Let's talk about the Charlton Athletic playoff game

[Bristol Red Rover]

I can't see this game being played at anything but full pace from the off, and I'm thinking 4 goals plus. Like some of the other play off games I can also see drama and more than a few risky challenges and confrontations. Both sides will be knackered by the end and that could be where the game is decided.

I also think that we'll turn up for this game, we're due a good telly performance. Hopefully Charlton don't turn up - I'm currently hiding their match coach wheels.

[StocksArmy]

I just have the feeling that this Charlton lot have already planned their day out at Wembley? Come on Rovers spoil the party!

[DonnyOsmond]

Been a multiple car crash just after the bridge heading to Lakeside. Some Rovers fans involved.

[PDX_Rover]

Well, it’s not over yet.

Charlton looked spent after we scored. If that goal had come 10 minutes earlier...

I think that Charlton looked better overall tbf. We seemed a bit lethargic. Charlton looked faster, stronger, and worked hard. Looked a very good team.

They play on the break effectively. Taylor and Aribo should have been shackled. Their defenders pretty effectively did a job on Marquis and Wilks.

Lucky goal for the first and a howler from Marco, but we hit the bar and their keeper made some good stops.

So it’s a tough ask. And we need to step up. But, never write us off. Quicker game needed. Far too ponderous today.

[Gelan Swift]

Thought Charlton were poor today...we usually keep possession better, plus shut up shop too early.

Still think we'll have enough to get over the line.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

They got a bit lucky. We didn't give up. Got the important goal and it's game on!

[StocksArmy]

Having a laugh? Done so well to get in the playoffs and we were f***ing toothless. Losing and the players are strolling along. Absolutely gutless, just rolled over for em!

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Still in it, big goal that.  We were sloppy at times and defensively not quite at it first half. But, we are still in it.  First goal on Friday is huge.

[Boomstick]

Decent game, they clearly are a better team though. Gonna need all the luck in the world next Friday.
Very poor attendance from the home fans.
Clearly the wrong decision to give Charlton extra tickets, their fans gave them a huge huge boost. Very very naive from the club. (they aren't football people)
Blair not good enough I'm afraid.
Were missing Mason, should never have let him go.
Could have been alot worse.

[mushRTID]

Shocker from Marosi has cost us in my opinion. It was straight at him.
First goal next week and you never know!

[Chris Black come back]

What happened to Coppinger? Didn’t see hide more hare of him again after he went off at half time.

[PDX_Rover]

Decent game, they clearly are a better team though. Gonna need all the luck in the world next Friday.
Very poor attendance from the home fans.
Clearly the wrong decision to give Charlton extra tickets, their fans gave them a huge huge boost. Very very naive from the club. (they aren't football people)
Blair not good enough I'm afraid.
Were missing Mason, should never have let him go.
Could have been alot worse.

Boomtick in dig at board shocker. Agree Chalrtpm were better than us. We looked lethargic. We’re better than that. But they are a very good side.

Still all to play for imho

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

Shocker from Marosi has cost us in my opinion. It was straight at him.
First goal next week and you never know!

Nice guy but not good enough consistently. Some good saves in fairness to him.  You just have to look back on 11 years ago and Sullivan was outstanding in all 3 games, it is a weakness.

[steve@dcfd]

Charlton where the better side. The two Wilks and especially Sadlier could not get past anybody. Only time Wilks looked slightly dangerous when he moved to the left side and put across with his left foot and we scored. What it did show is to improve our side we will need better players next season. We will be loosing our best players. Anyway miracles might happen on Friday so discussions abut next season will wait.

[Dutch Uncle]

What happened to Coppinger? Didn’t see hide more hare of him again after he went off at half time.

I wonder if he was the one GM said picked up an injury in training and was doubtful?

[steve@dcfd]

Decent game, they clearly are a better team though. Gonna need all the luck in the world next Friday.
Very poor attendance from the home fans.
Clearly the wrong decision to give Charlton extra tickets, their fans gave them a huge huge boost. Very very naive from the club. (they aren't football people)
Blair not good enough I'm afraid.
Were missing Mason, should never have let him go.
Could have been alot worse.

What their support did was to a person stood clapped and supported their team. We don’t do that maybe South Stand but other stands don’t do it sit there on their hands. Totally different culture.

[Chris Black come back]

Could be, Dutch.

He seemed fine on pitch though.

[DonnyOsmond]

Charlton where the better side. The two Wilks and especially Sadlier could not get past anybody. Only time Wilks looked slightly dangerous when he moved to the left side and put across with his left foot and we scored. What it did show is to improve our side we will need better players next season. We will be loosing our best players. Anyway miracles might happen on Friday so discussions abut next season will wait.

Agree. This season were 6th but we're not in the same league as the top 5, were just best of the rest. Next season we need players who are the level of those top 5 teams if we wish to go up and when the loan players go back, we'd only have Marquis (who will probably leave), Whiteman and maybe Copps, Butler and Rowe on their day. After them we have some average League One players, who are good enough as backup but shouldn't be first team.

Edit: Possibly add Sadlier, Crawford and Wright to the list.

[pib]

Can’t fault the effort there really.

Not enough tempo second half until late on but other than a slight lack of quality I don’t think we could’ve given much more.

