Johnnie Jackson relieved as Charlton edge past non-league Gateshead in the FA Cup

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton caretaker Johnnie Jackson said that progression to the third round of the FA Cup was the only thing that mattered after a 2-0 win away at non-league Gateshead.

A goal in either half from Jayden Stockley was enough to secure the Addicks’ place in the hat but that doesn’t come close to telling the whole story of an encounter in which numerous chances came and went for the National League North side.

Sixty-one places separated the two sides in the pyramid but you could not tell that – despite Jackson naming pretty much a full strength side.  The Heed were unable to make their opportunities count though and it’s the South Londoners who will be in the draw for the third round on Monday evening.

“That’s the most important thing,” said Jackson.

“Coming here, we needed to be in that hat for the third round and we’ve done that. It wasn’t an easy night’s work. They’re a good side and caused us a lot of problems on the night. But we’re through and that’s the main thing.

“I’ve been saying it all along that I was going to take this game and this opponent very seriously. It’s a good job that I did because we took a really strong side out there and they caused us a lot of issues on the night. It wasn’t without it’s problems.

“We knew they’d start well and we had to be ready for that. They’ve got great home form. We knew they’d come out and have a go at us and they did start bright. These games can be like that. The first goal does settle us down and we started passing it – I did feel like we could have done it earlier and more throughout the evening. These are always difficult games.”

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