Talking points from Charlton’s 3-2 loss at Bristol Rovers – Addicks looked timid and lacking confidence

Charlton Athletic suffered a third straight loss for the first time since Nathan Jones was appointed manager in February as they went down 3-2 at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.

The Addicks added some respectability to the scoreline with late goals from Alex Mitchell and Matty Godden.

But the actual performance left a lot to be desired with the hosts, who had been defeated in their last four League One matches, racing into a 3-0 lead early in the second period through Scott Sinclair, Jamie Lindsay and James Wilson.

Here are Richard Cawley’s takeaways from the match.

UNABLE TO STEP ON THE GAS

One of the most worrying aspects was the passive nature of the Addicks’ performance at the Memorial Stadium – particularly up until the closing stages.

Jones has talked before about his side’s game being all about a front-footed and aggressive approach but they looked sapped of confidence, energy and urgency for a large part of this contest.

Couple that with a horribly disjointed and clunky attacking game – it took 55 minutes for Conor Coventry to have their first effort on target – and it was a difficult watch.

You would not have thought that Charlton were a side that had started the season strongly and been in the leading pack after kicking off with three league victories at the start of August.

There was a timidity and uncertainty to their play.

Sinclair, previously a loanee at the Addicks and Crystal Palace, and Lindsay both produced fine strikes from the edge of the box to beat Will Mannion, but there needed to be more determination and organisation to shut them down sooner.

The only other time that Jones’ side have conceded three in a match was the 3-3 home draw against Bolton in mid-February.

Bristol Rovers away is not a fixture that Charlton tend to do well in. They have won only four of their last 34 there – drawing 12 and losing 18 – and kept just five clean sheets during that time.

FRONTLINE SOLUTION

Only one club has scored fewer goals than Charlton that is above them in the table – Stevenage – and getting their attack to function more effectively is surely a top priority for Jones.

Tyreece Campbell’s transition from a winger to central striker is still a work in progress.

Gassan Ahadme was maybe better-placed to finish the first-half chance which Lloyd Jones headed narrowly over. The summer signing from Ipswich Town was forced off in the first half with a chest injury.

Godden’s performance after coming on against Rovers is likely to push his claim to start against Birmingham City tomorrow.

The former Coventry frontman would have been on three goals for the campaign if Mitchell had not made sure to finish his header – which looked almost certain to go in – from on the goal-line.

Chuks Aneke’s scoring record tells you he often tends to impact – and contribute best – when he is introduced as a substitute.

Those struggles to get a fully firing frontline means it is a timely return for Miles Leaburn. His 61st-minute introduction in Bristol was the ex-Chelsea youngster’s first senior action since November 28.

Leaburn has already shown his finishing qualities before. Just a bit of patience will be required as he integrates himself fully back into the fold after such a lengthy lay-off.

Last season’s top scorer Alfie May already has five goals for Birmingham – including their winner in midweek.

The decision to sell to the Blues was a bold one. At the moment – and the time to fully judge will be in May – he is badly missed.

BLAME GAME

Jones’ reaction at the full-time whistle gave you an indicator of how his post-match media interview would go.

The Welshman held his hands up in apology to Charlton’s travelling support, who had clearly voiced their displeasure at what they were witnessing.

“I’ll take full responsibility for this result,” said Jones. “I got the team wrong – tactically I didn’t get it right. It was a poor performance – we didn’t win our battles and they were more aggressive than us.”

It is now four League One seasons in a row that Charlton have been in the lower half of the standings after nine matches.

The honeymoon period enjoyed by Jones last season when he pulled Charlton clear of relegation danger is over but the South Londoners are only two points behind Blackpool in sixth – so it is no time to press the panic button.

The former Luton, Stoke and Southampton chief has been in the game long enough to know the pressure will dial up if he cannot regain a winning formula soon.

“There are going to be a lot of conversations to be had in dressing rooms and also back at the training ground,” said Charlton TV summariser Steve Brown. “He has got to find an 11 that are going to show a stronger mentality against Birmingham than they did here.”

Charlton are 19th in a form guide for the last six matches.

Birmingham, who head to SE7 on Saturday afternoon, are five points clear at the top of the table and have won seven successive league games for the first time since 1946.

It would be a superb time for the Addicks to upset the odds against the division’s lavish spenders.

RUN LOOKS TOUGH

The visit of the Blues is the start of a testing run for Charlton, who have seen next weekend’s match at Burton Albion postponed due to international call-ups for the hosts.

It means now that the Addicks follow up the Birmingham match with home meetings against Stockport and Wrexham, with Barnsley supplying the meat in a sandwich that could be difficult to digest. All of those clubs are in the top seven.

The flipside, if you look at a glass and see it as half-full, is that it offers a useful confidence-booster if Charlton gain a positive result.

PICTURES: KYLE ANDREWS