Charlton made it six games unbeaten as they were somehow held to a goalless draw at The Valley.
Here is the lowdown on the match.
THE LINE-UPS
Charlton Athletic: Maynard-Brewer, Gillesphey, A Mitchell, Jones, Edwards, Small, Coventry, Berry, Docherty, T Campbell (Godden 88), Leaburn (Aneke 81). Subs not used: Mannion, Edmonds-Green, Anderson, A Campbell, Ahadme.
Reading: Pereira, Dean, Bindon, Mbengue, Kanu, Knibbs, Savage, Wing, Abrefa (Ahmed 71), Smith, Garcia (Wareham 86). Subs not used: Button, Rushesha, Holzman, Sackey, Osho.
Picture: Paul Edwards
SNAPSHOT OF THE GAME
Goalless but it wasn’t for the want of trying. Charlton dominated large spells of the match, forcing 18 shots but they were just unable to find a winner. Tyreece Campbell saw a goal disallowed 10 minutes after the interval for offside. Royals goalkeeper Joel Pereira made a clutch of impressive saves to deny the likes of Miles Leaburn and Greg Docherty but also almost gifted the former a goal when he dropped a routine cross at the strikers’ feet – only to be bailed out by Harlee Dean’s goal line block.
TACTICAL APPROACH
Nathan Jones named an unchanged side for the fourth game on the spin – looking to stick with the winning formula that had taken maximum points from the last three outings.
Reading enjoyed the better of the opening quarter-hour, but the Addicks then grew into the contest with Thierry Small a real outlet for the home side from right wing-back again.
The visitors had a spell shortly after the restart – with Ashley Maynard-Brewer making a good save to deny Sam Smith – but once again it was Charlton who took over as they found plenty of joy playing through the Reading half. Chuks Aneke, on his return from a three-month spell in the treatment room, was brought on with 10 minutes to play. Matty Godden followed from the bench soon after, but Nathan Jones’ side were incapable of finding that pivotal, match winning moment.
STAR MAN
Thierry Small. Caveated with the need to improve that end product, he was a real pain down Reading’s left and caused plenty of problems. Easy to forget he was playing out of position once more.
BEST MOMENT
Lloyd Jones’ heroic block from Harvey Knibbs’ close-range chance early on. There’s a contract extension that Nathan Jones will be eager to get sorted.
2S1KP6F London, England. 4th Jan 2025. Tyler Bindon and Tyreece Campbell challenge for the ball during the Sky Bet EFL League One fixture between Charlton Athletic and Reading FC at The Valley, London. Kyle Andrews/Alamy Live News
MOAN OF THE MATCH
Referee Scott Oldham seeing fit to bring The Valley’s applause for those lost in 2024 to a halt before all the names had scrolled down the big screen. An emotional celebration for a lot of bereaved Addicks fans was ruined.
A TALKING POINT DOWN THE PUB
There’s been a clear improvement over the last few weeks. Six unbeaten and playing a more fluid brand of football, it seems that Nathan Jones is finally starting to see the fruits of his labour materialise on the field of play.
They were let down by a lack of quality in front of goal but would have won that game on another day.
Thierry Small is proving a rounder peg in the right-sided round hole that expected and has helped bring a balance to the side. Lloyd Jones returning from injury and Miles Leaburn rediscovering full fitness have also helped made a difference.
There’s more playing through the midfield than there has been all season.
Whilst the Addicks have certainly still given themselves a mountain to climb to get back into play-off contention this year, at least there’s finally a suggestion that things are coming together on the field.
Picture: Paul Edwards
WHAT THE BOSS HAD TO SAY
“I’m really proud of the performance, we were excellent. We’ve had enough chances there to have won comfortably. They have one chance where they turn the ball over and ask us to make a save, but apart from that we were really, really outstanding.”