The Chairboys continued their solid start back in League One this weekend, heaping more misery on struggling Charlton Athletic. Here are five things we learned from the match at Adams Park:
Nigel Adkins under pressure
The season is only seven games old and there is plenty of time to make up for lost ground. Yet with Charlton Athletic sitting second bottom of the League One table having picked up just four points, alarm bells will be ringing, at least quietly. And the manner of the performance at Adams Park is perhaps more concerning than the result itself. Charlton were second best for 85 minutes – they were often nervous in defence and offered nothing going forward. On many occasions, Wycombe found themselves with space in the box and the second goal was all too easy. As the game progressed the travelling faithful, who were in good voice at the start, made their feelings known with chants ranging from ‘Nigel Adkins, You ain’t got a clue’ to a more sarcastic ‘We’ve had a shot, We’ve had a shot, We’ve had a shot’ when Athletic finally ventured towards the home side’s goal.
72-minutes gone and Wycombe’s David Stockdale wonders whether he needed to come whilst Charlton’s fans wonder why they did.
Patience can be a virtue and Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth was keen to point out that it will take time for Adkins to impose an identity on Charlton with a vast array of new signings. Yet Adkins can ill afford too many more performances like the one in South Bucks on Saturday…
Garath McCleary may be Wycombe’s key player this season
Garath McCleary impressed in spells for Wycombe in The Championship last season but he was by far and away the best player on the pitch at the weekend, a regular thorn in Charlton’s side who looked dangerous every time he was on the ball, scoring with a superb strike and an easy header.
He was removed from the action with ten minutes to go to the relief of the visitors but returned to receive accolades from the crowd, give his shirt to a youngster then sign autographs for fans outside afterwards.
Wycombe aren’t exactly good at closing games out…
There is not a blot on Wycombe’s home copybook thus far this season with three wins out of three. Yet in each of those matches they have ended up holding on at the death and, as with the 2-1 opening day win over Accrington, the victory was more comfortable than the scoreline might suggest. McCleary aside, Wycombe’s starting line-up was lacking in goals and for all the decent forward play and openings, Charlton goalkeeper Craig Macgillivray wasn’t put under significant pressure with Curtis Thompson and Jack Grimmer (two players with just one Wycombe goal between them in over two years) having the best chances.
Wycombe are hardly weak in defence and maybe their control and dominance of the game lead them into a false sense of security, allowing Charlton back in towards the end. But they need to keep the concentration levels up and learn to become even more effective and ruthless in the final third or eventually, they will be ruing dropped points.
The Chairboys are negotiating a tough run of fixtures pretty well
Wycombe have faced five sides in a row that many would have considered promotion contenders at the start of the campaign – Wigan Athletic, Lincoln City, Sunderland, Oxford United and Charlton. To come through that run with eight points is no mean feat and solidifies the Chairboy’s as promotion contenders themselves.
They face high-flying Milton Keynes next week before October sees them take on five of the division’s current bottom eight sides, and they should go into those games with every confidence.
December 2006 was a long time ago
Tuesday 19 December 2006 was a special night for Wycombe Wanderers. In South London that evening, the then League Two side knocked then Premier League side Charlton Athletic out of the League Cup at the quarter-final stage. It was the last time Wycombe had beaten Charlton and the last time they won a league cup tie in 90 minutes.
One of those unwanted runs has come to an end and they can now turn their focus to the next one as they head north on Tuesday. Standing in their way – English champions, League cup holders, Champions League finalists and multi-millionaires, Manchester City.
Wycombe beating City would be a shock but it wouldn’t be the first time…
words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Wycombe Wanderers writer