Nathan Jones delighted as academy products net in Charlton’s 2-1 Boxing Day win over Cambridge United

Nathan Jones was left satisfied as his Charlton Athletic side ensured a strong start to their festive football programme with a 2-1 victory over Cambridge United on Boxing Day.

The Addicks are 11th after today’s round of results but have recorded back-to-back wins in League One for the first time since late August.

Jones opted to name an unchanged line-up for the fixture at The Valley, sticking with the same starting 11 that romped to a 5-0 success at Northampton on Saturday.

Tyreece Campbell and Miles Leaburn netted in the opening 45 minutes.

Elias Kachunga cut the deficit in the second period with former Crystal Palace winger Sullay Kaikai hitting the right upright as well for a Cambridge side that has the worst away record in the division.

Campbell took just 36 seconds to break the deadlock. He threaded his finish between the legs of City keeper Vicente Reyes after breaking on to Leaburn’s ball that was hooked over the backline.

Cambridge appealed for a foul on Reyes after Leaburn made it 2-0 on 20 minutes – claiming Campbell had impeded their goalkeeper. But referee John Busby was unimpressed by those claims. Josh Edwards’ long throw was flicked on by Macaulay Gillesphey for Leaburn to head in from close range.

“It was probably a little bit hairier than it should’ve been,” said Addicks manager Jones. “The first half we were excellent – really front footed. Two-up and I’d have liked us to have got another one because we had had enough of the play and situations where we should’ve been better.

“Second-half we weren’t aggressive enough in the early stages and they took chances, played with a bit more freedom, because they were 2-0 down. They had nothing to lose at that stage. We gave a bad goal away.

“Then we showed real character and took the game back. Bez [Luke Berry] had a chance and we’ve had a lot of shots. We could have extended the lead.

“Any win in this league is a good one. It was important we backed that performance (a 5-0 win at Northampton Town on Boxing Day) up. We kept the same team and squad and said: ‘Go and do it again’

“I’m really pleased two young players, academy products, have scored.

“We are converting him (Campbell). He has been a right-footed left winger all his career. People say ‘he can only play there’. We think in big spaces he is dangerous [through the middle] and he showed that. Today, for large periods, he was excellent. He needs to know the position and what being a footballer is like. He sacrifices everything, to do the other side of the game. When he gets it, we encourage him to get into the box. He is doing those things – he’s a great kid.

“You look at that front three – TC, Miles and Thierry (Small) – they are all young players. We forget about that. They are all relatively experienced for their age but they are still learning the game.”

Leaburn has scored in back-to-back matches for Charlton and is now on six goals in all competitions.

“It’s the old statement that every day you have been out it takes you that to get back to your best,” said Jones. “So if you have been out a day then it only takes you a day to get back – if you’re out 11 months then theoretically we shouldn’t be seeing the best of Miles for 11 months.

“He is contributing and doing well. Every day he wants to learn and every day he is getting stronger. He has to learn the game because what he has is a load of natural ability – six-feet six or six-feet seven – he can run and get the ball in. Now we want him to add all the bits that a centre-forward does in their game. He is growing and doing much, much better.”

MAIN PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS