Charlton 3 Walsall 1 - Report and pictures

In what was a pulsating League One encounter, Karl Robinson’s side started the brighter of the two teams and took the lead through Joe Aribo.

But from that point the game was end-to-end with both teams creating numerous goalscoring opportunities.

Walsall pulled level when Erhun Oztumer – who was released by the Addicks for being too small as a youngster, headed in a whipped Luke Leahy cross.

Both teams then hit the woodwork with Stephy Mavididi striking for the hosts and Joe Edwards for the visitors.

But Charlton went on to win the points with Kory Roberts and Liam Kinsella both scoring unfortunate own goals.

Both men were unlucky to steer the ball into their own net after Mavididi had twice burst through.

And those small margins proved the difference with Karl Robinson’s men going to claim the points.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Jon Whitney made one change from the team that secured victory over Oxford last weekend.

With his loan from Albion set to expire next week, Tyler Roberts came in for what potentially could have been his last appearance in a Saddlers shirt with Reece Flanagan the man to make way.

It meant the Saddlers lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Roberts on the left of midfield, Joe Edwards on the right and Ama Bakayoko the lone front man.

There was no place in the match day squad for Florent Cuvelier and Kieron Morris who both missed out with minor knocks.

Charlton lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system with Mark Marshall, Ben Reeves and Stephy Mavididi operating behind Northern Ireland striker Josh Magennis.

In what was an intriguing opening 25 minutes, the Addicks dominated possession with the Saddlers content to sit-back and try and hit them on counter.

But while both teams showed their intent to get the ball down and play, clear cut chances had proved few and far between.

That all changed though with Robinson’s men cranking up the pressure as the clock ticked towards the half-hour mark.

They almost broke the deadlock when Megennis bundled his way past Kory Roberts and into the box before seeing a low drive parried away by Liam Roberts.

But moments later the hosts did get themselves in front.

After Marshall had worked himself some space on the left, the former Bradford man whipped in a cross that Joe Aribo volleyed in with a controlled, side-footed finish.

The goal sparked the game into life with Mavididi then turning well on the edge of the Walsall box before cannoning a blistering strike against the crossbar.

But with the Saddlers now unable to sit-back they began pressing higher up the pitch against an Addicks outfit reluctant to it play long.

And that tactical shift proved dividends with Whitney’s men twice come close to grabbing an equaliser before they did eventually pull level.

First, Tyler Roberts entered the box before seeing a low drive beaten away by Ben Amos. Oztumer then fired wide on the angle from 12-yards.

But in the 41st minute Walsall did get back on terms with a smart team goal.

It started with George Dobson expertly picking out Leahy on the left. And he then whipped in a pin-point cross which Oztumer brilliantly glanced into the far corner.

Walsall's intensity should have seen them take the lead shortly after the restart when Edwards chased his own-flicked header before stealing possession from Harry Lennon.

The former Yeovil man then burst into the box and squared to Bakayoko who would have had a tap in but for some brilliant last ditch defending from Ezri Konsa.

But the ball again fell to the forward who worked himself some space before firing against the crossbar just yards from goal.

In what was now a pulsating League One encounter, Charlton responded with Magennis running through one-on-one only for Liam Roberts to stand tall and beat his strike away.

The Addicks had again got themselves on top and they twice came close to retaking the lead as the clock ticked towards the hour mark.

First substitute Tariqu Fosu collected the ball in the box before drilling a low effort which Liam Roberts beat away.

Then just moments later, Kory Roberts tried to shepherd the ball out for a corner. But Mavididi nipped into win the ball before he saw a strike well blocked by the Saddlers keeper.

Walsall responded with Leahy flicking an Oztumer corner towards goal only for Amos to scramble it away.

Then Tyler Roberts then produced a glorious piece of skill to escape the attention of two opponents before slipping in Bakayoko with a brilliant through-ball.

The striker dashed through on goal and looked to fire past Amos but his effort took the slightest of deflections off Konsa and ended up just inches the wrong side of the post.

In a match that was now being played at a blistering pace, Charlton went up the other end with Marshall whipping in a free-kick that was met by Magennis.

The Northern Irishman’s header seemed destined to nestle into the net but Liam Roberts brilliantly flung himself across his goal to tip the ball away.

But in the 73rd minute, the Addicks did retake the lead in a heart-breaking moment for Whitney’s men.

After Jay DaSilva had threaded put Mavididi thorough one-on-one, Kory Roberts raced back to try and clear.

But while he managed to his foot on the ball he only managed to steer the ball past his own keeper and into the net.

Charlton should have wrapped up the points in the 83rd minute when an unmarked Marshall fired wide from 12-yards after being found in the box by Fosu.

Yet the end to end nature of the game continued with Walsall then creating a glorious chance to pull level.

Tyler Roberts did brilliantly to trick his way to the byline with Oztumer then having a tap in if the Albion loanee sent in a low cross.

But the striker instead went for a lofted pass which sailed over Oztumer’s head to safety.

Sadly for Walsall, Charlton then managed to grab a flattering third just before the 90 minute mark.

In what was almost a carbon copy of the Addicks second goal, Mavididi again burst through.

But this time it was Kinsella who dived into to clear but his effort again sailed past Liam Roberts and into his own net.

Teams

Charlton: Amos, Kashi, Marshall (Ahearne-Grant 86), Reeves (Fosu 51), Konsa, Mavididi (Jackson 90), Aribo, Solly, Da Silva, Lennon, Magennis.

Subs not used: Phillips, Forster-Caskey, Hanlan, Dikksteel,

Walsall: L. Roberts, Leahy, Guthire, K. Roberts, Kinsella, Chambers, T. Roberts, Oztumer, Dobson, Edwards, Bakayoko.

Subs not used: Gillespie, Devlin, Jackson, Flanagan, Kouhyar, Shorrock, Candlin