Jon Whitney hails Walsall energy despite defeat

In an encounter more akin to a basketball game than a football match, both teams created numerous goal-scoring opportunities at The Valley.

The Addicks took the lead through Joe Aribo before Erhun Oztumer – who was released by the London club as a teenager for being too small – equalised with a header.

Amongst a host of other chances, both teams then went on to rattle the crossbar with Stephy Mavididi striking for the hosts and Joe Edwards for the Saddlers.

But it was Karl Robinson’s side who snatched the points with Kory Roberts and Liam Kinsella both scoring unfortunate own-goals to break Walsall hearts.

“It was an outstanding game and it’s a shame one team had to lose it,” Whitney said.

“The application and some of the football from our lads was excellent at times.

“In the first half I felt we stayed in it really well. Charlton are always a threat at this place but I felt we were a real danger on the counter with Tyler (Roberts), Erhun (Oztumer) and Ama (Bakayoko).

“Some of the energy from our lads was fantastic. Then in the first 25 minutes of the second half, I felt we were the team that looked like we were going to go on and win it.

“But you have to take your chances. We had a chance in the first few minutes of the second-half, Joe Edwards has hit the bar.

“And if you take that chance you can then change your tactics a little bit and frustrate them the way they did to us.

“There second goal was a bit of a sucker punch. But we still created after that.

“As a neutral it was a great game of football. I cannot fault the application of my lads."

Following the final whistle, Whitney told his players it's imperative they take positives from the game.

“I have just said to them, if throughout their career they give that much energy and application – they will be in a good place," he continued.

“You can’t guarantee winning games. But what you have to do is put everything into it. And I don’t think anyone could fault the team.

“We put everything into that. We need to try and take positives from it because, from most teams and on most days, you will take points from a performance like that.

“You will win most games with the chances we have created away from home. There were positives but we were disappointed with the result.”