Wanderers’ lack of cutting edge is beginning to become a cause for concern – but Dougie Freedman insists it not a long-term problem.
Not for the first time this season, the Whites boss was left explaining away dropped points at the Reebok.
Playing in front of home fans has somehow become an issue for Freedman’s side, who have lost only three of 11 games, but tellingly won just two.
Of 19 shots at goal, just five landed on target. And considering Wanderers also enjoyed 61 per cent of the possession on the day, it made for a frustrating afternoon for spectators.
That disappointment poured out on the social media networks and phone-ins after the game but Freedman is confident that if his team persist with the patient passing style he is trying to implement, results will follow.
“I thought our performance was great, the approach play was very good,” he said after the game. “We had a golden spell in the first half but you have to take your opportunities.
“We’re disappointed in the result, of course we are, but not in the approach play.
“It is not as if we are not creating opportunities. It is just the final little piece of the jigsaw that just isn’t happening. We have to make sure when we do have all that lovely approach play, which I think is great to watch, and we are not just passing for passing’s sake, we take it to them.”
Yann Kermorgant’s goal just 11 minutes in gave Charlton the advantage – mirroring the poor start Wanderers had made the previous week against Wigan.
“We should have started better,” Freedman conceded. “We gave Charlton that little sniff of a chance in the first 10-15 minutes when they thought they could get something.
“My message in the second half was to get out of the blocks a bit faster and we can’t afford to give up a goal start.”
Freedman reckons Charlton’s more defensive approach in the second half contributed to a poor game after the break with few clearcut opportunities created by either side.
“We dominated possession but what Charlton did is sit deeper and made the game narrower,” he said.
“They packed the midfield and we couldn’t get through, so that’s what made it difficult; credit to them for that.
“I still think we did enough when we broke away but again it was maybe that last decision or final ball that went astray.”
Not for the first time this season, the Whites boss was left explaining away dropped points at the Reebok.
Playing in front of home fans has somehow become an issue for Freedman’s side, who have lost only three of 11 games, but tellingly won just two.
Of 19 shots at goal, just five landed on target. And considering Wanderers also enjoyed 61 per cent of the possession on the day, it made for a frustrating afternoon for spectators.
That disappointment poured out on the social media networks and phone-ins after the game but Freedman is confident that if his team persist with the patient passing style he is trying to implement, results will follow.
“I thought our performance was great, the approach play was very good,” he said after the game. “We had a golden spell in the first half but you have to take your opportunities.
“We’re disappointed in the result, of course we are, but not in the approach play.
“It is not as if we are not creating opportunities. It is just the final little piece of the jigsaw that just isn’t happening. We have to make sure when we do have all that lovely approach play, which I think is great to watch, and we are not just passing for passing’s sake, we take it to them.”
Yann Kermorgant’s goal just 11 minutes in gave Charlton the advantage – mirroring the poor start Wanderers had made the previous week against Wigan.
“We should have started better,” Freedman conceded. “We gave Charlton that little sniff of a chance in the first 10-15 minutes when they thought they could get something.
“My message in the second half was to get out of the blocks a bit faster and we can’t afford to give up a goal start.”
Freedman reckons Charlton’s more defensive approach in the second half contributed to a poor game after the break with few clearcut opportunities created by either side.
“We dominated possession but what Charlton did is sit deeper and made the game narrower,” he said.
“They packed the midfield and we couldn’t get through, so that’s what made it difficult; credit to them for that.
“I still think we did enough when we broke away but again it was maybe that last decision or final ball that went astray.”
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