Charlton caretaker Johnnie Jackson says side will bounce back from first defeat and reveals complaint about manner of Shrewsbury winner
BY LOUIS MENDEZ
Charlton caretaker Johnnie Jackson is certain his side will bounce back as they fell to a first defeat under his command.
Daniel Udoh’s added-time strike condemned the Addicks to a 1-0 loss at Shrewsbury Town’s New Meadow – the first time the South Londoners had been beaten in the eight games that Jackson had overseen, including his one-game spell following Lee Bowyer’s departure last season.
It was a first reverse since a home loss against Accrington Stanley earned Nigel Adkins the sack and Jackson is determined that his side will look to recover in short order.
He said: “I knew I was going to lose a game of football. I’ve got no doubts about how the team is going to react. We’re doing the right things, we’re going in the right direction. Where we were a month ago to where we are now is chalk and cheese.
“I said at the very start there will be bumps in the road and there will be more but the team, we’ll bounce back from this no problem. You’re going to lose games, everyone is going to lose games. But we’ll use it as fuel for the next one.
“Disappointed to lose a goal that late. From our point of view, a poor goal from a long throw. It’s gutting to concede that late. I thought at the very least the way the game was going that we’d draw it. I was hoping that we’d push on for the win. We were the team that was pressuring but we probably didn’t do enough ourselves. It looked like it might just peter out for a draw and you take that on the road sometimes so to get done right at the end there, I’m really disappointed.
Jackson admitted he had some complaints about the manner of Salop’s winning strike and that aspects of his side’s display had left him frustrated.
“[George Dobson] felt that he was pushed in the back for the second header. There’s one header, the ball goes loose, Dobbo goes up to clear it with his head. The guy sort of comes through the back of him to win the header, it bounces and the guy puts it away. Dobbo thinks he was definitely fouled and that’s what the complaints were about.
“I thought we worked the ball into some really good situations but the final pass, final cross and even when we are putting it in, the anticipation. [Jonathan] Leko puts a great ball in at the end there and you’re crying out for someone to attack it, but the guy heads it off the line in the middle of the goal.
“I want people to be attacking those situations at the very least. It’s great defending but he should be being put in the goal – someone should be putting pressure on him. We were caught on our heels, not anticipating it. When we did get it into wide situations, I didn’t think our final ball, our final cross was particularly good today.”
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