Portsmouth 0 Charlton 2: Neil Allen's verdict - Defeat on a bleak day when hearts and minds were elsewhere

A shrug of the shoulders in defeat reflected neither acceptance or apathy.
Andy Cannon is dejected after Chuks Aneke puts the game beyond Pompey's reach after grabbing Charlton's second in their 2-0 success. Picture: Joe PeplerAndy Cannon is dejected after Chuks Aneke puts the game beyond Pompey's reach after grabbing Charlton's second in their 2-0 success. Picture: Joe Pepler
Andy Cannon is dejected after Chuks Aneke puts the game beyond Pompey's reach after grabbing Charlton's second in their 2-0 success. Picture: Joe Pepler

Merely acknowledgement of more important matters to occupy our thoughts during a bleak Saturday in which the relevance of a Fratton Park football match barely registered.

Pompey’s previous home loss a fortnight earlier against Doncaster prompted a crescendo in terms of calls for Kenny Jackett’s dismissal.

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What followed were three wins, nine goals, two clean sheets and residency in League One’s fifth spot. Quite a response.

Saturday brought that recent impressive revival to a shuddering halt, with promotion rivals Charlton claiming a 2-0 triumph.

Yet there was no vociferous backlash among a Fratton faithful still overwhelmingly unconvinced over their manager.

Perhaps a reflection of that improved burst of form or maybe an indication of a decent display which crucially lacked quality in the final third.

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The truth is attention had largely been diverted towards the impending bombshell of a fresh lockdown, to be delivered by Boris Johnson that evening.

Players and staff pay tribute on Saturday with a minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday. Picture: Joe PeplerPlayers and staff pay tribute on Saturday with a minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday. Picture: Joe Pepler
Players and staff pay tribute on Saturday with a minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday. Picture: Joe Pepler

Football has proven a welcome diversion during uncertain times, but not on Saturday. Hearts and minds were understandably elsewhere.

This was no time for recriminations directed at poorly performing players or ineffective formations, life outside of football took precedence on the day both clubs paid pre-match tribute to the fallen in the final home fixture before Remembrance Sunday.

A recording of the voice of the late John Jenkins poignantly filled Fratton Park before kick-off, followed by a broadcast rendition of the Last Post. Former Royal Marine Kev McCormack donned a green beret and saluted throughout the occasion in another touching moment.

Sometimes we all need reminding of life’s priorities.

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Charlton followers may not share such sentiment, of course, considering their winning outcome from the trip to the south coast amid a display which won the admiration of those present.

Yet they would also appreciate it was an occasion when football was secondary, irrespective of the result.

Still, Lee Bowyer’s side are well-drilled, hard to break down, defensively impregnable and, despite creating barely anything, still scored two more goals than their hosts.

The 2-0 success was fully deserved and suggested there exists a sizeable gap between the teams on display, which perhaps was not as evident during the match.

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Pompey were far from second best, they dominated for large spells, dictated play and demonstrated an urgency and tempo in the second half especially which could not be criticised.

Ultimately, though, they lacked the necessary nous and guile to prise apart Charlton’s stubborn backline to force their way into the penalty area and offer a reasonable goal threat.

As a consequence, keeper Ben Amos had little involvement as his team-mates defended their penalty area magnificently throughout.

It would be harsh to criticise the attacking capabilities of a side which rattled in four goals against Northampton in the week, with Ryan Williams and John Marquis instrumental.

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Unfortunately, however, they failed to rediscover such heights, while the talismanic Marcus Harness was fitful and Ronan Curtis is still searching for his form during the campaign’s early stages.

Indeed, it was the Irishman who would spurn the Blues’ best chance on five minutes, when he rifled a first-time shot from Harness pass wide of the target. Most disappointing of all, he was seven-yards out and on his favoured right foot.

That encouraging start also saw him fail to connect with an attempted header from Lee Brown’s free-kick and then also couldn’t capitalise after Ryan Williams had sparked another opportunity through an interception.

In terms of goal-scoring opportunities, the opening 20 minutes would prove to be Pompey’s purple patch. Sadly, they wouldn’t again offer the same threat against Charlton.

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Not that Jackett’s men were lacklustre or lacked enthusiasm, they settled into a pattern of dominance on the ball, switching systems and employing all three substitutes, albeit one enforced.

Nonetheless, they could find no way through a side who recorded their sixth consecutive league clean sheet in the process.

Perhaps the manner of the result suggested more about Charlton’s strengths rather than the Blues’ failings, for the scoreline didn’t quite reflect what was witnessed.

Yet for all Pompey’s huffing and puffing, they couldn’t sufficiently threaten an underused Amos, with a final ball usually lacking to accompany some excellent approach play.

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Still, nobody can accuse Jackett of sitting back waiting for a breakthrough, he was imaginative and drove his side in pursuit of reversing the deficit after Jonny Williams’ 26th-minute opener.

After the interval, he reverted to a 4-2-3-1, with Harness pushed wide right and Ryan Williams coming into the 10, a tactic employed for a similar period against Northampton.

There appeared to be a 4-1-2-1 at one stage, with man-of-the-match Andy Cannon and Ryan Williams serving as the two behind John Marquis.

Then, upon Ellis Harrison’s 64th-minute introduction, he operated with two up front once more, partnering Marquis in a two-pronged attack.

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All tactical switches maintained Pompey’s dominance on the ball, they pushed forward with urgency and malice. The entire second half operated with the hosts on the front foot.

However, they failed to break into Charlton’s penalty area, even when Akin Famewo’s injury 16 minutes from time left them without a recognised centre-half.

It was magnificent organisation from the visitors, who themselves barely mustered up an attacking threat, yet had the comfort of that first half opener to defend.

That pivotal moment arrived on 26 minutes, when Jake Forster-Caskey delivered a sublime diagonal pass to the far post which was brilliantly steered back across goal first time by left-back Ian Maatsen.

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There was Williams to cap a lovely move by connecting from close range, ramming the ball high into the net.

From that moment, Charlton rallied around their penalty area, except for one second-half break when Chuks Aneke drew a low save from Craig MacGillivray on the counter.

Although, on 82 minutes, the substitute sealed victory when Paul Smyth flung in a deep cross from the right to the far post, with Callum Johnson the wrong side of the towering striker.

It was almost too easy for Aneke to apply the headed finish and complete the 2-0 scoreline.

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For Pompey, a third Fratton Park defeat already following a season in which they had been undefeated on home turf – dropping into seventh spot after 10 games.

But there were more important matters on the agenda that Saturday evening. Real life.

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