[colincramb]

They are a much bigger, faster and stronger side than us. I fear it’s a long road back from here but we are capable of special performances every now and again.

The worry for me is I don’t think we will stop them from scoring at home

[Wiltshire Exile]

Decent game, they clearly are a better team though. Gonna need all the luck in the world next Friday.
Very poor attendance from the home fans.
Clearly the wrong decision to give Charlton extra tickets, their fans gave them a huge huge boost. Very very naive from the club. (they aren't football people)
Blair not good enough I'm afraid.
Were missing Mason, should never have let him go.
Could have been alot worse.

And is this you being positive? Give me strength! 

[tyke1962]

Nothing much in the game at all despite  SKY bigging Charlton up throughout in my opinion .

A mad two minutes for Rovers in the first half which was very costly but second half I thought you shaded it .

Absolutely huge goal by Blair , immense , changes the dynamics massively .

This tie ain't done by a long shot .

[Chris Black come back]

What happened to Coppinger? Didn’t see hide more hare of him again after he went off at half time.

I wonder if he was the one GM said picked up an injury in training and was doubtful?

McCann has confirmed that it was Wilks. Has hamstring problem. Lasted 90mims though.

[Boomstick]

Decent game, they clearly are a better team though. Gonna need all the luck in the world next Friday.
Very poor attendance from the home fans.
Clearly the wrong decision to give Charlton extra tickets, their fans gave them a huge huge boost. Very very naive from the club. (they aren't football people)
Blair not good enough I'm afraid.
Were missing Mason, should never have let him go.
Could have been alot worse.

And is this you being positive? Give me strength! 

It's exactly how I see it, there's no point in faux positivity.

[drfchound]

Although Charlton looked dangerous on the break, without doubt we were the better team until the first goal.
After that the confidence seemed to drain away from our players.
We gave it a decent go in the second half but because Charlton were content for us to come on to them they sat back and gave us no space to play or get behind them.
The danger to us was that they might break away for a third goal so we couldn’t go totally gung ho.
Mattys goal is an important one as it changes the tie
At 2-0 we would have been out of it.
Charlton now can’t afford to be too adventurous on Friday because if we can stay in the game it will possibly make them nervous.
It is only half time.

[drfchound]

Decent game, they clearly are a better team though. Gonna need all the luck in the world next Friday.
Very poor attendance from the home fans.
Clearly the wrong decision to give Charlton extra tickets, their fans gave them a huge huge boost. Very very naive from the club. (they aren't football people)
Blair not good enough I'm afraid.
Were missing Mason, should never have let him go.
Could have been alot worse.

8000 home fans in.
Not a poor effort at all.

[Boomstick]

Decent game, they clearly are a better team though. Gonna need all the luck in the world next Friday.
Very poor attendance from the home fans.
Clearly the wrong decision to give Charlton extra tickets, their fans gave them a huge huge boost. Very very naive from the club. (they aren't football people)
Blair not good enough I'm afraid.
Were missing Mason, should never have let him go.
Could have been alot worse.

8000 home fans in.
Not a poor effort at all.

Less than the last play off semi 11 years ago.
Thought the supporter base should have naturally grown since then.
Although a daft Sunday lunchtime probably didn't help.

[Campsall rover]

Having a laugh? Done so well to get in the playoffs and we were f***ing toothless. Losing and the players are strolling along. Absolutely gutless, just rolled over for em!

Don’t talk stupid, what a pathetic post. Get a grip.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

Decent game, they clearly are a better team though. Gonna need all the luck in the world next Friday.
Very poor attendance from the home fans.
Clearly the wrong decision to give Charlton extra tickets, their fans gave them a huge huge boost. Very very naive from the club. (they aren't football people)
Blair not good enough I'm afraid.
Were missing Mason, should never have let him go.
Could have been alot worse.

You're just a WUM. I hope you're enjoying the attention.

This tie isn't over by a long shot. Of course, 2 goals are going to knock some stuffing out of us after getting on top. We got a goal back which is pivotal. I fancy our chances to get through.

If you'd swap today's attendance with the Coventry game, I'd have believed the numbers but that's not important.

Let's see what effect 24k expectant fans have on Charlton. 

[Bristol Red Rover]

The focus on Charlton from the commentators was embarressing - for them.

Perspectives eh! Blair did okay in his position, and he thew his heart into that goal, superb.

Wilks was always dangerous, some great and effective skills, a fab sliding tackle near the end of the first half, some good crossing but equally he still plays head down too much.

Marquis was tireless but dealt with well by their defence.

Kane is a patch of his old self, hopefully he can pull one out of the bag on Friday.

I thought the defence were poor on both their goals. Marosi could have done better for the second but it was far from a gaff.

We started off well till their goal and then looked tired, poor and ponderous passing, ineffective long balls into the box, though also the ball didn't fall for us that much throughout the game.

Second half MUCH better till the last 15 mins or so when we seemed to be heading more towards the first half sluggishness. Downing was pulled back in the box stopping him getting to the ball and a poss shot on goal, a pen in my opinion. And then the goal!

Everywhere has them as favourites which is our advantage. They aren't so mentally tough, vulnerable if we can hold them off long enough on Friday, or even get the goal back, they will get unsettled, as will their crowd.

Set up for a great game