Johnnie Jackson after controversial defeat at Crewe: I’m sick of sounding like a broken record

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Johnnie Jackson says he’s sick of sounding like a broken record as Charlton fell to a controversial third successive league defeat – this time at the hands of relegation-threatened Crewe Alexandra.

Goals from Oli Finney and Mikael Mandron had the hosts in control at the interval. Substitute Mason Burstow pulled one back for the South Londoners with ten minutes left to play – the youngster’s first ever league goal.

Charlton thought they had snatched a last-gasp leveller as Elliot Lee’s shot found the net via the underside of the bar – but the officials disallowed it after an offside flag and three minutes of deliberation between referee Robert Lewis and his assistant.

The game was further marred as a Crewe supporter entered the field of play and laid hands on Charlton’s Albie Morgan whilst the midfielder remonstrated with the assistant referee – although Jackson admitted he hadn’t seen the incident.

“The linesman said that [Jonathan] Leko was in the goalkeeper’s line of sight, so they disallowed it,” said Jackson when asked for his view on the late moment of controversy.

“I don’t think [Crewe goalkeeper Dave Richards] would have saved it if there was no one there. He wouldn’t have saved it. It looped over his head, in off the bar. He tried his best to save it, he saw it all the way. That was the reason they gave.

“[Leko] was next to him, but I thought the keeper saw it. He tried to save it, he tried to keep it out. He saw the shot all the way, but it looped over his head. It wasn’t like he couldn’t see it coming. It went over the top of him. I don’t really know how Leko has blocked his sight when it’s gone over the top of him.

When questioned about his side’s display, Jackson added: “I feel like I’m saying the same things over and over now. A broken record. We’re getting chances in every game. I thought we started the game really well. Moved the ball, got into areas that we worked on all week. It’s just that final bit, the final pass, final cross, final shot that we’re just not putting away.

“We had so many chances again, I just watched them back. Enough chances to win a game. I said the same thing on Sunday and the same thing ten days ago against Wycombe. Something is wrong. Personal responsibility to put the ball in the goal or execute the final pass, final cross. It’s got to be better.

“I’ll have to speak to my players and get into the psyche of why are we not being clinical? Why have we lost that little bit of cutting edge? We’re still doing the right things from box to box. It’s just in that last little bit that we’re not putting it away. It has to come down to personal responsibility. The players have got to look to themselves and say what do they need to do better. I have to ask myself how can I improve it. We work on it all the time but we’ll have to continue to work on it.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS