Charlton boss produces wry smile when asked about mid-game stoppage in win over Stevenage

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has talked about the “reset” required during today’s 2-0 win over Stevenage – sparked by goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer going down for treatment in the first half.

The Addicks boss produced a wry smile when asked about the incident.

While medical staff went on the pitch it allowed the Welshman to call all of his outfield players over for a mid-game pep talk.

And Charlton were far more assured and in control following that – Matty Godden and Luke Berry striking either side of half-time to earn the victory.

“We needed our goalkeeper for one instance in the first half and apart from that I thought we were brilliant,” said Jones.

“The second-half is the best performance under myself. It is the most complete performance and against a side that is really dangerous, has been in good form and is well-coached. We were really good today.

“Thankfully he wasn’t injured too badly. We needed a reset. We worked all week on certain things and Stevenage are very dangerous – they have a narrow front four, when you turn the ball over they go at you.

“It was important we didn’t do anything stupid because we were flicking balls inside and trying to hit big diagonals across the pitch that weren’t on and then giving them opportunities.

“We said: ‘ Can we just settle down?’

“It was epitomised by Thierry’s flick when he had no-one around him. You’re thinking ‘calm down, we’re in good form with good players’. We did and after that everyone was outstanding. Our decision-making, our quality, the way we managed the game and moved it – how we nullified a very dangerous side and then the chances we created – we were complete today.”

Jones was asked if some of the upturn had been down to Greg Docherty and Berry growing into their roles.

He said: “It is a constant work. What we kept preaching early on is that we signed nine players and we were 18th in League One. There was a big overhaul of players from there and it takes time – Rome wasn’t built in a day, is the cliche, but neither is a top Charlton team.

“We’ve had to be patient. These are good players. Docherty is a good player. He has played at the Championship level. Luke Berry has scored goals in the Premier League last season. So the fact he wants to come to Charlton shows we are doing something really, really well here. He is a class act.

“The centre-halves were dominant. Macca (Macaulay Gillesphey) was ill and didn’t train – the level of performance he put in today was phenomenal. Both my wide men looked a threat. If we’d had a bit more composure it should’ve been more. We got into situations without that end product.

“The way we saw the game out was a really professional performance

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