THE GAME
Rovers slipped to yet another defeat on the road as Charlton Athletic scored twice without reply at The Valley.
Inigo Calderon shuffled his pack following the defeat at Wigan the previous Saturday and made six changes to his starting lineup. It was all to no avail, though, as another lacklustre performance cost his side and they ended the evening just four points above the relegation places.
And yet it had all started so positively as there were signs in the opening ten minutes that Calderon’s side were up for the fight and determined to bounce back from the disappointment of defeat at Wigan.
Charlton then scored, in the 13th minute and from thereon in it was all downhill for Calderon’s side and had it not been for an excellent first half display by goalkeeper Josh Griffiths then the home side would undoubtedly have won by a much bigger margin.
That opening goal arrived after Tyreece Campbell went for goal, but his sliced effort instead found Matty Godden who comfortably beat Griffiths.
Rovers heads dropped noticeably and Griffiths went on to make crucial first half saves from Godden, Luke Berry, Macaulay Gillesphey and Godden again, and he and his defenders were under a constant barrage of corners (nine in that opening 45 minutes!) and the shot stopper was beaten again on 36 minutes.
On this occasion the goalscorer was Josh Edwards, who collected the ball outside of the area, and cut inside before beating Griffiths with a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Rovers had just one on target effort to show for their efforts and that was a 39th minute free kick taken by Scott Sinclair, who saw his effort saved well by Ashley Maynard-Brewer.
There was a slight improvement shown by Rovers after the break, most noticeably following a triple 58th minute substitution by Calderon. Nevertheless, while the possession stats improved, the on target shot tally didn’t and Charlton looked comfortable sitting on their two goal lead.
Not for the first time this season Rovers lacked an on the pitch leader and with two home games on the bounce next up it’s vital that they begin picking up points.
THEY SAID WHAT?
‘I’ve seen the progress in the team. I see that when we try to play a little bit more, we can create something. In the last third, when we have to create something, we are not doing it. Still, I would say in the middle of the park, I think we have been better than them. It’s true that in the boxes, where you lose or win the game, we were worse than them.
‘We conceded two soft goals, and it’s not on the defenders; it’s on the whole team. We conceded two soft goals the other day as well, and we have to try and avoid that because otherwise, it’s quite obvious that we cannot score so many goals. So, if we concede every single game, it’s going to be difficult.
‘I think it is better for the club with the players we have, I think it is the only way we have to win games. As I say, when we do things right, we can see that. Obviously, keep it in the game longer, and we have to defend better as otherwise, it’s going to be difficult.’ (Rovers Head Coach Inigo Calderon)
‘It was a disappointing night. I felt like in the first ten minutes, we started OK and quite positively. Then, we didn’t react very well to the disappointment of the goal. I don’t think we were hard enough to beat in those moments, especially from that goal probably until the half-time whistle. Obviously, resulting in us being 2-0 down. It needs to be much better.
‘It’s probably been a theme throughout the season. We have to find a way to put that right. I will try not to use too many clichés, but it’s about us being together as a group and being able to respond to that. I don’t think we did it anywhere near well enough tonight, and that’s what we’ve spoken about in there.
‘It’s going to be a tough time. We’re not in a great moment. We’re not in a good situation, looking at the table. So, I think we need to make sure that we’re under no illusions about how difficult the task is going to be from now on. Let’s not look too far ahead. Obviously, we have got a big game coming up on Sunday, and I think the message from me and, of course, the rest of the lads and also the manager is that we need to work. We’ve got work to do. It’s not a time for sulking. It’s not a time for pointing fingers. (Rovers striker Chris Martin)
‘I was pleased with so much. They’re a well coached, difficult side to play against. I thought out of possession we were outstanding – really aggressive, really brave. We defended our box with the high press, we didn’t allow them to get any fluency and then we looked a threat all night.
‘I know we scored two, but the keeper has made two or three really good saves first half. Second half ‘Godders’ has missed one that he lost in the lights, Thierry has had chances and we’ve looked a threat all night. I’m really pleased because these are the games that we’ve come unstuck a little bit.
‘This is a hard working team and we’re really good, really aggressive. When we came in there was a problem keeping clean sheets, three before we came in and two after that, which wasn’t good enough. So last year it was five clean sheets, we’ve kept 12 in the league, three in the cups, it shows that we’ve improved significantly.’ (Charlton manager Nathan Jones)
