The lowdown on Charlton Athletic 1 Stockport County 1 – Addicks unable to turn dominance into victory

Charlton came from behind to take a point against Stockport County at The Valley – but it should have been much more.

Here is the lowdown on the match.

THE LINE-UPS

Charlton Athletic: Mannion, Gillesphey, Mitchell, Edwards, Ramsay (Edmonds-Green 37), T Campbell, Docherty (Leaburn 62), Taylor (Dixon 89), Anderson, A Campbell (Berry 45), Godden. Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Small, Mbick.

Stockport County: Addai, Horsfall, Pye, Touray, Bate, Mingi (Bailey 65), Connolly, Norwood (Fevrier 65), Powell (Olaofe 64), Wootton (Fiorini 79), Barry (Diamond 79). Subs not used: Hinchliffe, Hughes.

SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME

Louie Barry’s early penalty – after Will Mannion was adjudged to have fouled Nick Powell – gave Stockport the lead. An impressive Charlton display finally saw them level thanks to Rarmani Edmonds-Green’s first goal for the club midway through the second-period. But the Addicks were unable to find the winner, even after Fraser Horsfall’s late sending-off for a second bookable offence.

TACTICAL APPROACH

Nathan Jones was hampered the absence of Lloyd Jones and Daniel Kanu through injury plus Conor Coventry’s suspension but stuck with the back-four and box midfield that was so successful against Birmingham a fortnight ago. Terry Taylor came out of the cold and in at the base alongside Greg Docherty. Jones was further hamstrung by the loss of Kayne Ramsay to a nasty looking knee concern midway through the first-half, with Rarmani Edmonds-Green on in his place. Despite trailing, The Addicks looked as fluent as they had been all season on the ball at times in that first-period – weaving moves together that progressed through the thirds.

Luke Berry replaced Allan Campbell at the break, with Miles Leaburn introduced on the hour-mark and Charlton were soon level. The Addicks continued to dominate and Jones made one last throw of the dice after Horsfall’s dismissal by awarding 20-year-old Jamaican prospect a chance to try and make some magic happen – and it very nearly did as he set up Leaburn for a late chance.

STAR MAN

Terry Taylor. His set-piece delivery was very good, but he also looked accomplished in possession. Not bad for someone who hasn’t started a league game in over a year.

BEST MOMENT

Kaheim Dixon’s late dart forward and back-heel for Leaburn who just fired wide. Nathan Jones played his secret wildcard, and it nearly paid off in thrilling fashion.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

It’s a tactic Charlton have deployed themselves once this season but in the moments after the red card Stockport keeper Corey Addai collapsed in imagined agony so the rest of the Hatters players could all go to the touchline to receive new instructions. Teams have basically manufactured unofficial timeouts, and it needs to be clamped down on.

A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB

Most will be asking how on earth Charlton Athletic managed to not win that game as they sup their post-match pints this evening but there will be those musing if the Addicks have finally cracked it in possession. The way they moved the ball between the thirds today was better than it had been at any other time this campaign – particularly after the early concerns about a lack of fluency in the side.

Terry Taylor seemed to play a big part in that. The high-pressing performances against Bolton and Birmingham showed Charlton could operate in games where they don’t dominate the ball but finally today we saw a display that suggests they can use it well when enjoying more of the ball.

WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY

“It’s as fluid as we have been but I’m really disappointed as that’s a really good home performance today. The crowd were excellent and bar one decision first-half and then just a little bit of cutting edge and a tiny bit more quality in the final third, that’s the reason we haven’t won it.”