Nathan Jones never felt in drop danger after accepting Charlton Athletic boss job
Nathan Jones says he never had any doubt that he would lead Charlton Athletic to League One safety.
The Addicks play their final home game of the 2023-24 season against Shrewsbury on Saturday.
Jones suffered defeat in his first match in charge – 2-0 at Reading in February – but they have now gone 13 games unbeaten.
Charlton are 16th and 11 points clear of the bottom four.
Manager Jones said: “I think we had done it (confirmed safety) after the Barnsley game – it was mathematic because of the permutation of people playing each other. I was aware it was done then.
“That was the first thing we had to do. I don’t think we were ever under any real pressure after I came in – I firmly believed we would get enough points to move away.
“It was a precarious position – we had played three more games than everyone and just a point above it.
“To be where we are now is a fantastic achievement and we’re really delighted in that small chunk of games that we’ve been able to achieve the first phase of what was necessary as a football club.
“I’ve been frustrated by the level of draws – we have been dominant in a lot of games. Not being disrespectful to anyone but Saturday we were dominant, especially in the first half. At Northampton we were totally dominant. We were dominant against Wigan but just had an eight-minute spell and that can’t happen – because that will cost us next year.
“We should be eight (wins) and five (draws) – not the other way around. That is down to a few things – we have made errors and not kept clean sheets. And we haven’t been clinical down the other end.
“Even against Exeter we had a glorious chance late on and we had a glorious chance on Saturday to win the game – one on ones. Fleetwood we conceded but Freddie has a one on one where he is clean in. We’re getting punished at one end and teams are having to not having to work as hard to score as us whereas we are getting good chances and not taking them.
“The key was to go as far as we could this year without being involved in any trouble – we’ve done that. So now it is about building. We will do that from now until we get back at the start of August.”
PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS
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