Johnnie Jackson praises side’s professionalism after Charlton triumph 2-0 at Cambridge

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson praised the professionalism of his side as they ran out 2-0 winners at Cambridge United.

The Addicks’ season has long been over with both promotion and relegation not possible, but the team rewarded the 1,034 fans who made their way to the Abbey Stadium with the victory thanks to two goals inside the final 20 minutes.

Both strikes benefited from huge strokes of fortune. The opener came as the ever-lively Corey Blackett-Taylor cut in and saw his shot, that was heading well wide, deflect off Ben Worman and into the bottom corner on 73 minutes.

And it was another ricochet that saw the visitors double their lead seven minutes later as substitute Chuks Aneke’s effort hit Conor Washington’s head the went in for the Northern Irish international’s 11^th strike of the campaign.

“A good win,” said Jackson, as his side climbed to within one point of their hosts in the League One table.

“A good performance, professional. Two scrappy goals but sometimes it’s nice to score them. Sometimes I feel we have to score the perfect goal and it’s got to be set up brilliantly and we don’t take all the chances we create. We’re probably not ruthless enough. that’s probably one of the criticisms of us this season, that we have created a lot but not enough to show for it at times. To get two scrappy ones is nice but they come about because of our attacking intent. They all count, and we’ll take them.

“It was a big deflection, but [Blackett-Taylor] was a menace all night. I thought they had a really good tussle, him and [Liam] Bennett at right-back, the young lad. I thought he conducted himself really well and Corey had to be on his game to cause him trouble, which he did. He’ll cause anyone trouble, especially on the form he’s in. Really pleased for him that he’s had that contribution, hopefully he’ll get that goal because his performances at the minute warrant that.”

The victory means the Addicks do still have hope of a top-half finish this season – even if it is scant consolation for a disappointing campaign.

Jackson added: “I just keep saying I want to win every game we play. Disappointed we didn’t win last week [against Morecambe], I thought we should have got something from the game. It hurts me when we don’t because I know what we’re capable of on his day.

“We won tonight, professionally. I thought the lads were brilliant in terms of their attitude and endeavour. That’s all I want to see in the next two games that we go out there and play like it really means something and it’s for something and we’ll see what we can get for it.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS