Jayden Stockley: Promotion is still achievable for Charlton Athletic

Jayden Stockley still believes Charlton Athletic can win promotion from League One this season despite the club still needing to eat up a significant points gap to the top six.

Stockley scored his 14th goal of the campaign in Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town.

The big striker is in the scoring groove with four in three fixtures since serving a three-game ban for his red card at Burton Albion.

The Addicks are 10 points behind sixth-placed Milton Keynes, who also have a fixture in hand.

“I feel confident every time I go on the pitch,” said Stockley. “That’s why I was so gutted with the suspension. I was probably playing my best football here.

“I want to score as many goals as I can at this football club. I want to finish my career here. I want to look back at my career and it be one-in-two [for goals] – impressive numbers.

“There’s no point scoring goals if you don’t get promoted.

“I’m desperate for that this season and I still think it’s achievable. Hopefully my goals can contribute to that.”

Charlton failed to convert a number of good opportunities against the Tractor Boys which could have killed off the contest long before Alex Gilbey netted for the first time since the 2-2 draw with Crewe in late April.

“There is always that fear with one goal that they are still in the game, with the players they have got on the pitch,” Stockley told Charlton TV. “As a footballer you don’t feel happy until the three points are in the bag.

“Both teams had cancelled each other out a bit in the first 20 minutes. It needed that goal to spark the crowd into the game.

“Once we scored we went up another level, especially until half-time. That, along with the Plymouth game, is the best we’ve played.

“You knew your mate would back you up in the press and we played some really nice stuff on the deck as well. We’ve gone toe to toe [with Ipswich] and they’ll come off the pitch thinking we’re a real side.

“We had a lot of clearcut chances. They had a little bit of possession second half but these are the type of games where you take a little breather, you can’t go flat out the full 90 minutes. You’ve got to accept they are going to have a bit of the ball. Our defence were amazing – Macca [Craig MacGillivray] through to the back three and the wing-backs.

“Once we get Gilbs firing, like we did on Tuesday, you’re not going to be able to stop him.”

PICTURES: PAUL EDWARDS