Charlton Athletic manager reveals extra friendly added – on same day as Swansea City match
Ben Garner has revealed that he has slotted an extra fixture into Charlton Athletic’s friendly schedule which will see them play two matches next Saturday.
The Addicks are due to host Swansea City at The Valley in their final tune-up before the League One opener at Accrington the following weekend.
But now they will also have a behind-closed-doors match at their training ground in the morning.
“Everyone will get the minutes they need,” said Charlton manager Garner, speaking after today’s stalemate at Sutton United.
“More along those lines [of everyone playing 90 minutes]. Some are probably ready for 90, some slightly less. It’s a case of catering for each individual. It’s not a team target and that everyone starts the game and gets 90. Like today, they had a target we wanted them to achieve and we stuck to that. It will be the same next Saturday as well.
“Looking forward to a full training week. This was the week we wanted a double game and now next week we want a really strong training week going into that final week.
“These players are working really hard in between games, they are nowhere near their sharpest because of the amount of work we’re doing in training, but that will stand us in good stead once we get into the season.”
The closest the Addicks came to scoring at the VBS Community Stadium saw Charlie Kirk’s shot tipped over by Sutton keeper Brad House.
And Ryan Inniss met a Kirk cross after the restart which went the wrong side of the far upright.
There were drinks breaks in either half of a contest played in sweltering conditions.
“It was doubly difficult because of the heat, for both teams,” said Garner. “The way Sutton play, they do it really well and had a really strong season last time. It is a game that will prepare us well for certain teams in League One this season. It was a really worthwhile exercise.
“Colchester on Tuesday was a good game, so was today – it was more challenging today because of the heat. Everyone has come through really well and got the minutes we targeted.
“They would have lost weight in that, it was touching 29 or 30 degrees here. We’ve got to make sure we get good fluids into them and recovery for next week. In this country we’re not used to playing in this heat very often.”
PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS
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