Sunday 27 October 2013

Charlton Athletic 0 v Wigan Athletic 0

A reasonable game for the 23,600 gate on the eve of the arrival of hurricane St. Jude. A third successive clean sheet was encouraging but our difficulty in scoring was evident once more and to make matters worse, Yann Kermorgant limped off in the first half. We have the joint lowest goals tally in the division, along with Yeovil Town, both of us having managed only nine goals.

Wigan are a big and strong side and they clearly came with a plan to win the match. Emerson Boyce was outstanding at the back for them and much of what they did started from him winning the ball. We edged the first-half but Wigan won the second-half and came closest to scoring when they rattled the underside of our bar. It was a match of few clear cut chances with both sides guilty of blazing over having fashioned opportunities. Pritchard missed from 15 yards towards the end of the first half and McArthur did similar for Wigan in the second. Yann Kermogant picked up a knock early on which he tried to run off but had to make way for Marvin Sordell. Our chances of scoring were cut at that point and try as Sordell and Church did, neither really came close. 

We played some good stuff down the flanks. Wiggins was particularly busy in the first-half and Wilson contributed well after the break. Cameron Stewart enjoyed a better first-half as a consequence and Pritchard in the second but both full-backs put in as many crosses as the wingers. 

Stephens was my man-of-the-match with some excellent long passing and a much more defensive display than we normally get from him. Jordan Cousins had another solid game although he is still very raw and at times naive. 

Richard Wood was a second substitute to injury having fallen badly in the first-half. Dorian Dervite was brought on to replace him and slotted in nicely. Michael  Morrison shored things up against the combative Holt and Powell.

Overall, it was a committed performance with good energy levels and relatively few mistakes. It's such a pity we can't seem to win one of these games when we run a promotion and fill the ground. 




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