LAST BELL TOLLS AS AMARI’I STRIKES
SUCKER PUNCH: Devante Cole celebrates as Amari’i Bell scores. Insets: Ricky Holmes scores and is congratulated
FOR 90 minutes Fleetwood Town seemed on course for a first league defeat since November.
But in ten minutes of injury time Uwe Rosler’s side demonstrated the resilience and considerable quality that have made them League One’s surprise package, grabbing a late equaliser for the second straight week.
Rosler said: “You don’t go 13 games unbeaten in this league without having this sort of mentality.
“We didn’t start as a top team but we ended as a top team. We took over completely. At the end of the game I saw Karl [Robinson] and he was just asking ‘how long, how long?’.
“We should have won. Three times we were one-on-one with the keeper. We hit the post. We had 12 attempts, they had five. For Fleetwood Town coming for the first time in their history to The Valley, I’m very proud of my players.”
Rosler was right to point out that for all Charlton’s possession they rarely threatened the goal, but took a deserved first-half lead.
Jake Forster-Caskey’s corner returned to him and the January signing jinked along the byline before passing across the goal for Ricky Holmes to tap in. Forster Caskey has assisted every Charlton goal since his arrival.
The second half was more open as the influence of Forster-Caskey and Holmes faded. Davante Cole should have equalised when through on goal, while Tony Watt blazed a glorious chance over at the other end.
Fleetwood’s industry slowly shifted the game evermore in their favour, as Charlton became more defensive with each substitution and when, following a lengthy switch of one of the assistant referees, the ten extra minutes were revealed, they were given another boost.
Four minutes later the late pressure told as Amari’i Bell drilled through a crowded penalty area following a barely cleared corner.
There was still time for Nathan Byrne to be sent-off for a heavy tackle on David Ball, who then hit the post with a curling shot from distance, as Charlton willed time to go faster.
Robinson said: “I feel frustrated and proud. We didn’t do a great deal in the last 15 minutes to really put the nail in their coffin.
“There was a period in the second half when we were very, very good, when Tony’s (Watt) chance came, but if you don’t take your chances when you’re winning 1-0, the last 15 minutes is always going to be unpredictable.
“Psychologically for my players, when they’d defended as they had, when there was only four minutes to change the assistant referee, [the added time was difficult]. Ten minutes doesn’t make any sense.
“We looked very comfortable against a team in phenomenal form. Since I walked in the door every team we’ve played has been above us, and we’re still six points from sixth and we’ve got games in hand.”