ADDICKS RIDING ROLLERCOASTER
CHARLTON chief Karl Robinson felt his side’s display for much of their seven-goal thriller against Oldham was unacceptable but took heart in seeing them grind out all three points at Boundary Park.
Ricky Holmes and Tarique Fosu gave the Addicks an early advantage while Craig Davies’ penalty halved the deficit before the break and Eoin Doyle levelled after half-time.
The Latics were reduced to 10 men when Ousmane Fane was shown a second yellow card and Charlton regained the lead through Billy Clarke and debutant Joe Dodoo, while Jack Byrne added a late third for Oldham.
“It was a very weird afternoon. We weren’t great for the last hour, which is not acceptable and I’m not saying it is acceptable,” said Robinson.
“I’m not a manager that comes out when we win and goes, ‘Everything’s rosy’. No it’s not, because we weren’t at our best.
“But I’m a manager that comes out extremely still proud of my players because I’m proud of what they’ve done.
“All of a sudden, top players can’t pass five yards. Sometimes that’s unexplainable but when you aren’t playing well, it’s about grinding a result out.
“That’s the first time I’ve seen the team not playing well and really having to grind something out.”
Ben Wilson was powerless to stop Holmes’ 18th-minute 30yard thunderbolt and Charlton doubled their lead three minutes later when Fosu twisted in the box to finish.
But Oldham hit back when referee Ross Joyce pointed to the spot for a Holmes handball and Davies slotted home the resulting 34th minute penalty.
A mix-up between Charlton’s centre-halves fell to Preston loanee Doyle to rifle home a 51st-minute effort and level the contest. But the Latics were reduced to 10 men when Fane was given a second yellow on 54 minutes for a poor challenge on Chris Solly.
The Addicks regained the lead in the 62nd minute when Fosu teed up a free Clarke to slot away a cool finish past Wilson, while Dodoo ran clear of the Oldham rearguard to add a fourth with 18 minutes left.
Byrne grabbed another back for Oldham in the 83rd minute with a sweetly struck curling effort past Ben Amos, but it wasn’t enough to salvage a point.
Latics boss John Sheridan took umbrage with Fane’s dismissal, saying: “The referee has ruined the game for me.
“It wasn’t a sending off and it has totally ruined the game for us, as I firmly believe we would have gone on to win.
“That’s five losses in a row and that’s not good enough for me. But if we show the same endeavour as we have here today, the supporters will be with us and will have the belief that we can win games.”