Report – Charlton 3-1 Walsall

The Saddlers suffered another away defeat at the hands of Charlton in what was a truly poor second half performance.

Jon Whitney made just one change with Tyler Roberts coming in for Reece Flanagan with Marseille and Rangers scouts in the stand casting their eye ove him.

Before the game there was a minutes applause to remember Cyrille Regis – with the Walsall fans starting a rendition of ‘there’s only one Cyrille Regis’, nice touch.

It was the home side as you would expect that offered the most threat with Mengennis forcing a superb save by Liam’s Roberts. The hosts took the lead not long after as Walsall failed to deal with a cross, Aribo volleyed it past Liam Roberts – after last week you can’t really criticise but he should have done better as it just bundled into the net.

Mavididi then turned with pace on the edge of the area before unleashing a thunderbolt which cannoned off the crossbar, however despite the onslaught of Charlton attacks – the Saddlers somehow grabbed a goal on the stroke of half time. Another superb cross from Luke Leahy found the head – yes the head of Erhun Oztumer and was guided into the far corner.

The Saddlers started the second half brightly with Edwards hitting the bat from distance and Baka somehow missing a one on one which found the side netting but as with the first half Charlton launched wave after wave of attacks and it was just a matter of time against a Walsall side low on confidence.

First an own goal by Kory Roberts. Roberts tried to get his foot around it and steer it away for a Charlton corner but he perfectly placed it under the on rushing Liam Roberts and into the bottom corner.

Then it was Liam Kinsellas turn, more or less the same finish as Kory Roberts as he slotted under the outcoming goalkeeper.

I think most would have expected us to lose yesterday but the manner of the performance and the manner of how we defended will set even more alarm bells ringing with the Saddlers just three points above the drop.

With another Saturday free weekend, you would hope that investment will be given to the playing side and we can somehow try and avoid making this season a catastrophic one.