Kevin Nolan’s verdict on Charlton Athletic’s 2-2 draw at Morecambe – injuries once again likely to have big say on Addicks’ campaign

Charlton set themselves an impossibly high bar by outclassing league leaders Plymouth Argyle at The Valley on Saturday. It was a tall order to follow that comprehensive performance with more of the same three days later on the Lancashire coast but, for almost half an hour, Johnnie Jackson’s resurgent side looked capable of doing exactly that.

Already riding a wave of confidence, the Addicks were further boosted by a second-minute lead gifted them by Morecambe’s goalkeeper Jokull Andresson, who ham-fistedly fumbled Diallang Jaiyesimi’s hard, low drive over his goal-line.

Charlton’s aggressive winger might possibly have intended his delivery to be a cross but Andresson was in no mood to dispute ownership of a goal which was credited as Jaiyesimi’s second of the season.

Off to the ideal start, Charlton were briefly irresistible. Conor Washington skewed a chance wide, Josh Davison did likewise when set up by Alex Gilbey and Elliot Lee shot tamely at Andresson after sidestepping into a promising shooting position. Stephen Robinson’s honest yeomen were being swept aside by the rampant Londoners and when Washington doubled the lead they were in danger of capsizing completely.

Craig McGillivray claimed an outstanding assist with a sideways-on volleyed clearance which sent the alert Northern Ireland international moving smoothly in pursuit, conscientiously shadowed by Ryan Delaney. Reading the pace and bounce of MacGillivray’s delivery more astutely than the centre-back, Washington landed a devastating one-two by lifting a perfect lob over the advancing Andresson and into the keeper’s vacated net.

Charlton had their hosts exactly where they wanted them but, just two minutes later, threw them the lifeline they desperately needed.
Scorer from his own half of the wonder goal which settled the Shrimps’ Cod War with Fleetwood three days previously, Cole Stockton is an old school bustling centre-forward, comfortable facing his own goal and with enough skill to trouble any League One centre-half. In Chris Gunter, he was facing a right-back pressed into service to cover Charlton’s centre-back crisis. Just two minutes after Washington’s goal, he exploited Gunter’s vulnerability to win and convert a penalty which put the Shrimps back into a game that was threatening to run away from them.

Shielding a ball into his feet, with his back to Charlton’s goal and Gunter touch tight behind him, the artful striker backed into his marker and initiated a wrestling match inside the penalty area. At precisely the right time, he invited Gunter’s unwise pressure and suckered the duped defender into an ill-advised challenge.

Referee Andy Haines was convinced that Stockton was more sinned against than sinning and rightly awarded a spot-kick, which Morecambe’s 13-goal top scorer placed confidently past McGillivray.

The setback, coming so soon after Washington’s galvanic goal, knocked the starch and swagger out of the visitors. Possibly drained by their exertions against Plymouth, their passing and movement became laboured and predictable. They were still sporadically dangerous, though, as Lee proved by accepting Alex Gilbey’s pass to shoot fiercely on the run; skipper Anthony O’Connor’s breakneck block snuffed out the danger, as he did to even more heroic effect to smother a close-range effort from Washington shortly after the interval.

As a scrappy second half wore on, the Addicks seemed capable of protecting their lead. On 72 minutes, unhappily, that prospect disappeared as the Lancastrians equalised – assisted, it should be said, by the latest in a series of Haines’ decisions which came down crucially in the home side’s favour.

Charlton had every right to expect a free-kick as the excellent Sean Clare was fouled while forced to concede a left-wing corner. Haines was having none of it, of course, and allowed Alfie McCalmont to deliver an inswinging setpiece which O’Connor headed downwards past McGillivray.

To their credit, the Addicks soldiered on, with Washington’s header blocked after a short corner routine between Lee and substitute
Corey Blackett-Taylor wrong-footed the Shrimps. Another corner from Lee was headed wide by Ben Purrington before Callum Jones came a whisker wide of filching all three points from the visitors with a free-kick which agonisingly shaved the right post.

A philosophical Jackson pointed out that his side remain unbeaten in six league games since he and Jason Euell stepped up, made mild mention of the refereeing decision which led to Morecambe’s equaliser and conceded that “it’s not through lack of effort but we were just off of our level from Saturday.”

He didn’t bring up the catastrophic injury list which threatens to derail Charlton’s dramatically improving season so we’ll do it for him. The lenghtening list includes captain Jason Pearce, Jake Forster-Caskey, Sam Lavelle, Adam Matthews, Jonathan Leko, Ryan Inniss and Pape Souare; three of those named are centre backs, a position where his problems have become critical.

Jackson is as much juggler as manager and is performing efficiently under difficult circumstances. But Charlton’s season looks like being decided as much on the treatment table as on the field, where it belongs. Ain’t it always the way!?

STAR MAN
Sean Clare. Another fine shift as the midfielder unselfishly fills in as right-sided centre-back.

BEST MOMENT
MacGillivray’s blinding pass that put Washington in on goal, matched by an excellent finish.