Promotion is the aim, but this season will be a long, hard slog – Charlton’s Darren Pratley

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton midfielder Darren Pratley has warned Addicks fans not to expect free-flowing, easy on the eye football in every League One game this season.

Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Northampton was an untidy affair but was enough to see the South Londoners extend their winning run to three games.

Lee Bowyers side are four unbeaten in the league and haven’t conceded a goal in over six hours of playing time now.

Pratley, who opened the scoring early in the second-half at Sixfields, reminded supporters that it was a season-long slog when the Addicks gained promotion from this division two years ago – Charlton winning by more than two goals on just three occasions.

He said: “That’s what this league is about. I don’t think there’s many games where we got promoted two years ago where it was free-flowing and we were winning 3-0 and it was comfortable. I can only remember off the top of my head Shrewsbury where it was 3-0. Can’t really remember too many games where it was comfortable.

“That’s what this league is all about. It’s not going to be sometimes pretty but at the end of the day, if you achieve what you set out to do, which is promotion, I don’t think anyone is going to remember these ones here.

“[Promotion is] our aim. Not just because we’ve won three in a row. A club like Charlton, we should be aiming for that. We’re not going to hide away and say we’re not going for promotion. We are going for promotion. That’s what we all want to do as players. We want to bounce back. That’s the aim for us.

“We have to keep our feet on the floor. Games come thick and fast. We will lose some along the season but the mentality we’ve got, we’ll stick together and work hard. When things aren’t going well, if we can do that it will stand us in good stead.

“Very pleased. Not a lot of sleep as well. Coming back from Blackpool the other night, we’ve been travelling quite a lot lately. To grind out a result, that’s what it’s all about in this league. It’s tough, a lot tougher than the Championship to be honest. As long as you get the points on board then everyone’s happy.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS