Charlton Athletic faces a distinct contrast in performance between home games at The Valley and away matches. The recent Boxing Day game did not bring much cheer as the team suffered another defeat away, this time just across the capital.
Michael Appleton, along with Charlton, is grappling with maintaining form on away turf, hindering their prospects of promotion. In their latest match, experienced EFL defender Omar Beckles scored the sole goal for Leyton Orient, marking the sixth consecutive game without a win across all competitions. Their only away victory in League One occurred back in October when Alfie May scored twice against Wigan Athletic.
Analyzing their away form, Charlton ranks 18th in the third tier of English football, accumulating only eight points from 30 available. In contrast, their performance at The Valley has been more promising, securing a 12th position overall with seven League One victories.
Charlton’s struggles away from home are notable, particularly in comparison to teams like Portsmouth and Peterborough United, who excel both on home turf and away. While they have shown potential by drawing against Pompey, Barnsley, and Stevenage, the team has failed to secure a win in their last five away games, with the most recent victory being in the FA Cup replay against non-league Cray Valley Paper Mills.
At home, Charlton is among four teams with 21 points from fixtures this season, ranking seventh in the league on this metric. This stark contrast is highlighted when considering they are just five points behind Blackpool, currently leading in home performance.
The significance of establishing a formidable home stadium is emphasized, especially in light of Charlton’s convincing victories against Reading and Exeter City in October. Alfie May has been a key player, contributing 17 League One goals, while Corey Blackett-Taylor follows with seven goals and six assists.
Despite these achievements, injuries to Leaburn have limited his contribution, placing a substantial responsibility on May. While Charlton’s home form and May’s goal-scoring prowess have played a vital role in their current standing, the onus is on manager Michael Appleton to address their away struggles promptly for any hopes of promotion to materialize.
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