‘Certain things needed tidying up’ – Charlton boss on player meeting and on ‘standing up’ to Accrington test
Johnnie Jackson says it was his decision to hold a frank exchange of views with Charlton Athletic’s players at the start of last week.
The Addicks went on to halt a run of five straight defeats before they drew 0-0 with Sunderland at The Valley on Saturday.
“It was just something I felt we needed to do,” said Jackson, when asked about his meeting with the playing squad. “It was long overdue, really. Certain things needed tidying up, perhaps we’d got a little complacent in the stuff we do. I wanted to put it the players to see what their thoughts were as well, let them have an opinion.
“Every now and again it’s important that you open the floor and have a conversation. That can be helpful – it certainly helped us last week as far as training and going into the game. You want the players to buy into it as well, which they did.”
Charlton are bottom of the League One form guide for the last six matches and head to Accrington on Saturday.
Jackson has emphasised the stalemate against the Black Cats has to just be the start of a bright finish to the campaign.
“It was a good point because they are right in the mix and considering the run we were on,” said Jackson. “But we’re going into March with a good run of games and people coming back fit – we have to start picking points and try to end the season strongly.
“There is a good opportunity there with a couple of home games after a tough one at the weekend.
“I was pleased for the lads at the weekend. It’s been a tough run for them and we’ve been shipping too many goals, so it was pleasing to defend the way we did. We’ve got to try and build on that now.
“Accrington are really strong at home. They are a good team and it is a very difficult place to go. I’ve watched them and we need to show up with the same attitude we showed on Saturday. We will need to defend and they will try to make it difficult for us to defend our box from set-plays and long throws.
“They have got a real threat in those situations and you’ve got to stand up against it. Hopefully we’ve got a bit more quality going forward to cause them some issues, which we can, but it has to come from that solid base again.”
PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD
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