MATCH REPORT: Charlton Athletic 1-1 Sunderland

An exciting, competitive game saw Sunderland leave London with just a point, but both Charlton and their promotion rivals may feel as if they could’ve got more from the game.

At the start of play, Charlton had scored in every league game but three so far this season, and their opposition, who sat just one place above them, had scored in every league game. This meant that whatever the result, a 0-0 draw was all but off the table. This was proved in a matter of 107 seconds when left back Reece James’ floating cross found fellow full back Luke O’Nien at the back post, who coolly volleyed the ball high into the opposite corner to put the Mackems 1-0 up almost immediately.

This set the tone for most of the first half, as Sunderland suppressed Charlton’s diamond-shaped midfield and limited them to shots from the edge of the box, keeping dangermen Taylor and Grant, who have an astonishing 23 league goals between them this campaign, relatively quiet in the opening 45 minutes, the closest shot coming from midfielder Krystian Bielik, which sailed just wide of the top-right corner. At the other end, American Lynden Gooch saw a shot smack against the bar and rebound out of play off Wyke’s head, who admittedly didn’t know too much about the chance as it came back off the woodwork.

What was evident in the first half was the immaculate off-the-ball work Sunderland were performing, making it very difficult for Charlton to get the ball out wide and do some damage. Towards the end of the half, Charlton started getting into the game, getting further up the field and looking as if they were settling into the match. The half-time whistle thus prompted a collective sigh of relief from the travelling Sunderland fans.

Second Half

If the first half could’ve been deemed Sunderland’s, then the second half was definitely Charlton’s. I struggled to comprehend that the teams who left the field at half-time were the same ones coming on to it for the second 45, as Charlton immediately came at Sunderland in search for an equaliser. Pushing players a bit wider and instructing Lyle Taylor to run at Reece James worked wonders for Charlton, who always looked as if they may score when they went forward. This equaliser came less than 5 minutes after the restart, after a shot/cross courtesy of Taylor deflected off of Reece James and past McLaughlin to make it 1-1.

Game on

It was more of the same after the goal too, as Sunderland couldn’t respond effectively and thus Charlton continued to press for another goal, with the two most notable chances coming from Pratley and Grant, both of which should’ve hit the back of the net, but somehow went wide of the post. A double let-off for the Wearsiders.

It was sustained pressure without reply until about the 75th minute, when Sunderland began threatening to score themselves after the introduction of Duncan Watmore, who has just come back from a lengthy absence and it shows, as he couldn’t finish when the ball fell to him 8 yards out late on, and thus the points were shared at the Valley.

Verdict

I was definitely annoyed on my walk to Charlton Station and the ensuing train journey, but after mulling it over I realised it was actually a very good point, and one that will seem a lot better should we beat Luton next week. Charlton are a very good team, and one I expect to see in and around the top of the table at the end of the season, so I can hardly be too upset about the result, especially since both sides could well have won it but for some questionable finishing. Given that Charlton have lost twice at home all season, I very much see this as a point gained as opposed to two dropped. It was also nice to see Maja put in a good performance amidst the contract drama currently taking place off the pitch, and it was also nice to see the supporters show their appreciation for that fact.

MOTM

For Sunderland, I’d say our best player was either big Jon McLaughlin between the sticks or Flanagan in defence, but I’d lean towards the former. For overall MOTM though, I must give it to Charlton man Lyle Taylor. He ran the game in the second half, and I can see why so many wanted him in the summer, he’s a top top player and always looked dangerous going forward.

words Alex Gardner, D3D4 Sunderland correspondent