The lowdown on Charlton Athletic 0 Reading 0 – Goalless draw doesn’t tell the full story
Charlton made it six games unbeaten as they were somehow held to a goalless draw at The Valley.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Gillesphey, A Mitchell, Jones, Edwards, Small, Coventry, Berry, Docherty, T Campbell (Godden 88), Leaburn (Aneke 81). Subs not used: Mannion, Edmonds-Green, Anderson, A Campbell, Ahadme.
Reading: Pereira, Dean, Bindon, Mbengue, Kanu, Knibbs, Savage, Wing, Abrefa (Ahmed 71), Smith, Garcia (Wareham 86). Subs not used: Button, Rushesha, Holzman, Sackey, Osho.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
It was aimless, but it wasn’t just for show. Despite forcing 18 shots and dominating long stretches of the game,
Charlton was unable to produce a winner. Ten minutes after the half, Tyreece Campbell’s score was disallowed for
offside. Joel Pereira, the custodian for the Royals, made a string of outstanding saves to keep out players like Greg
Docherty and Miles Leaburn. However, he also nearly gave the former a goal when he lost a straightforward cross at
the feet of the strikers, but Harlee Dean’s goal line block saved him.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Nathan Jones named an unchanged side for the fourth game on the spin – looking to stick with the winning formula
that had taken maximum points from the last three outings.
Reading enjoyed the better of the opening quarter-hour, but the Addicks then grew into the contest with Thierry
Small a real outlet for the home side from right wing-back again.
The visitors had a spell shortly after the restart – with Ashley Maynard-Brewer making a good save to deny Sam
Smith – but once again it was Charlton who took over as they found plenty of joy playing through the Reading half.
Chuks Aneke, on his return from a three-month spell in the treatment room, was brought on with 10 minutes to play.
Matty Godden followed from the bench soon after, but Nathan Jones’ side were incapable of finding that pivotal,
match winning moment.
STAR MAN
Thierry Small. Caveated with the need to improve that end product, he was a real pain down Reading’s left and caused plenty of problems. Easy to forget he was playing out of position once more.
BEST MOMENT
Lloyd Jones’ heroic block from Harvey Knibbs’ close-range chance early on. There’s a contract extension that Nathan
Jones will be eager to get sorted.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Referee Scott Oldham seeing fit to bring The Valley’s applause for those lost in 2024 to a halt before all the names
had scrolled down the big screen. An emotional celebration for a lot of bereaved Addicks fans was ruined.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
There’s been a clear improvement over the last few weeks. Six unbeaten and playing a more fluid brand of football, it
seems that Nathan Jones is finally starting to see the fruits of his labour materialise on the field of play.
They would have won that game on a different day, but their lack of quality in front of goal disappointed them.
In the right-sided round hole, Thierry Small is turning out to be a more balanced player than anticipated. Miles
Leaburn’s full recovery and Lloyd Jones’s return from injury have also contributed to the change.
The midfield is being used more than it has been this season.
Even though the Addicks still have a long way to go before they can return to play-off contention this season, there is
at least some indication that things are finally clicking on the pitch.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“We gave a great performance, and I’m incredibly happy of it. There have been enough opportunities for us to win
handily. Aside from the one time they turned the ball over and asked us to make a save, we were absolutely fantastic.
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