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The anxiety that has inhabited my stomach all weekend swiftly turned into pure nausea as Charlton poked home a last minute winner to seal promotion to the Championship.
Sunderland, if truth be told, had rarely looked like fashioning a clear opportunity on goal as the side seemed to lack the inventiveness required to open up a stubborn Charlton defence. Instead, Ross’ men persisted in trying to find an isolated Charlie Wyke from wide areas - something Charlton dealt with comfortably.
It probably isn’t overstepping the mark by saying Charlton deserved their win. They essentially outfought the Lads and their determination throughout brought them victory. Lyle Taylor provided the pace and cunning up top; Joe Arribo and Josh Cullen the guile, craft, and determination in the middle, and the trio of Bauer, Bielik and Pearce added muscle in defensive areas.
As the final whistle blew I sat back, head in hands, totally deflated. And after several moments of anguish, an even more disconcerting thought flittered through my head:
What next?
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I’d imagine most of you felt emotions very similar to my own; however, moving forward what are your thoughts about this weekend? What did that game tell us? What lessons were learned?
It has been a long, tiring season and ultimately it has ended in disappointment. We’ve certainly come a long way since last summer, but yesterday was difficult to stomach. Regardless of the misery, though, we want to know your thoughts.
From the players to the manager, the occasion to the future of our club - let us know your thoughts and we will publish a follow-up article highlighting a selection of the best responses.