Passed Out

I usually opt for the West Upper on a match-by-match basis, but for no particular reason I again tried out the West Lower where my old Premiership season ticket was once located.

So imagine my delight when a minute before kick-off, Charlton's suspended midfielder Jose Semedo sat down two seats away from me alongwith who I assume was Miguel Llera's dad and young son.

When the Portuguese squeezed past me, I can't help thinking he left his foot in. He may have been going for the seat, but it was reckless and unnecessary.

The young Llera meanwhile appeared confident, but then struggled to stay on his feet at the vital moment.

Joking aside, it remains frustrating that despite the obvious team spirit that Phil Parkinson has engendered, we were again out-passed by the opposition.

Charlton are not a passing side. We are a high-tempo side, getting the ball forward quickly, closing down space and trying to feed the ball to a pair of nippy wingers.

Obviously if passing was the be all and end all, then Arsenal would win the Premiership and Doncaster would be flying high in the Championship.

However I fear on this evidence that we may be too easy to 'find out', forcing us into a Plan B in which we are less comfortable.

All the while, technically competent sides like Oldham can pass the ball around us.

For example, every single time either Reid or Wagstaff got on the ball today, they were marked by two players.

Neither full-back was able to get forward in support quickly or energetically enough to tempt one of the defenders away.

With their wide threat thus largely snuffed out, Racon (especially) and McCormack struggled to win the central midfield battle, whilst Martin increasingly took out his frustration on his marginal role with several niggly fouls.

Pawel Abbott used his strength wherever possible to win some quality possession, but there was rarely anyone breaking beyond him.

Whilst taking nothing away from an impressive Oldham side who were always neat and tidy, it was a desperately disappointing performance and it has given me a sharp reality check.

Indeed other than Wagstaff's excellent finish, the home side did not create a single chance of note.

The away side meanwhile were denied by the post (twice), an excellent Rob Elliott save and some desperate defending.

Here are my ratings:

Elliott 8 - well-beaten for the goal, but produced two outstanding saves to salvage a point;
Francis 5 - looked shaky at times; also does it make sense to have one of the best headers of the ball taking some corners?
Jackson 6 - makes Grant Basey look pacy at times, but generally uses the ball well;
Doherty 6 - wins most of his headers, but his clearance for the equaliser was weak and unnecessarily in front of the centre of the goal;
Llera 6 - like Bambi on ice at times, but performed ok on a difficult afternoon;
McCormack 6 - fought hard for every ball but he was let down by his midfield partner;
Racon 4 - virtually anonymous and understandably withdrawn;
Reid 7 - always probing but largely marked out of the game - the lack of movement around him doesn't help him find space;
Wagstaff 6 - another smart finish but like Reid was largely crowded out;
Abbott 6 - a good knock-down for the goal, but lacked support;
Martin 5 - seemed frustrated but did little to alter affairs - needed to get beyond Abbott, not merely play behind him.