Reading 2 (Savage 66, Smith 76) Charlton 0.
From the comfort of his favourite chair, Kevin Nolan watches Charlton revert to type at Reading. He’s seen it all before, more times than he can recall. He remembers Selhurst Park with nostalgia, co-authored Mike Small’s autobiography and, until he forgot what it was, had a good word for Roland Duchatelet. You could say he paid some dues along the way.
Charlton’s promising start to the season hit the buffers at Reading’s romantically titled Select Car Leasing Stadium, where two expertly taken second half goals made a mess of their perfect 3-0 record. They could hardly complain at the outcome, though a seething Nathan Jones took grave exception, not only to the sloppy defending that led to the second goal, but also to the myopic refereeing which overlooked a furtive but flagrant handling offence inside the Royals’ penalty area and denied the Addicks a “stonewall” penalty when the issue was still in doubt.
Hardly a fence-straddler, Jones was typically forthright in his comments about each issue. “I’m just disappointed on all levels”, he declared, his obvious chagrin making it evident that disappointment was a painfully inadequate description of his mood. “Physically, we were a mile off in the first half and the second half we should have had a pen. It was a stonewall penalty.”
Warming to his theme, the emotional boss expressed disgust at Reading’s 76th minute game-clincher, declaring it “a disgrace, an absolute disgrace. I’m raging so much today, this isn’t going to be a good interview. I’ve just got to be honest, I’m going off my nut” he continued, before sympathising with Charlton’s travelling road runners. “I feel sorry for them today, they’ve been let down badly.”
Jones hasn’t been around long enough to recognise the rinse-and-repeat nature of Charlton’s performance. Away from home last season, they reprised it often enough until it became almost a cliche. They flattered to deceive on so many occasions before finding a way to lose, then routinely vowing to “learn from their mistakes”… blah, blah, blah.
A stubborn, pragmatic display at Wigan on opening day offered understandable hope that a different attitude had been adopted, wherein errors had been eliminated and defending became the corporate responsibility of all hands. Two uncompromising clean sheets blunted Leyton Orient and, more impressively, Bolton Wanderers, but there is still obvious improvement to be made on the road.
Not that there was much Charlton could do to prevent the Biscuitmen’s first goal, which arrived when a creditable 0-0 draw appeared to be the least of their ambitions. There was no obvious danger as Charlie Savage carried Ben Elliott’s pass within shooting distance before detonating an uninhibited drive which left Will Mannion well beaten and found the net off his right hand post. More than a chip off his old man Robbie’s block, Charlie seems intent on building a block all his own. He seems a likeable lad – more likeable than his dad.
Ten minutes later, the Royals sealed the issue with another goal which, from their point of view. had similar merit but was entirely avoidable, according to an irate Nathan Jones. Launching a lightning-quick fast counter after clearing a Charlton corner, their breakout was triggered by Michael Craig’s alert pass, which sent Akande speeding through an undermanned rearguard on his way along the right touchline towards the byline. The impressive winger delivered a low, measured cross which Sam Smith turned past Mannion from close quarters.
Charlton, meanwhile, had their moments and enjoyed the game’s first chance when Macaulay Gillesphey’s cross was shanked by Jeriel Dorsett out to Tyreece Campbell, whose sliced effort veered badly off target. As the Addicks closed a sterile first half brightly, a surging solo run by skipper Greg Docherty carved an opportunity for Luke Berry, who made meaty contact with a right-footed half volley, which Pereira brilliantly parried.
Two half chances, the first volleyed over the bar by Docherty, promised more from the visitors in the early stages of the second half. It was promptly followed by Campbell’s hard driven cross, which fractionally eluded the fruitlessly toiling Gassane Ahadme on its way to safety. But apart from an added time header from Docherty, which Pereira spectacularly saved, the Addicks were comfortably beaten. Thanks to Kayne Ramsay’s brave recovery tackle after a dawdling Mannion was caught in possession by Akande, further damage was avoided and spared an already exasperated Nathan Jones additional palpitations.
There was no undue celebration of Charlton’s solid start to the new season. Nor should there be any kneejerk reaction to their first defeat. Nine points from the twelve available is entirely satisfactory but those points were accrued by a team without an obvious forward line, an observation which in no way implies criticism of either Ahadme or Tyreece Campbell. But if it’s goals that count, it might not be wise to expect too many from either of those sources.
Reading: Pereira, Craig, Mbengue, Bindon (Dean 73), Dorsett (Abrefa 63), Elliott, Wing, Savage, Akande (Tuma 87), Smith, Ehibhatunham. Not used: Boyce, Rushesa, Wareham, Garcia. Booked: Mbengue, Smith, Dean, Abrefa.
Charlton: Mannion, Ramsay, Mitchell, Lloyd Jones, Gillesphey, Berry (Anderson 46), Coventry, Docherty, Small (Kanu 78), Ahadme (Aneke 68), Tyreece Campbell (Godden 68). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Edmonds-Green, Allan Campbell. Booked: Berry.
Referee: Thomas Kirk. Att: 14,778 (2,684 visiting).
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