Jayden Stockley: Early goal against Hull can spread panic in Charlton’s play-off rival
Jayden Stockley has promised that Charlton’s players will give it everything they have got against Hull City on Sunday – and reckons an early goal for the home team would put the frighteners on their play-off rivals.
The Preston North End loanee scored the Addicks’ first goal as they beat Lincoln City 3-1 last night to ensure they can still secure sixth spot in League One.
But Charlton know that only a victory is likely to be enough this weekend to see them move above both Oxford United and Portsmouth. If either of the duo take maximum points it will see Nigel Adkins’ men fall just short.
Stockley told Charlton TV: “We want another four games. This last game is going to need everything. I think everyone left it all out there tonight [Tuesday]. We’re going to give it absolutely everything this weekend.
“Ben Watson was at Nottingham Forest last season and they were pushing for the play-offs but there was a six-goal swing on the last day. He told us [about it] – that was the importance of today [Tuesday]. Things like that can happen, it’s a mad day. We go 1-0 up early against Hull and other peoples’ benches get a whiff of it – it spreads panic.
“We know if we win then we’ve got a chance. We don’t need to worry about anyone else’s score.”
It looks likely that Stockley will be paired with Chuks Aneke on the final day. The latter’s minutes have been carefully managed this season but his introduction at the start of the second half proved decisive as he assisted Stockley’s goal before converting the third.
“We had a clear and obvious gameplan to expose their left side,” said Stockley. “I felt I was winning the duels but it was tough. I almost had to keep it alive and take touches, to wait for people to get back up. Liam [Millar] was quite disappointed in the changing room, he felt he could’ve been a bit more positive and got balls in the box. But he is someone who puts a lot of pressure on his shoulders.
“When Chuks came on the other centre-half couldn’t follow me, there is another lad in the box that he needs to mark. It is great, unselfish work by Chuks for my first goal. That was a great header. Me and Chuks have got that understanding. I didn’t think about it – a snapshot. I’ve got that in my locker and I should be doing that more.
“We weren’t out of it or playing poorly [before Aneke’s entrance] but we just weren’t as threatening as we wanted to be. He just needs to get that belief in his body that he churn the minutes out, because we’d love to have him out there longer.”