Charlton 2 Walsall 0 - Analysis

Four games into the season, five if you include the Carling Cup, there are signs of struggle thanks to Miguel Angel Llera and Scott Wagstaff goals at Charlton.

It is far too early to state this will be a difficult campaign, but the Saddlers need to get their act together fast.

Take the last few games as an example. Losing at lower league adversary Accrington, throwing away three – almost guaranteed points – versus a similarly skilled Southend side, battling to a harsh defeat against Leeds and being rolled over by the Addicks.

Don't say that hasn't got the hallmarks of a relegation campaign. The checklist is out and the boxes have been ticked.

Four points doesn't represent a tally deserved by the Saddlers, but rarely do struggles happen without a few hardships.

Manager Chris Hutchings admitted afterwards his side were struggling to find their stride, after a summer which saw the revolving door at Essington spin again.

But play a right-winger on the right wing and he should know what to do. A striker isn't averse to playing up front and a defender will know how to keep the ball away from the goal.

The players, professionals, have been with each other every day for almost two months. Like everything, it does take time. But on Saturday there was very little suggest they would be gelling any time soon.

Hutchings won't be adverse to pressure – he was managing in the Premier League with Wigan two years ago – and realises he must be judged now.

His post-match press call was conducted with an icy steel, he was seething and it wasn't difficult to see why. His side had surrendered the moment they got to The Valley. There was no battling spirit, no determination and – above all – no passion.

There was an acceptance of defeat. Never did Walsall look like they would grind a result out.

Charlton keeper Rob Elliot may as well have unfolded his deck chair, slipped on the flip-flops and sipped a Pina Colada.

They have still only scored once in open play from their first five games – and even that was an own goal. Chances were at a premium. Steve Jones and Peter Till – Hutchings' wing wonders – barely made an impact.

The widemen were given little opportunity to impose themselves on the game as the Saddlers' ball retention was so poor. Time and time again – when they were given the rare chance of possession – they squandered it.

Skipper Mark Hughes laid it on the line afterwards – you must keep the ball at places like Charlton. Frustrate and irritate. The Saddlers did neither but - had they done - you got the sense the expectant home fans would have quickly got on the backs of their side.

They key when Walsall travel to places like The Valley, Elland Road and Carrow Road – a destination in two weeks time – is being able to turn the home crowd against their teams. The Saddlers made is too easy for both Charlton and their faithful to enjoy the afternoon.

Jones was hauled off at half-time – the unfortunate fall guy when all around would have sacrificed Till – as the Saddlers were undone, outbattled and outclassed. But the biggest worry is where the goals will come from.

Troy Deeney has the ability, that's not under question, but his partnership with Sam Parkin already is.

Parkin, for all his hold up play, isn't yet a goal threat. One header and a shot wide equated to his afternoon efforts on goal on Saturday, which isn't good enough for a frontline striker.

Deeney, with the extra pressure of being the Saddlers' next great hope, is toiling away without much end product. A quick second half run and sharp shot emphasised his talents but questions have to be asked about their partnership.

Hutchings favours a 'little and large' partnership in midfield – emphasised by the ineffective Dwayne Mattis' recall – but, apart from Alex Nicholls' Carling Cup run out, he is reluctant to utilise his 'little' striker.

When they don't get the service, like on Saturday, they must conjure something themselves but don't look likely to do so. While Charlton ran out 2-0 victors, they didn't have to work hard to maintain their 100 per cent League One record.

Frazer Richardson and Nicky Bailey fired warning early shots across the bow as the Addicks took total command. They weren't toying with the Saddlers, they were just far superior. It was a matter of when, not if, the hosts opened the scoring.

The only argument was they seemed to have slipped into third gear and were content to cruise past the Saddlers rather than go for the early kill. But they finally made the breakthrough when Bailey crossed and Llera powered a header against the post and bundled in the rebound.

And the only surprise was it had taken the Addicks just over half an hour to score but the teams soon slipped into a summer malaise, as if it was a pre-season showpiece.

The Saddlers were chasing the game but the chase was a desperate one as they seemed to have no desire to win.

Jonjo Shelvey saw Walsall goalkeeper Clayton Ince stop his 25-yarder just before half-time, while the pressure was kept up after the break.

Deon Burton should have scored when he lofted straight at Ince, after Hughes misjudged Richardson's long punt forward. It wasn't the Saddlers skipper's day, after he was denied an equaliser by a linesman's flag when he hooked in Matt Richards' cross.

Deeney finally forced Elliot into his first action with a low angled drive, but it was a brief respite and Charlton sealed it 18 minutes from time. Burton saw Wagstaff streaking away on the left and the substitute - only on the pitch for three minutes - advanced on Ince and drilled home.

Parkin was denied by the post soon after but it was all too late.

By Nick Mashiter