U's 1-1 Charlton: Macauley Bonne, Bonne, Bonne

Saturday's draw with Charlton took us another point closer to the line. Here's what went down.

After a mid-week rest, where results in the relegation battle kindly went our way, the U’s we’re back in action at the Abbey on Saturday as the highly inconsistent Charlton Athletic, helmed by Nathan Jones came to town.

U’s fans were buoyed by the omission of Alfie May from the opposition starting XI, whilst Garry Monk made three changes to the side that lost at Blackpool last weekend - Zeno Ibsen Rossi replaced Ryan Bennett in the back, and James Brophy and Sullay Kaikai made way for Elias Kachunga and former Charlton man Macauley Bonne, who had a point to prove against his old club.

As soon as the game started it was halted again, first as James Gibbons went down, and then moments later Zeno Rossi was the victim of a robust challenge that saw him down for treatment to a cut head. Shirt duly changed, Rossi was bandaged up in the style of Paul Wanless to carry on the game.

It was Charlton that took the lead, through Connor Wickham, a man who seems to get bigger every time we see him. He’s not yet at the level of Luton’s Steve McNulty, but isn’t far off. The ball was lofted forward to Wickham in the box, and his turn and finish were all that was needed to give Charlton the advantage.

Charlton kept the pressure up as the half played out, and came close to doubling their lead just before half time, which in all honesty could well have put the game to bed if it wasn’t for a great Will Mannion save but thankfully the referees whistle drew a halt to the proceedings.

Second half and again Charlton started the stronger of the two sides, with Mannion again saving well, but slowly United began to assert themselves more on the game. Jordan Cousins in particular was starting to show the class we thought he had (and only three weeks away from contract renewal time, what are the odds?) and Digby was everywhere too, running the game from the middle of the park.

Our persistence paid off on 50 minutes, some great play from Gibbons, Andrew and Kachunga saw Bonne’s first effort rebound off a defender, but he took the second chance with the strikers instinct we knew he had - and for the second home game running we saw a United player celebrate with a ‘let’s hear ya’ gesture towards the home fans - who’d been giving Bonne stick all game.

Both teams had chances to take all three points, and a draw was probably the fairest result in reflection, Charlton by far the better team in the first half but United edged the second. Another point towards safety, some results going our way and a trip to the South West on Tuesday. We’re nearly there, and fingers crossed have our safety assured before that tricky last day of the season trip to Port Vale.

We’re seeing what we knew this United team had in them, a bit of fight and a bit of spirit. Neil Harris is behind us, Mark Bonner is behind us, and with a refresh in the Summer who knows where Garry Monk can take us?

Soundtrack of the Match: