After a strong run of four consecutive victories in all competitions, Charlton have suffered back-to-back losses in their last two matches.
Affected by postponements like many others, the Addicks had to wait until New Year’s Day to attempt to bounce back from their 1-0 loss to Plymouth Argyle back on December 18.
They would fall to the same scoreline, however, with Sam Vokes’s 35th-minute goal proving to be enough to secure the win for Wycombe Wanderers which saw Charlton fall into the bottom half of the table.
The appointment of Johnnie Jackson has certainly helped turn the club’s fortunes around, but they must ensure their good run of form was not just a ‘new manager bounce’.
Progression to the next round of the EFL Trophy would be a good way to prove that is not the case and rediscover the feel-good feeling that was around the club in early December.
After MK Dons saw their home encounter with Cheltenham Town postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak among the visitors’ squad, they had a few extra days to rest and prepare for their meeting with relegation-threatened Gillingham on New Year’s Day.
The Dons were unable to capitalise on that, however, being held to a 0-0 stalemate with neither side able to find the quality required to make the breakthrough.
Finding the back of the net has rarely been an issue this campaign for Liam Manning’s side – they have scored 42 goals in 23 matches to this point, which is the third highest in the division, behind only the top two of Sunderland and Rotherham United who have also played one game more.
Their only other goalless draw of the season was, in fact, during the last round of the EFL Trophy, where they required penalties to see off League Two Leyton Orient.
Manning will be hoping that they can put the goal-shy nature of their most recent match in both this competition and the league behind them on Tuesday
