Charlton keeper relishing challenge of League One promotion after battling to beat the drop in recent seasons
Saturday afternoon was a reminder to Will Mannion of just how very different this season with Charlton Athletic has been to his other recent League One campaigns.
The goalkeeper returned to Cambridge United on Saturday as the Addicks picked up a 1-0 win to close in on securing a play-off spot.
Mannion made 41 appearances during his time with the U’s and spent the majority of his time scrapping for survival in the third tier before leaving as a free agent to pen a two-year deal at The Valley last summer.
Tyreece Campbell’s goal in the 14th minute – his seventh of the season – moved the South Londoners on to 76 points and ensured there is a 10-point cushion to seventh place.
Charlton’s win all but condemned Cambridge, bossed by Millwall legend Neil Harris, to relegation.
“The three points was the most important thing at this stage of the season,” Mannion told the South London Press on returning to his former club. “Keep churning them out and see where it takes us at the end of the season.
“The win was a little bittersweet.
“I’m still close to a lot of people there and I want the club to do well – I wish them all the very best for the future. But I’m at Charlton and three points was the most important thing to me. When I was at Cambridge, we were at the other end of the table and we were fighting to stay in the league.
“It’s a different pressure where you have to win every game now, instead of scraping results and hoping everyone else loses, but I have enjoyed every minute of it.”
Mannion has racked up 25 League One appearances for Nathan Jones’ side this season and conceded just 22 goals.
“It’s been really good,” said the former AFC Wimbledon youngster.
“It’s been a big step up from where I have come from – it’s new territory for me to be fighting for promotion.
“I came here to play.
“To have played the amount of games that I have done this season, I’m delighted. I’m hoping that continues for the future as I’m really enjoying being the goalkeeper on the pitch.
“We have four games left now to see what we can do. Hopefully we end up where we want to go.”
Mannion has had to battle for the number one spot throughout his EFL senior career.
He arrived this summer at Charlton’s Sparrows Lane training ground knowing he would have to battle with Ashley Maynard-Brewer for the starting role in Nathan Jones’ side.
The former Southampton and Luton manager wanted to bring in a more experienced goalkeeper to supplement his squad in the summer but was unable to get a deal over the line.
Maynard-Brewer came into the side when Mannion dropped out due to a thigh injury in October, but the latter was reintroduced at half-time in the 1-0 defeat at Birmingham in mid-February when the Australian picked up a groin problem.
“It’s not been a straightforward road for me,” said Mannion. “I’m used to that challenge now and accept that a lot of things are out of my control – injuries and different managers.
“That’s helped me cope with the external things which happen and to stay focused for when that chance does come.
“Myself and Ash have a really good relationship. When he got in the team, I wanted him to do well.
“It’s the same for him when I’m in the team. You never know [when your chance will come] – that’s how football works.
“Ash came in and did really well. The team was performing. He kept eight clean sheets as well. I just stayed ready for when I would have to come back in and pass the torch over.”
The Addicks are six points off the automatic spots but have to play Championship-chasing Wycombe and Wrexham in their final four games.
“We have one eye on it,” said Mannion.
“We just have to keep grinding out results – that’s going to be the way anything happens.
“Automatic promotion is still doable right up until that point it is mathematically not.”
PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS
