Kevin Nolan’s big-match verdict as Charlton make amends for spineless surrender by squeaking past Wigan Athletic

BY KEVIN NOLAN

This ultra-professional performance against plucky but limited opposition proved that recent rumours of Charlton’s disintegration were, like reports of Mark Twain’s death, exaggerated.

There’s plenty of life left in them, enough it’s hoped to revitalise a renewed bid to make the League One play-offs. They were enterprising in the first half, then defensively dogged when required after the break, during which there were one or two nervy moments, none of them unduly bothering Ben Amos.

A midweek odyssey to Wigan hardly recommended itself as an inviting proposition to a side struggling to check a steady slump, much less a manager under increasing pressure to stop their slide.

With Saturday’s spineless surrender to Blackpool still a raw, unpleasant memory, Lee Bowyer shuffled his deck, made seven changes and was rewarded with a result that was as vital as it was timely. It might turn out to be too late to close the gap at the top, but it was encouraging proof that his men are willing to stand up for him and are more than “fit to wear the shirt”.

There had been disloyal whispers that Wigan might be Bowyer’s personal Waterloo but he and Charlton live to fight another day. Next up are surprise package Oxford United in the leafy shires on Saturday.

One of the seven newcomers to the starting 11 in Lancashire was Chuks Aneke, whose debatable red card against Blackpool was rescinded on appeal and who responded to his reprieve with a personal contribution of skill and courage. With more to offer than your run-of-the mill target man, Aneke is a rare handful for League One defences. Deceptively quick over the ground, his menacing presence forces opponents into errors – as it did Latics centre-backs Tandayi Darikwa and Curtis Tilt after 19 minutes at the DW Stadium.

Ben Watson’s safety-first overhead clearance was nodded on by Conor Washington and chased willingly by the big striker. Tarikwa and Tilt converged on the ball and seemed racing certainties to deal with the danger between them. He who hesitates is lost, however, and when two hulking centre-backs are doing the hesitating, disaster is almost guaranteed. Gliding goalside of the dithering duo, Aneke finished clinically into the right corner as Jamie Jones advanced hopefully. It might have followed Route One but his early strike was to deliver three important points.

Before the interval, Tilt was panicked into blatantly pushing Aneke to the turf as they disputed an innocuous ball inside the Latics penalty area. It looked like a penalty, sounded like a penalty, probably was a penalty – at least it was to everyone except otherwise excellent referee Sam Allison. A second goal would have spared the Addicks the discomfort of a second half during which they dropped deeper, invited admittedly lukewarm pressure and offered Wigan hope of a favourable outcome.

Valley Pass witnesses needed no reminding of the numerous occasions when their favourites have succumbed to late equalisers or matchwinners. They’ll be hard pressed in this case, however, to recall a single instance when Amos was called into serious action by Wigan’s pop-gunners.

The locals’ sole shot on target was a half-hearted squibber from Alex Perry which had just enough steam on it to reach Amos.

A steady stream of corners delivered by Wigan’s Thelo Aasgaard did threaten occasional danger but were resolutely headed clear by Watson, Jason Pearce or Akin Famewo, the trio an impressively solid combination of experience and youth, each of them utterly ruthless.

It has to be said that Charlton themselves posed a less than potent attacking threat. During a first half they controlled with casual ease, their on-target efforts, apart from Aneke’s matchwinner, were limited to Liam Millar’s low drive, which was cleared off the goal-line by Scott Wootton.

Directing operations was Jake Forster-Caskey whose foot-on-the- ball class decorated the workmanlike industry surrounding him. The playmaker’s return to form and ability to avoid injury will have an important influence on the remainder of Charlton’s patchy season.

The second half of this pivotal game was all too familiar to Charlton’s housebound aficionados.

The initiative was handed to the home side who, fortunately for the Addicks, hadn’t a clue what to do with it. The visitors retired into their half, regrouped outside the penalty area and settled down to see things through. .

Clearances frequently landed in Wigan’s half without an Addick available as an available outlet. All 10 outfielders were pulled back behind the ball and the exchanges, tame though they were, were played out uncomfortably near their goal.

Exactly what motivates Charlton to tear teams to shreds, then helpfully put them together again, is an enigma only they can solve.

As Bowyer remarked, they’re not a bad side. But they can get better…on the front foot..

STAR MAN
Jake Forster-Caskey. Among severe competition, his stylish contribution stood out. His ability to dictate tempo and pick the right pass was exemplary. The midfielder. recently returned from a hamstring strain, should be wrapped in cotton wool until season’s end.

BEST MOMENT
The action of an EFL bureaucrat in stamping “not guilty” on Chuks Aneke’s appeal form. This game would have ended scoreless without his vital intervention.

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS AND PA