Charlton completed a horrific Christmas run as Oxford bagged the points in another disheartening defeat for the Addicks.

With May and Tedic fresh additions to the injury list, Tyreece Campbell was given a start out wide replacing May. This was the only change from the team that lost to Bristol Rovers. Scott Fraser was back in the squad but took up a place on a worryingly inexperienced bench.  

However, the game started superbly for Charlton. After just short of five minutes of play, Chem Campbell won the ball in midfield, set up Blackett-Taylor, who advanced into opposition territory in his usual fashion. His shot was saved by Oxford’s goalkeeper Beadle, but Chem Campbell picked up the rebound and found an opening to put the ball into the net and give Charlton a dream start to the game. A few minutes later, Blackett-Taylor had another good chance, but this time Beadle saved convincingly.

Oxford initially looked sloppy and unprepared, but slowly began taking over the play. After 14 minutes, they recorded their first chance, when Anderson missed a loose ball in midfield, and Rodrigues raced away, only to have a shot saved by Maynard-Brewer from close range.

Brannigan and Rodrigues were starting to find positions and dictating play inside Charlton’s half. Still, Blackett-Taylor, who unsurprisingly was Charlton’s main danger man, served Kanu, whose goalbound header was intercepted by an Oxford defender.  

Oxford struck back in the 21st minute. Right-back Stevens got too much space on the wing, evaded Edun, and put in a cross which Harris tapped in behind Maynard-Brewer from close range. Oxford were level after a
no-nonsense move which showed a level of efficiency and dedication Charlton too often lack in their attacking play.

Speaking of which, a prime example of Charlton’s attacking problems came in the 30th minute, when Tyreece Campbell raced clear against the Oxford goal after a defensive blunder from the visitors. Frustratingly, the young winger went for a misplaced shot when he obviously should have crossed it. Too often, this Charlton team seem to lack anticipation in attack, despite the amount of skill our attacking players evidently have. 

The teams went to half time at 1-1, and there were no changes at half time from either team. The second half started in a similar fashion as the first, with Charlton on the front foot. Chem Campbell headed wide from a good position after 50 minutes, and Tyreece Campbell had a shot well saved by Beadle three minutes later.

Charlton were the better team up until the hour mark, but then Oxford started to take more and more control of the game. Bodin replaced McEachran after 60 minutes and Brannigan became more involved, while Corey Blackett-Taylor drifted out of the game for the Addicks. Hector had to be at his best to clear the box, Anderson was overplayed in midfield and Kanu was invisible, like he had been the whole game. Oxford seemed the more likely team to score, as Charlton dropped deeper and deeper and looked to lower the pace of the game at every opportunity.

Thomas came on for Tennai Watson and Fraser replaced Blackett-Taylor in the 82nd minute. Three minutes later, Oxford got their winning goal through a spectacular 30-yard effort from Smyth. His optimistic shot took a deflection and swirled into the net past Maynard-Brewer. Patrick Casey got his debut when he replaced Kanu in the 88th minute, and another youngster, Henry Rylah, replaced Chem Campbell in the 90th minute. It is always nice to see youngsters get a chance, but these two boys, who both just turned eighteen, are of course not yet of the quality that is needed to impact games. After Oxford's stunner of a winning goal, Charlton looked deflated and a credible comeback push never materialised.

A depleted Charlton team showed both bravery and effort, but the lack of quality and cohesion became apparent in a game between two teams that both lacked precision and flair. Charlton’s attacking play is frustratingly predictable, based exclusively on wingers advancing through the wide areas. Without a full-blooded striker, there is no one to receive the ball, and once Oxford managed to take Blackett-Taylor out of the game, Charlton never looked like scoring.   

With three consecutive defeats, Charlton are now 14th in League One, six points above relegation. The play-off dream is obviously long gone, but there should be enough quality to avoid a relegation battle. With players like May, Leaburn, Camara and Aneke available today, it could have been a different story.  Still, it will be interesting to see how much patience the owners have with Michael Appleton if there is not a certain improvement in results the next month or two, and not least how the owners now will approach the January transfer window.

Artikeln skriven av Jørgen Sørbø, 2024-1-1, 20:49