Inconsistency costing Charlton as they look to escape the relegation battle.
If there is one thing that the Championship is, it’s unpredictable.
No one can ever predict how this league will ever go. Results at the weekend just managed to prove that point. Anyone can beat anyone in this league and that is what makes it so enjoyable to watch and be part of.
Whoever is to win promotion and avoid relegation needs to show the consistency needed to make sure they don’t get dragged into a nasty bottom three battle. That is exactly what Charlton Athletic need to do.
The Addicks are lacking consistency and at this moment in time, it is costing them the chance to move away from the bottom three. The results below them on Saturday are a cause for concern. Barnsley’s 3-0 win at Fulham, combined with Luton’s 1-0 win at Middlesbrough means the battle at the bottom is hotting up.
Luton head to The Valley on Saturday afternoon. Victory for the Hatters would leave them just three points behind Lee Bowyer’s side and leave Charlton in the mix of a relegation battle with some tough fixtures still to come.
Charlton’s next six fixtures will define their season. They play Luton next, followed by a trip to faltering Sheffield Wednesday then, a potential relegation six-pointer away to Huddersfield. That is followed by another six-pointer at home to Middlesbrough followed by a trip to Hull and a visit of QPR to SE7. Failure to win at least two of those fixtures could well see Charlton plunged deep into the relegation battle that no one wants to be part of.
You would think a home tie against Blackburn Rovers would be a good chance to build on the midweek win over Nottingham Forest. However, as resilient Rovers arrived in SE7 on Saturday. A Rovers side who still harbour hopes of the top six came and put in a clinical performance.
Charlton started well, Lyle Taylor and Tomer Hemed both went close early on, forcing saves out of Blackburn keeper Christan Walton.
That would be all the joy for the opening period as Blackburn began to get into the game. Adam Armstrong is a class act and punished Charlton every-time he was given the opportunity to.
John Buckley cooled the away side’s nerves cutting inside from the wing, his shot took a few deflections and crept in past Dillion Phillips from that moment on the away side didn’t look back. They passed the ball around well, looking sharp and with intent. Armstrong getting into positions behind the Charlton defence causing havoc for three centre-halves of Jason Pearce, Tom Lockyer and Naby Sarr.
The second goal was not too far away. In fact, just nine minutes later it arrived. David Davis was harshly penalised for a foul on Buckley. Stewart Downing, as he has done for years delivered a perfect delivery for Tosin Adarabioyo to dispatch past Phillips and put Rovers into a commanding position going into the break.
In all fairness, it could have been worse for Bowyer’s side. Jason Pearce looked to have brought down Dominic Samuel but the referee gave the foul in favour of the Charlton skipper.
Lee Bowyer changed things at half-time bringing on Matt Smith in place of Jason Pearce as Charlton went to a flat back four. It did improve things. Lyle Taylor twice went close from free-kicks and Josh Cullen forced Walton into a superb stop. However, Charlton lacked the cutting edge.
That can not happen next weekend. As the visit of the Hatters is one of huge importance. A win for Addicks would mean a bit of daylight between themselves and Luton but should the Hatters win it really does become squeaky bum time with 12 games to go and just three points separating the two sides.
Picture: Kyle Andrews