The lowdown on Wycombe 0 Charlton 0 – Physicality and industry outshine quality in tense League One play-off encounter
Charlton Athletic drew 0-0 at Wycombe Wanderers in the first leg of their League One play-off semi-final on Sunday evening.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Wycombe Wanderers: Norris, Grimmer, Taylor, Bradley, Reach, Humphreys, Leahy, Onyedinma (McCleary), Simons (Westergaard 94), Udoh, Kone. Subs not used: Bakinson, Kodua, Low, Ravizzoli, Sadlier.
Charlton Athletic: Mannion, Watson (Small 71), Ramsay, Jones, Gillesphey, Edwards, Coventry, Docherty, Berry (Anderson 71), Campbell, Godden. Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Gilbert, Hylton, Mbick, Mitchell.
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
Not a classic. The hosts played like a side who wanted to make amends for their 4-0 loss at Adams Park towards the end of last month and definitely mixed it physically with their South London opponents. Chances were at an absolute premium – the same couldn’t be said for over-commitment boiling over. Wycombe top scorer Richard Kone could have seen red for a nasty foul on Kayne Ramsay – instead escaping with a booking. Daniel Udoh suffered no punishment for elbowing Macaulay Gillesphey in the second half. Referee Farai Hallam seemed determined to keep his cards in his pocket. Charlton looked the side more intent on winning the game in the closing stages with Wanderers keeper Will Norris making a fine reaction save from Greg Docherty.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Standard 5-3-2 approach for Charlton, who were boosted by the return of Lloyd Jones and Luke Berry to their starting line-up after being absent due to injury. A number of times the Addicks looked to go from back to front quickly with passes but Wycombe never let their defensive guard drop. One long ball by Karoy Anderson allowed Matty Godden to snap off a shot but Norris pushed it away for a corner. Defensively both sides were strong and the inclusion of Udoh and Fred Onyedinma, both substitutes for the previous fixture between the clubs, definitely gave Wycombe a bit more devil to their attacking play. Charlton once again subdued Kone but equally Tyreece Campbell was largely contained as the hosts quickly doubled up on the pacey attacker.
STAR MAN
Lloyd Jones. I felt Josh Edwards, who recovered from a couple of early attacks when Jack Grimmer went past him, Gillesphey and Jones were the strongest performers on the night. The vice-captain is just such a magnet when it comes to clearing the ball. He made 16 clearances – the most along with Wycombe’s Sonny Bradley – and won a match-high 15 aerial duels.
BEST MOMENT
Godden being in the right place to head Caleb Taylor’s header away from the Charlton goal-line. The Addicks’ top scorer is just as good at sensing the danger in his own box as he is as creating it down the other end.
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Wycombe’s determination to ratchet up the volume of their public address system. How do you react to not selling out your own sections of the stadium for a huge match when there is boisterous and loud support packing out the away end? Try and drown it out. Charlton’s fans were creating a fine atmosphere from about 45 minutes before kick off – even joining in with some of the songs played.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
The obvious debate will have been about Kone not only still being on the pitch for the second half on Sunday but also the fact he is available to lead their attack in the second leg on Thursday. Aside from that, there will have been discussions about the fact it is all square heading back to The Valley – how good a result is that?. Only the three clubs that finished above Charlton in the regulation season took more points at home. It’s been a fortress. It looks and feels like advantage to the Addicks. But this is the play-offs – expect the unexpected.
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“Halfway through the tie it is evenly-poised. I’m not saying we would’ve taken it – because we always want more, but it is not a bad place to be in. We’ve kept a second clean sheet against Wycombe in three weeks.”
PICTURES: PAUL EDWARDS
