Saturday 27 October 2012

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Charlton Athletic 1

Yet another very competitive outing and another draw. We went with the same side that started at Leeds but didn't dominate the midfield in the same way we did at Elland Road. Wolves created more in the first-half, but we came back strongly and Rob Hulse squandered four good second-half chances to have opened his account for the Addicks and won the game for my bet.

The good news is that Lawrie Wilson was on hand to knock home one of Hulse's   missed opportunities and that was enough to earn us the point. Lawrie Wilson was roundly criticised after his first couple of appearances by a large number of Charlton fans, many of whom, quite frankly, were looking for their next scapegoat and are pretty clearly poor judges of a player. Hats off to Chris Powell again here for bringing Wilson to the club. Lawrie has played wherever he has been asked to and, for me, he has been one of the highlights of the season so far.

Middlesborough and Cardiff to come at the Valley next and we really must be looking to record our fourth win of the season having performed so well at Leeds and Wolves. Rob Hulse must be pretty frustrated but he is an experienced professional and he knows the goals will come. Wright-Phillips should also respond well to getting back in the side but the big question will be whether or not Chris Powell is prepared to give up a five-man midfield. The new look five have earned their corn and, much as I prefer a more attacking formation at home, I won't complain if he starts again with the same line-up.

We are sitting in 20th place this evening which feels completely false given how competitive we have been in every game. I think of the Barnsley game when they looked very well organised and in control and yet we matched them for most of the game were by no means outclassed. Palace pressed us and got the lead but we threw everything at them and should have snatched a late equaliser. As I have said before, I think we showed Forest too much respect and were far too unadventurous, but everywhere else we have been in with chances and have been unfortunate not to score a few more goals which would have brought us another eight or nine points. I am expecting things to even up a bit and for us to be mid-table by New Year. Cliche I know, but we are still learning in this division.

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