Four takeaways from Charlton’s 1-0 defeat at Peterborough: Addicks lack of cutting edge highlights deficiencies in shallow squad

Charlton slipped to a first league defeat of the campaign as they were edged out 1-0 by Peterborough United. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from London Road.

SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOMETHING

Positives to take but also a game that highlighted where Charlton are still short. A slow start, punctuated by one good chance at either end, but the game really came to life in the 15 minutes before the break.

Charlton’s big opening came as Pan Camara met Corey Blackett-Taylor’s cross with a firm header that was clawed out by Nicholas Bilokapic. But the new Addicks midfielder’s error led to the game’s only goal. He lost possession just outside the area and Posh capitalised. Two incisive passes were all it took to play Hector Kyprianou in to slide home in first half added time.

The South Londoners really came to life in the second half. Corey Blackett-Taylor was a constant threat although unable to find the target with any of his shots after cutting in. Camara came close again with another header from one of his crosses. Alfie May was denied by the boot of Bilokapic after being slipped in.

Darren Ferguson’s side could have killed it off late on with Jonson Clarke-Harris hitting the upright as the game opened up with the Addicks pushing for a leveller.

But it never came as Dean Holden was left to rue a lack of cutting edge in front of goal. They more than matched a side that will be expected to trouble the top six this season. But they lacked that little bit extra required to get a result.

SQUAD ISN’T READY

A week on from making this exact point after the win over Leyton Orient, it’s still clear that Charlton don’t have the required depth to mount a challenge, yet.

The mounting injury crisis, which saw eight warm bodies left in South London yesterday, doesn’t help but Holden didn’t have a vast abundance of gamechangers to turn to off the bench yesterday.

He also had to start without a proper partner for May up top, even if Jack Payne did look to get involved as much as possible. Charlton have signed a proven goal scorer in May, but he only managed 13 touches of the ball yesterday. That is much lower than anyone else who started from the off – the next lowest being Clarke-Harris with 27. The Addicks have a weapon up front but must give him the ammunition.

There’s an overreliance on Blackett-Taylor to be the man that creates chances. An unfair burden being placed on 18-year-old Karoy Anderson in the middle of the park at this stage in his career.

The players Charlton have brought in are certainly an improvement on last season. But it’s pointless if you don’t back it up with a fully furnished squad. That still needs addressing before the window closes.

GIFTING GOALS

There’s a legitimate claim that all four goals Charlton have conceded in league and cup so far have come from their own errors. Gifting the ball away inside their final-third was a recurring theme on Tuesday at Newport and Camara was guilty of that yesterday.

Holden will be wary that his players can’t be caught dallying in dangerous areas. There wasn’t a great deal in the game when Posh got their goal yesterday and that poor touch from the Ipswich loanee, who otherwise played well, ultimately decided the game in the hosts’ favour.

The Addicks boss will be drilling home the message that his side need to be more proactive on the ball at the back.

SILLY BOOKINGS

Everyone is now aware of the change in rules that sees the officials taking a zero-tolerance view on anything and everything. But it still seems to be taking some getting used to.

Alfie May was carded last week for dissent and found himself in the notepad again at London Road for punching the ball away after it rebounded off the advertising hoardings.

Both indiscretions were minor and would have almost certainly escaped punishment last term.

Boss Holden said “[May] needs to learn from that. That’s cheap and we can’t be having that. They’re the silly ones that you have to avoid.”

Lee Swabey showed a total of 12 yellow cards, including one for each manager. May is not the only one who will need to bring themselves up to speed with the new legislation because the last thing the Addicks need right now are any suspensions.

PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS