Nathan Jones brands Charlton side ‘excellent’ during draw with Stockport – but reckons they were let down by a ‘crazy’ penalty decision
Nathan Jones said that his Charlton Athletic side were “excellent” during today’s 1-1 draw with Stockport County – but they were pegged back by a “crazy” penalty decision.
Referee Tom Reeves awarded the visitors a 12th-minute spot-kick after Addicks goalkeeper Will Mannion clashed with Nick Powell – Louie Barry doing the honours from 12 yards.
But the South Londoners produced one of their better displays of the campaign – particularly in possession – and were level midway through the second-half thanks to Rarmani Edmonds-Green’s first Charlton goal.
The hosts pressed for a winner but substitute Miles Leaburn – making his first Valley appearance in 11 months – couldn’t make the most of a flurry of late chances.
The visitors ended the game with ten men after Fraser Horsfall was shown a second yellow card two minutes from time.
Jones said: “The positives are the level of performance and how we played. Apart from one decision we were excellent all afternoon. Moved the ball really well, created enough chances. Probably the most fluent we’ve been. Created enough clearcut chances. We can blame one decision, but we had enough there to have one the game.
“I’m really pleased with the level of performance in and out of possession. These are a good side, they fancy themselves and people fancy them to get promoted – they’re a good side. We’ve been really dominant. We’ve played well today.
“I can talk about other factors which could get me in trouble but what I’ll do is say my team were excellent today and I was proud of so much of the performance and it was great to see Miles Leaburn back and what a threat he was.
“It’s as fluid as we have been but I’m really disappointed as that’s a really good home performance today. The crowd were excellent and bar one decision first-half and then just a little bit of cutting edge and a tiny bit more quality in the final third, that’s the reason we haven’t won it.
“[The penalty was] as soft as you’d like but we’ve got to deal with that better. I always look at ourselves. It’s too easy to blame people all the time and we should have dealt with that better. It was nothing. We didn’t win the first ball, it bounced a few times. There’s a little, it’s not even a coming together, it’s so minimal it’s mental. It’s crazy. And then the pen is given. There’s exactly the same amount of contact in the second-half with Miles and nothing is giving. Neither of them are pens. Categorically, neither of them are pens.
“Then their guy goes over in the box and handballs it and literally gets them out of jail. A lot of decisions there were decisions I’ll look back on and question vehemently in the right manner. But my team was excellent today but we just needed a bit more cutting edge and we win that game.”
PHOTOS: PAUL EDWARDS