Neither team really had much to play for, which almost gave the match a pre-season feel. Nathan Jones chose to hand starts to Bakinson and Ness. Kanu was also reinstated up front to partner May, who was looking to cement his position as the league’s top scorer.

After just six minutes, Wycombe was given a penalty, which proved to be the decisive moment of the game. Thomas, who had a shaky game, brought down Kone in the area, and Leahy converted the penalty convincingly. The lead-up to the penalty was another potent reminder of how fragile Charlton’s defending has been this season: Indecisive, on the back foot, and with a distinct lack of leadership.  

The rest of the first half was a flat affair from both teams, with no clear-cut opportunities for either team. Charlton’s strikers struggled with a physical Wycombe defence, and the team couldn’t find their shape and get the passing going.

The gaffer can’t have been too pleased with the first half, and he made a triple substitution at half time. Campbell, LuaLua and Fiorini replaced Anderson, Ness and May. Interestingly, the formation was changed into a 4-3-3, and Aneke replaced Kanu after 57 minutes to add some physicality to the attack. The changes didn’t pay off, and Fiorini’s free kick against the crossbar after 75 minutes was the only touch of class from Charlton all afternoon. 

From a Charlton perspective, this was a game of footbal as dull as you’ll ever see, closing the curtains on a terrible season that should be forgotten as soon as possible. Tyreece Campbell came on and showed that there might be a future for him at Charlton if Nathan Jones is thinking about playing with out-and-out wingers. Thomas, Hector and Bakinson didn’t do anything to convince me or anyone else that they can be at the spine of a promotion-challenging side. Fiorini and LuaLua will obviously be gone, as will Dobson, so new personnel is needed across the board. Next season starts now, so let's not dwell anymore on 2023/24, look forward to a busy summer recruitment-wise, and hit the ground running in August.

 

Artikeln skriven av Jørgen Sørbø, 2024-27-04, 16:24