Charlton 1 (Blackett-Taylor 9) Forest Green Rovers 1 (Wickham 45).
Another of their non-committal 1-1 draws saw Charlton sink two further places before settling awkwardly in the lower half of League One. As usual, their effort was beyond reproach but was not matched, despite a scintillating opening 25 minutes, by a corresponding measure of quality. Put bluntly, they shape up as an average side in a below-average division.
Making six changes from the side that lost at Bolton, Ben Garner handed full league debuts to Miles Leaburn, Richard Chin and Jack Payne and recalled Conor McGrandles, Ryan Inniss and Corey Blackett to his starting X1. His willingness to tinker with his squad seemed fully justified as the Addicks set about their ecologically aware visitors from Nailsworth, Gloucestershire with carefree, gung-ho exuberance. After just nine minutes, they tore through token opposition to make an early breakthrough on their way – or so it seemed – to an emphatic victory.
An indispensable member of Garner’s team these days, George Dobson won possession in Rovers’ half and sent Payne scurrying into the heart of their wavering defence. Resisting the temptation to shoot, the sturdy little midfielder instead picked out Blackett-Taylor in space to his left. His decision was richly vindicated as the winger stepped inside Dominic Bernard, took careful aim and sent an unstoppable, right-footed shot past helpless goalkeeper Luke McGee.
Charlton’s excellent goal, although as early as the 9th minute, was almost overdue. Ian Burchnall’s plucky outsiders had been in imminent danger of being overwhelmed by their confident hosts, with Blackett-Taylor’s greyhound pace unplayable on the left and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi in mischievous mood on the opposite flank. Full backs Bernard and Corey O’Keefe were being driven to distraction but were let off the hook by the poor decision-making of their persecutors, particularly that of Rak-Sakyi, who needs to combine his mesmeric ability to go past opponents with a corresponding awareness of the whereabouts of unmarked colleagues. The kid’s in danger of getting carried away by the sheer thrill of beating players and overlooking the point of doing so.
Blackett-Taylor made more of his mastery of Bernard but was unable to replicate his earlier accuracy. After blasting unhandsomely over the bar, he executed a neat one-two with Payne but hit the sidenet with a fierce drive. Several crosses were unproductive until he delivered a peach for Rak-Sakyi, whose downward header forced an outstanding save from McGee. By that time, Rovers had recovered from their rocky start, stayed in the game and were no longer the passive patsies of the early exchanges. In the last minute of a one-sided first half, they took the wind out of local sails by unexpectedly equalising with, it should be said, a little help from their foes.
As Rak-Sakyi’s threat started to fade, Bernard was himself beginning to find space inside the Addicks’ half, where he was untracked by his erstwhile tormentor and disastrously ignored by Sean Clare. Coming inside on to his right foot, Bernard sent over a hopeful, not especially dangerous cross from the left, which seemed to pose little problem for Joe Wollacott. Uncertain whether to punch or catch, Charlton’s normally confident keeper did neither, instead pawing the ball away to Connor Wickham, who was left the simple task of tidying up into an empty net.
Delighted by the reversal of fortune, Forest Green’s attitude changed entirely. Garner’s post-game comments were a bittersweet accolade for their “running the time down” and “management of the game from their perspective.” That’s manager-speak for blatant time-wasting and Rovers proved themselves masters of the dark arts. The second half began to disappear down a hole of their making and Charlton were sucked into it. Four substitutions were made but had little effect, though Jayden Stockley did force a fine save from McGee with a ferocious effort on the turn. Apart from Inniss’ harsh added time dismissal, little else of note occurred and Garner, looking more fed up as his frustration grows, was left to wonder how long he can cope without valid firepower. Leaburn is, after all, still only 18 and better employed as an impact substitute rather than a starter while Stockley has failed to score so far this season. The Looney Tunes decision to extend Chuks Aneke’s contract was presumably made by the world’s most cockeyed optimist; Chuks is certainly the club’s best striker and perhaps its best player; it’s just that he’s consistently unavailable to prove it.
Let down in the last transfer window, Garner is finding out what previous managers have discovered to their cost. Deeds rarely match words at The Valley and all that guff about returning Charlton to “where we belong” is just so much waffle. We look like a mediocre League One side; we play like a mediocre League One side; maybe we actually are a mediocre League One side. There’s a song in that somewhere.
Charlton: Wollacott, Clare, O,Connell, Inniss, Chin (Clayden 72), Dobson, McGrandles (Morgan 59),
Blackett-Taylor (Jaiyesimi 80), Payne, Rak-Sakyi, Leaburn (Stockley 72). Not used: McGillivray, Lavelle,
Forster-Caskey. Booked: McGrandles, Clare. Sent off: Inniss.
Forest Green: McGee, O’Keefe, Bernard, Casey, Hendry, Moore-Taylor, Fiabema, Wickham (Little 80),
Marques, Peart-Harris, Davis. Not used: Thomas, Jones, McAllister, O’Brien, Bunker, Brown. Booked:
O’Keefe, Bernard, Davis.
Referee: John Busby. Att: 10,529 (202 visiting)