Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones: Matty Godden is a top, top frontman

Matty Godden earned effusive praise off Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones after his performance in today’s 2-0 win over Stevenage.

The 33-year-old striker moved on to 12 goals for the campaign in all competitions when he opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, turning Conor Coventry’s cross in from close range at the near post.

Godden, a summer signing from Coventry City, was one of the forward signings made by Jones after the sale of Alfie May to Birmingham City.

He has scored in his last three appearances.

Godden was also involved in the Addicks’ second goal soon after the restart. His flick set up a shooting chance for Tyreece Campbell which came back off the left post, Luke Berry finishing the rebound.

Jones said: “It is the movement (for his goal), the awareness and then bang…you’ve still got to finish it. He is that sharp in what he does. His all-round performance was outstanding today.

“He is five-feet nine or five-feet 10 but the amount of headers he wins and effect he had on two giants, two very good centre-halves who like to be dominant, was brilliant.

“Matty Godden is a top, top frontman. We talk about Alfie May (sold to Birmingham before the season started) and Alfie was brilliant for us – but Matty Godden has got some pedigree and I felt, at times, that it was disrespectful to him. Matty Godden has scored everywhere he has been, he’s got promoted and played in the Championship constantly. The guy is a class act and today it is as good a centre-forward link man and performance as you’ve seen here for a while. He had everything today.

“He had the goal, he should’ve had more – Thierry (Small) should’ve slid him in. The way he pressed, worked and led the line against two considerably bigger centre-halves….it’s a top, top centre-forward performance for me.”

Berry bagged his sixth of the season four minutes into the second half.

“That is some finish,” said Jones. “That is world class, that finish. If Bernardo Silva, Mo Salah or Dominik Szoboszlai  do that then they think ‘wow. The control, on the move, technique and on the wrong foot – that is world class.”

MAIN PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS