‘Flattering’ – Johnnie Jackson on making best-ever start of any Charlton Athletic boss
Johnnie Jackson has vowed not to get carried away by making history during his caretaker spell in charge of Charlton Athletic.
The Addicks’ 2-0 victory over Cambridge United was a seventh league success in 10 matches for the club’s former captain.
And Jackson’s win rate of 70 per cent is the best of any Charlton manager after this amount of games – putting him ahead of Lee Bowyer (60). That stat includes the one match he had in temporary charge last season after Bowyer quit for Birmingham City.
The South Londoners had taken nine points from 13 matches before they sacked Nigel Adkins in October. Since Jackson replaced the former Southampton, Hull and Scunthorpe boss he has banked 20 points in nine League One matches.
Asked about making the best start of any Charlton manager, Jackson told the South London Press: “It’s flattering.
“I’m just trying to do the job as best I can and not get carried away with any stuff like that. It’s going well at the minute and the lads have been brilliant, I can’t give them enough credit.
“Everyone has played a part. It is small steps. We’re still not where we want to be in the league. I want to be a manager for 500 games – not 10. I’m just trying not to get distracted. There is a lot of noise at the minute and I’m just trying to stay focused.”
Charlton are eight points behind sixth-placed Plymouth – their opposition this weekend – but have played a match more.
Asked if he expected to be an instant hit, Jackson said: “I was confident in myself, my ability and the squad. I definitely thought we were under-achieving. You dream about it going that well [winning seven out of 10]. I knew we needed to start winning games to get out of the relegation zone. I knew I’d get a response, I was pretty certain of that.”
PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS
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