Scoring problems

It has been a problem all season and at the moment we are paying for it. Scoring goals has been much harder this season than it was last year and after 43 games Bristol City have only scored 49 goals, compared to free-scoring West Brom who have managed 82 goals. I know they have had a bigger spending budget than us and have been an established Championship team much longer than we have, but it is a cause for concern. Even at the bottom of the league, already relegated Colchester have chalked up 58 goals, so where does the problem lie with our scoring exploits?

In the summer we spent £1million on Lee Trundle and in return he has netted just four goals, we recruited attacking wingers Ivan Sproule and Michael McIndoe who have scored six goals between them, and we also recruited Darren Byfield who is our top scorer with just eight goals. With these goal scoring ‘exploits’ it is hard to see how we have remained near the top for so long. I can only recall two players who have managed to exceed my expectations with their goal scoring records. Marvin Elliot, although he has only scored six times, he is a tough tackling midfielder and no one expected him to perform so well. The second player is Dele Adebola, who after arriving in January from Coventry after scoring five goals all season for them, has already netted five for us in 14 games.

After Saturday’s game against Wolves, it is hard to see where we are going to score the goals to try and win our final three games. Although the performance on Saturday was a big improvement on the Southampton game, we hardly looked like scoring against Mick McCarthy’s team. So where are we going wrong? I have said previously what a crucial player Lee Johnson is to the team and this has been proved in recent weeks. We seem to lack ideas in midfield and instead of passing the ball on the ground the players are resorting to playing a more direct style of football, which isn’t working.

Some fans have said we should have brought in more attacking options on loan but this hasn’t helped Charlton’s cause. A combination Gary hasn’t tried is Brooker and Trundle up front, which might work, or is that me being optimistic? With Brooker holding the ball up, he could perhaps bring Trundle into play more, something Trundle hasn’t had since he arrived as he has usually partnered Byfield in attack. Anyone think this could work?

Another option would be to play some youngsters like Tristan Plummer, whose energy and pace might bring a change in fortune. But this is unlikely to happen as we are at a crucial stage in the season and I don’t think Johnson will experiment with kids. If we fail to beat Stoke, the only option will be to play three up front. Playing Brooker, Adebola and Byfield together would cause Sheffield United and Preston some problems.

With just three games left I hope we can make the top two, and if we can start scoring there is no doubt we can win the next three matches. With the Championship being so competitive, possibly two wins and a draw can see us snatch second place. All we can do as fans is support the lads.

ANDY DAVIES