The lowdown on Blackpool 2 Charlton Athletic 2 – Addicks miss chance to climb into top six as they throw two-goal lead away
Charlton let a two-goal lead slip at Bloomfield Road and missed out on the chance to ascend into the play-off places.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Blackpool: Tyrer, Baggott, Casey, Husband (Silvera 61), Offiah (Lawrence-Gabriel 89), Morgan, Carey, CJ Hamilton, Apter (Beesley 79), Fletcher (Ennis 61), Bloxham. Subs not used: O’Donnell, Evans, Onomah.
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Ramsay, Gillesphey, Jones, Coventry (Leaburn 89), Berry (Anderson 70), Docherty, Edwards, Small, Campbell (Aneke 62), Godden (Kanu 62). Subs not used: Mannion, A Mitchell, Edmonds-Green.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
The Addicks seemed to be coasting to victory as they scored twice in two minutes shortly after the interval – with Matty Godden and an Olly Casey own-goal from Tyreece Campbell’s low centre opening a commanding lead.
But substitutes Samuel Silvera and Niall Ennis – two minutes from time and following a mistake from Macauley Gillesphey – rescued a share of the spoils for Blackpool.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Charlton were unchanged from the side that beat Bristol Rovers in midweek at The Valley. This meant a front-two of Tyreece Campbell and Matty Godden again – who both struggled to get into the game in a first-half that saw Blackpool create the better of the half-chances.
But that Charlton duo soon made their mark in as the Addicks caught Blackpool with a quick-fire one-two shortly after the restart. Their work for the afternoon done, Nathan Jones replaced them with Chuks Aneke and Dan Kanu on the hour-mark.
Karoy Anderson then came on for Luke Berry midway through the second-half – but Blackpool were able to find a way into the contest.
Injury time was a basketball match – but late substitute Miles Leaburn was unable to make the final play count as he misplaced a pass when Charlton found themselves with a three-on-two bearing down on the Tangerines’ goal.
STAR MAN
Thierry Small. Not for the first time recently. Relatively quiet first-half but still saw two decent crosses headed away and a shot blocked. Burst into life after the interval and had the beating of his man time and again down the right.
BEST MOMENT
The Addicks’ second goal. After a first half that lacked chances, the travelling support were in absolute dreamland as Charlton added a second goal moments after their first. Great work from Tyreece Campbell to manufacture the chance.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Macauley Gillesphey has to put that ball into the Irish Sea. He’d had a really solid game up until that moment but it’s the type of individual mistake the Addicks simply can’t make a habit of and it’s cost two points. Needs to put it behind him quickly.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
It’s a huge missed opportunity to climb into the top six but once the anguish of chucking away a two-goal lead has subsided – it’s not the end of the world. A point on the road is fine so long as Charlton continue to pick up results at home.
Everyone of an Addicks persuasion was clearly frustrated post-match but they were also trying to keep their heads level. Blackpool aren’t winning games at home but haven’t been an easy nut to crack either – drawing six of the seven they’d been winless in at Bloomfield Road since September.
There’s been defeats and draws this season that left you wondering where the next point or next goal were coming from. This wasn’t like that. They made uncharacteristic errors to concede the goals – they weren’t pattern of plays that Charlton are on the end of consistently.
It happened. Rotherham happened a few weeks ago and Charlton recovered with three wins on the spin. They’ve got to show that they can do that again.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“The feeling here is disappointment. I’m gutted. I’m down. I’ve got all those negative emotions. But when I sit down and when I watch the performance, when I look at us and when I look at the quality of chances we’ve created and some of the performances out there, I’ll be very proud of that performance.
“It’s just, for probably a 15-minute period, we just weren’t us.”
PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS