The lowdown on Charlton 2 Wycombe Wanderers 1 – Leaburn at double as Jones stabilises defence
Charlton signed off 2024 with a 2-1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers at The Valley.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Charlton: Maynard-Brewer, Mitchell, Gillesphey, Jones, Small, Edwards, Coventry, Docherty, Berry (Anderson 78), T Campbell, Leaburn (Ahadme 81). Subs not used: Mannion, Hylton, Edmonds-Green, Godden, A Campbell.
Wycombe: Ravizzolli, Grimmer, Harvie, Udoh (Kodua 65), McCleary (Onyedinma 55), Bakinson (Scowen 65), Low, Humphreys, Morley, Lubala (Kone 55), Taylor. Not used: George, Hartridge, Leahy.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
Three wins on the spin for Charlton Athletic in League One and, not for the first time in this campaign, they earned a deserved victory against one of the clubs going well – Wycombe saw their 19-game unbeaten run in the league ended by this 2-1 reverse in SE7. Miles Leaburn scored twice to take his goal haul for this season to eight and he has netted in the last three matches. The big forward did not get much joy out of Joe Low or Caleb Taylor in the opening 45 minutes. But when Josh Edwards put in the best cross of the match, Leaburn got ahead of his marker to steer the ball past Wycombe keeper Franco Ravizzoli. The second was a fine chipped finish from Luke Berry’s ball through, although Ravizzoli’s rash decision to desert his goal-line was not particularly clever. Chairboys’ top scorer Richard Kone produced a finish strike past Ashley Maynard-Brewer but the Charlton backline were pretty miserly.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Nathan Jones named an unchanged side. Thierry Small, who has played as an emergency right wing-back of late, was a decent outlet as he put on the afterburners a few times even if he is not operating down his natural side. As usual there was plenty of hard work and application from the Charlton players as they shut down space. Tyreece Campbell typified the pressing intentions, it was just a shame he could not produce a more composed finish when presented with the chance to put his side 3-0 ahead in the 78th minute. The defence looks so much more secure since Lloyd Jones returned from injury.
STAR MAN
Miles Leaburn. Doesn’t really need much explanation. At times Charlton have lacked a clinical touch this season. Not today.
BEST MOMENT
Leaburn’s second goal. Chipped Ravizzoli with aplomb.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Luke Berry’s first-half corner. Looked like it was supposed to be a ploy off the training ground but the low delivery ended up as a tame pass to former Charlton loanee Tyreeq Bakinson. Woeful.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
Touched on it above but Charlton seem so much more defensively assured with Jones in the back three. The centre-back is out of contract at the end of June and had been linked a while back with today’s opponents. Of the players due to be free agents, he looks a priority to get sorted.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“There is a really good nucleus of a football team in here. At times we don’t do everything I’d like us to. But there is an honest, good, solid footballing team in there. If they just believe, keep working hard and are bold then there is a fantastic footballing side in there.”
PICTURES: PAUL EDWARDS