Dean Holden after Addicks win at Pompey: Charlton’s fans needed to see that type of performance
Charlton boss Dean Holden said fans needed to see the type of performance his side put on during this afternoon’s 3-1 win at Portsmouth.
The Addicks claimed a first victory in nine league games as they continued their remarkable record at Fratton Park. This is the seventh successive time they’ve won away to Portsmouth, and 10th out of the last 11 trips.
Jes Rak-Sakyi opened the scoring midway through the first period. The South Londoners were on top throughout the first half but were pegged back when Connor Ogilvie levelled up just before the break.
Parity was short-lived though as Scott Fraser bagged his first goal since September to restore the lead just after the restart.
Marlon Pack was sent off in the Addicks’ 3-0 win over Dan Cowley’s side at The Valley earlier this campaign and received his marching orders once more after picking up a second booking for a foul on Albie Morgan.
And Charlton sealed all three points late on when George Dobson’s strike rebounded off goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and in off the hapless Owen Dale.
After registering his first maximum as Addicks boss, Holden said: “It was needed, it really was. The players were made well aware of that going into his game. We gave them a lot of information going into this game. We weren’t really able to train but we gave them a lot and they took it all on board.
“Without the ball we were excellent. We were compact. We regained the ball in the first half, double figures I would say. Scored a brilliant goal through Jes Rak-Sakyi. That’s as good a goal as you’ll see. And Scotty Fraser, two brilliant goals.
“To concede when we did was really disappointing. But I said at the same time it provably allowed us to reset.
“We had to come out and scrap and fight, to earn the right. But that allowed us to play our game. We passed the ball so much better today. As poor as we’ve been without the game, certainly at Oxford in the first half, we’ve not been great with the ball either. We needed to show some belief and get back to the team we could be. We had really control with the ball at our feet.
“It gives everybody real confidence and belief. And momentum for our supporters. They’ve needed to see that, irrespective of the result. The result is most important in regards to the league but the fans driving down here today needed to see that kind of performance.”
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