In all honesty, it was pretty average game that didn’t have a lot of chances. However, with Charlton being 4th and our run of form, a draw would’ve been a good result.
Match ratings:
Burge, 7 - made a really good save, and was solid, minus 1-2 inconsequential occasions.
Sterling, 7 - played really well in both attack and defence. Those runs down the line kept momentum in our favour, whereas we’d have probably lost the ball with other personnel there.
Willis and Hyam, 7 - solid defensively and Willis (and Sterling) made some brilliant pieces of last ditch defending. Hyam was solid and carried the ball well out in defence.
Mason, 6 - played well in my view, fizzled out a bit in the second half, but he’s more a bit more direct in attack than Brown.
Thomas, 7 - looked threatening and has excellent ball control which lets him glide past 2-3 players and still get a cross in. Needs to work on the end product though and was a bit selfish at times, despite getting the assist for Bayliss.
Kelly, 7 - midfield general, good range of passing minus the occasions he nearly got caught out in Doyle-esque fashion. Makes me think it’s tactical than an individual mistake because we’re pushed so far forward.
Bayliss, 6 - minus the goal, I’d sum up his performance in one word: pedestrian. To me, he looks tired and lacking in confidence, it’s such a shame seeing the fans turn on him. I was so glad he got the goal shortly after a fan shouted ‘ABSOLUTE SHIT!’ about 5-10m before he scored.
Shipley, 6 - does jobs that simply won’t get plaudits and credit but we seem to do better when he plays. In the past, it may be a valid criticism that he doesn’t commit to tackles, not the case yesterday.
Chaplin, 7 - got a nice assist and generally played quite well despite us not creating many chances.
Hiwula, 7 - took his chance for the goal very well. Give him and Chaplin the chance to form a partnership because tactically that’s probably what will suit us the best right now.
JCH, 6 - I don’t get the hate for him, came on and won a fair few headers which keeps momentum on side instead of having the ball constantly in our half. Intelligent sub in my view.
Davies, 6 - came on and defended well
Brown, 6 - same as Davies really, nothing special springs to mind.