Charlton take something from the Hornets' nest

Charlton drew 1-1 at Watford this afternoon, remaining 18th in the Championship.  Matty Godden scored the opener for Charlton in the second half after his introduction.   Godden had apologised for failing to take a scoring opportunity against Bristol City.

Unfortunately the home side equalised, but it was generally agreed that Will Mannion had a good game.

It was a lively start at Vicarge Road.  Tyreece Campbell, back in the side, got to the byline and dug out a cross but Lloyd Jones couldn't get over it and his header goes into the Rookery End behind the goal.  Coady was also back in the side which should please some online managers.   Unfortunately, he had to be stretchered off after a ball hit him in the face in time added on ihe second half.   {He has been discharged from hospital and given the all clear).

At the other end, Nestory Irankunda cuts inside and unleashes a terrific strike with his left foot which was brilliantly tipped away by Addicks keeper Will Mannion.

Charlton started the stronger and hit the post through captain Greg Docherty's close-range header.

Watford struck the woodwork too when Imran Louza's cross bounced off the bar before Mamadou Doumbia's strike just before the break was disallowed for an offside in the build up.

Godden scored his first goal of the season in style by controlling the ball on his chest in front of goal and swivelling to angle in a fierce finish, giving the Addicks hope of a league double in the fixture for the first time in 30 years.

Irankunda had other ideas, cannoning a piledriver off the bar and forcing Mannion to tip his shot away either side of his scintillating fourth goal of the season, continuing the 20-year-old's splendid form after netting twice for his country against fellow World Cup participants Curacao six days ago.

Mannion stopped a Louza shot while Goglichidze and Mattie Pollock sent headers wide as Watford pushed for a winner, before Coady's misfortune caused both sets of players to show their concern for the on-loan Wrexham defender.

Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London: "It's a good point. Watford have outstanding individuals who can change and win a game - players who have cost millions, talented individuals from all over Europe.

"When we got the goal, they made a plethora of positive subs. We found that difficult to contain but we didn't give them any clear-cut chances and, when they shot from distance, Will Mannion had a wonderful game.

"We need to get a win very, very soon, so it just settles everyone down and we can start planning. We'll probably have to lose every game to be embroiled in anything, but the message is to finish the season strongly."

Canaries on song

On form Norwich City took all three points at The Valley this afternoon, an early doors goal being enough to give them a 1-0 win. 

The Charlton defence were forced too deep and this mean that the midfield was unable to contribute as they should have done.   Norwich were much better in the final third than Charlton with the lack of Addicks fire power evident again.

Worrying financial results for Charlton were slipped out before the match began, more on this tomorrow.  

The Canaries were soon in front as Ali Ahmed took on the home defence down the left before laying it back to Mattsson, who was given too much time and picked his spot beyond keeper Will Mannion from 20 yards.

Charlton did not heed their lesson and could have found themselves two down as Paris Maghoma cut inside to create a shooting opportunity for himself, but Mannion went down smartly to push it away.

It took the Addicks half an hour to test Vladan Kovacevic, but Lloyd Jones' header from a Harry Clarke cross was comfortable for the Norwich keeper.

Ahmed was prominent at the start of the second half and Mannion did just enough to foil him as the Canadian tried to get on the end of Mathias Kvistgaarden's ball across the box but Charlton were almost level when Ramsay's header following a corner struck the bar and Harry Clarke's follow-up was blocked.

Mannion remained the busier keeper, saving well from a deflected effort from Maghoma and then going down low to his left to deny Mattsson a second, but his earlier strike was enough to secure Norwich's eighth away win of the campaign.

Nathan Jones was annoyed that Norwich supremo Phillipe Clement would not shake hands with him after the game, stating that it showed a lack of respect.

A rueful manager felt there were multiple factors behind Charlton Athletic’s 1-0 loss to Norwich City today. The Addicks boss was left unhappy at the manner of the winning goal, scored in the fifth minute by Danish midfielder Pelle Mattsson.

But Jones also rued the lack of end product from his Addicks side, who have not netted more than once in a home Championship match in their last 14 fixtures in SE7. Charlton have scored 11 times in those 14 games.

Jones was also deeply unhappy at the performance of referee Will Finnie. The official ignored appeals in the second period when Lloyd Jones had his arm pulled by Ruairi McConville inside the penalty area.

Some fans have also commented on the poor standard of refereeing.

Penalty pain then joy for Charlton

After holding Oxford to 0-0 in a low quality first half, Kayne Ramsay bundled over Oxford starlet Will Lankshear in the box.  (Lankshear was being watched by England Under 21 supremo Lee Carsley).  Mannion dived the right way for the penalty kick, but Brannagan put the ball in the bottom corner.on 57 minutes.

Richard Cawley put out an appeal for video of the penalty incident.   Some Addicks there doubted that it was a penalty.   (Referee Matt Donohue is often VAR at top flight matches).

Shortly afterwards it was almost 2-0 to the hosts.   Will Lankshear gets through and plays a lovely chip over Addicks keeper Will Mannion.  Mannion just gets enough on it to slow it down and give Lloyd Jones enough time to get there and clear the ball off the line.   Good goalkeeping there from Mannion.  (Most Addicks supported his selection).

Coventry was replaced by Jayden Fevrier.

Stanley Mills, son of Danny Mills, was booked for a foul on Luke Chambers.   Danny Mills and Steve Brown were seen in conversation before the game,

Into the last 10 minutes of normal time and Charlton are really going to step this up to get anything from this game, they haven't created anywhere near enough.

The Addicks have had just two shots in the entire match so far and have not tested Jamie Donley in the Oxford goal   Both Leaburn and Campbell have disappointed (although many would say that Campbell never looks interested).   Losing Dykes in the warm up was a real blow.

Ibrahim Fullah and Joe Rankin-Costello were introduced in place of captain Greg Docherty and Luke Chambers.

The Addicks were awarded a late penalty and Kelman scored on 90+3 minutes.   He shot low into the bottom left-hand corner with the keeper diving the right way but unable to connect.

Dumbo Ciaron Brown grabbed hold of the shirt of Lloyd Jones and pulled him to the fkoor after Fullah had put in a decent cross.

Two points off Oxford, one for Charkton.

Mercurial supremo Nathan Jones told Richard Cawley that he blamed his players for the disappointing result: They didn’t stick to the game plan and they didn’t do a single thing I said at half-time. That is why we came unstuck and conceded.'

Defensive worries compounded

Charlton's players gave their all against Chelsea at The Valley last night and Mannion made some great saves.   It was also pleasing to see Miles score.   And the mist really did roll in from the Thames.

The complete absent of Kaminski from the line up was explained by Nathan Jones in terms of rotation which appears to be a new departure in this position.

But now it's back to the grind of staying in the league and Nathan Jones has told Richard Cawley that his defensive worries have been compounded after last night's game.

Amar'i Bell pulled up with a hamstring problem on 74 minutes and not long afterwards Tyreece Campbell felt something and had to be replaced.

The Addicks were already without Kayne Ramsey, Reece Burke and Josh Edwards.

Shell shocked supremo Jones told Cawley that he would like to bring in five defenders during the window, but only two are really feasible and one of those is likely to be Bree whom many fans think has faded from a good start.

Jones: we are looking for one more body

Charlton facing the biggest challenge of their season so far when Leicester City visit The Valley on Saturday.  The Foxes are forecast to finish sixth by Four Four Two.

Richard Cawley reports that Nathan Jones has stated on transfers: "What we probably want to do is add, at least one body. We know the position we need it. Maybe to do that, we want to make sure our numbers are good. "

“The club have been amazing in backing us and they then trusted us to put players out, developing the assets. We have done that. Gassan has got a really good move and started really well. Alex Mitchell has got a move. Kaheim has gone and is in a wonderful place there. It is important if they are not going to impact on us now, it is important we keep developing the asset and sending them to the right clubs."

Nathan Jones revealed that centre-back Reece Burke is back in full training this week. The Charlton boss said goalkeeper Will Mannion missed the Bristol City game due to a "minor accident" but is also back fully up to speed.

Topics covered at today's press conference included Kayne Ramsay's contractual situation, whether one of the senior goalkeepers is set to make an exit and the decision to start Amari'i Bell ahead of Wembley goal hero Macaulay Gillesphey.