Derby County boss Warne: Charlton Athletic have underachieved this season – their squad is very good

Derby County manager Paul Warne believes tonight’s opponents Charlton have “underachieved” this season.

The Addicks are winless in 16 league games, drawing eight of those. The last time they had a longer sequence without a victory was between October 2008 and January 2009.

Charlton appointed Nathan Jones as their manager at the start of this month after dispensing with head coach Michael Appleton.

Jones’ first match was a 2-0 loss at Reading but since they they have secured draws against in-form Lincoln, at promotion-chasing Bolton and then a stalemate on Saturday when League One leaders Portsmouth came to The Valley.

Warne told Derby’s official website: “The last seven or eight games they haven’t had a win – they’ve drawn loads.

“If you look at the opposition they have played it probably puts it into context a bit. They drew at home to Pompey at the weekend, the game probably could’ve gone either way. They probably should’ve won at Bolton and drew 3-3. It’s not like they are scrapping around for points because their performances have been quite good – they’ve probably played the top teams and we’re the end of this.

“They will definitely come hoping to pick up all three.”

Jones had a watching brief for the 1-0 defeat by the Rams early in February with Curtis Fleming in caretaker challenge. He was appointed the next day.

Asked about the fact the Addicks have turned a corner in terms of their performances under the Welshman, Warne said: “I didn’t think they were horrific before that, really. If you look at their actual playing staff it is very good – they are under-achieving for whatever reason.

“Sometimes it is injury, form confidence – the classic one is that it is the manager’s fault. That’s the easiest one to solve, isn’t it? Changing the manager is the cheapest way to change things. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

“Nath is an experienced manager who has gone in. Their actual form, so to speak, probably isn’t a lot different. He has changed it and they have spent some proper money in January as well. I do know it will turn a corner just hopefully not before Wednesday.”