charlton replaced Jayden Stockley and Blackett-Taylor with youngster Miles Leaburn and the ineffective Diallang Jaiyesimi. Darren Moore’s side started to play their way back into the contest but it took until the final ten minutes for their first real sight of goal – which Bakinson made the most of. A frustrating end to an encouraging display.

SHALLOW UP TOP

Jayden Stockley wasn’t much of a goal threat at Hillsborough, but the Addicks were better when he was on the field. The fact that it was necessary for the striker to battle through illness to lead the line for an hour shows just how short Charlton are in that department. Chuks Aneke is still absent and sadly can never relied upon to survive a decent run of games.

This means youngster Miles Leaburn has been used more than he should be so far this season – featuring off the bench in all three league outings. He’s got plenty of potential and has already found the net but does still have the rawness you’d expect any 18-year-old to possess at this stage of their career. It showed as the South Londoners struggled to trouble the Owls backline too seriously after Stockley’s presence was lost. Reinforcement is needed in the front-line to take some of the pressure off Stockley’s shoulders.

GOALS WIN GAMES

Whoever is up top for the Addicks will need to make sure they show that bit of cutting edge that was lacking in South Yorkshire. Blackett-Taylor, Fraser and Sessegnon all will feel they could have done better with their opportunities yesterday.

Promisingly, chances are being carved out. Charlton are eighth in the fledgling average shots on target table for the division (4.3 per game). Ben Garner’s Swindon were highest scorers in League Two last year but it remains to be seen if his new Addicks outfit can be as clinical.

The wide forwards in Charlton’s 4-3-3 will need to chip in. Blackett-Taylor has scored six league goals throughout his entire career. Charlie Kirk chipped in with 29 over the course of five seasons with Crewe, albeit mainly in League Two – and he’s yet to get one in a Charlton shirt. Jaiyesimi averages about one goal every 10 league games since making his debut for Grimsby in 2017-18. All of the above will need to up their strike rate. Jack Payne, who can also operate in central midfield, has a better goal to games ratio of about one in six – and Palace loanee Jes Rak-Saki has the potential to chip in as well. Wherever they come from, the forward line will need to add to Charlton’s goals for tally.

GOING TOE TO TOE WITH THE BIG BOYS

One undoubted benefit of Garner’s possession-based approach is that it allowed the Addicks to wrestle control of the game against a side who will expect to steamroll most opponents at home this season.

The South Londoners had 65% of the ball in the opening half-hour – which took the sting out of a Wednesday team who like to try and press an early advantage. The Addicks’ supremacy unsettled the big home crowd – they just have to make sure they start to make it count.

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS