Darren Pratley: Charlton’s players should stay off social media and focus on job in hand

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Darren Pratley reckons Charlton Athletic’s players should stay off social media as they focus on their Championship survival push.

The Addicks dropped into the bottom three after Saturday’s 1-0 reverse to Middlesbrough at The Valley.

Pratley, 34, suffered two relegations at Bolton Wanderers – from the Premier League in 2012 and then losing Championship status in 2016.

“We’ve got nine games to go and we’ve got to pick up as many points as we can,” he said. “The important thing is that we stick together.

“I’ve been in this situation before – when you don’t stick together and you start pointing fingers, get in your groups and start slagging each other off is when things go wrong.

“The boys need to stay focused for the next nine games and if they are on social media, maybe stay off of it. That would be my advice.

“If you go home and are going on the internet, you’re not going to find nice things when you’re down the bottom.

“We need to keep going and keep fighting. After 46 games, you’ll finish where you should finish. If we remain in the league I’m sure everyone will be happy.

“Since I’ve been here it has been all rosy – winning games and getting promotion. There are two sides to football. You get the pats on the back but you also get booed and pressure on you.

“It’s why you can’t get too high when you’re winning or too low when your losing. You have to remain on an even keel. If I can keep them positive and buzzing around then I’ll do that. The young lads are working just as hard, it’s not just the experienced ones.

“Frustrating, we have away a sloppy goal in the first half. In the second half we huffed and puffed – we had a few chances. We’re disappointed not to get anything out of it.

“We know we’re in a dogfight, whether we’re above or below the line.”

Charlton go to Hull City this weekend – the hosts just above them in the standings but on a torrid run of form.

“If we win that game next week, we’re not safe,” said Pratley. “We want to win but I’m not going to say we have to win.

“If we win that we shouldn’t get carried away, because I believe it will go right down to the wire. We have to be prepared for that.

“We’ve got nine games to save our season.

“No player wants relegation on their CV – we’ve got pride. No-one deserves to be anywhere, you’ve got to earn it.

“I was relegated with Bolton. Twice I’ve been relegated.

“It’s not a nice feeling. Over a season, it’s not like a cup final, you’ve got 46 games and you’ll finish where you finish. You have to earn where you are.”

PICTURE BY PAUL EDWARDS