‘That’s a side that wants to graft for Charlton’ – Nathan Jones lauds team after collecting first point

Nathan Jones described his side’s second-half display in last night’s 1-1 draw with Lincoln City as “outstanding” as he got his first point on the board as Charlton Athletic manager.

Former Addicks youngster Reeco Hackett fired the visitors ahead in the first half but Freddie Ladapo opened his account for the South Londoners just a minute after coming on in the second period.

Lincoln keeper Lukas Jensen made a late save from Tayo Edun to deny Charlton a winner.

Their run without a victory is now 14 matches in League One – and 16 in total – but the Addicks boss could see plenty of positives.

“We were the better team,” said Jones. “Second half we were outstanding. I want us to play front-footed – be aggressive, athletic and try to create chances, to take the game to the opposition – and we did that second half.

“It is a young group but everything I’ve asked of them, they have responded. We were excellent tonight. Yeah, I would’ve liked to have won the game – I think they had one shot on target, which is tending to happen against this team at the moment – things are going in.

“This is only a start, only a point, but I saw a lot tonight that I’m pleased with.

“We had 101 minutes to win the game. At the moment people are scoring really good goals (against us) but if they keep that level of performance and aggression we will win games because we will be very difficult to play against.

“Lincoln are in really good form, they are well coached and well-drilled. But we were better tonight.

“We want to turn into the team we want to turn into – and we will do that. How quickly depends on the team and everyone getting behind the team – because it is a young group.

“We got booed off at half time – c’mon – this is a young group that grafts and gives everything. Second half we gave them a performance they should be thinking ‘hang on, there is something happening here’. Let’s get behind this group because it is an honest group – I’ve been in football for 33 years and the one thing about this group is it’s honest. That is all you can ask.

“Kanu, Karoy Anderson – these are young academy players who have come through. This could be something really good here.

“I understand sometimes the frustrations (from the crowd) but there is no god given right to win the game. You aren’t just going to roll over teams. You have to earn it and they did second half.

“Dobson and Jones were excellent. Kayne (Ramsay) on his debut tonight, just got him in on loan from Harrogate, just really, really good signs for us going forward.”

The influential Chuks Aneke, whose season has been ravaged by injury, and Ladapo, on loan from Ipswich, came on in the second half with Alfie May and Daniel Kanu making way.

Aneke’s strength helped set up a chance on the edge of the penalty area which Ladapo whipped past Jensen.

“Chuks gives you certain things,” said Jones. “Freddie has started five games and hadn’t scored and then I pulled him yesterday and said we might try something different – put him on the bench and then the game opens up a little and there is more space. What a decision that was.

“We have to get better in possession and our execution has to be better – but I saw a side that wants to graft for Charlton.

“Chuks has real quality and know-how and he gave us an impact. We thought we might nick it at the end but I have to look deeper than the result and second half. We went after them.”

Asked if it was a tough decision to bring off top-scorer May and Kanu, who worked tirelessly, Jones said: “We just felt we needed a bit of impetus.

“Alfie is clever and a goalscorer but the others are probably runners and Chuks can do a bit of everything.

“We felt we wanted to maintain that aggression and front-footedness – and we did. The thing that killed us is the officials, when there was a head injury and it kicked off – Lincoln wanted that because it slowed the momentum down. If that incident hadn’t happened I think we’d have gone on and won the game.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS