Lloyd Jones: Charlton’s confidence not dented by defeat to Birmingham – we have great chance of making play-offs

BY RICHARD CAWLEY
richard@slpmedia.co.uk

Lloyd Jones is adamant that Charlton Athletic’s defeat at Birmingham City last weekend will not dent their confidence as they look to move back into the League One play-off places.

The South Londoners slipped to seventh in the standings after a 1-0 defeat to the table-topping Blues with their big-money summer signing Jay Stansfield striking a first-half clincher.

Charlton had taken 16 points out of a possible 18 – five wins and one draw – before the loss to Birmingham, who are 10 points clear of third-placed Wrexham.

It is vital that Nathan Jones’ side click back into the groove at home against Exeter City tomorrow before a pressure clash at play-off rivals Leyton Orient on March 1.

Asked if the squad’s belief had been depleted by Saturday’s reverse, Addicks vice captain Jones said: “I don’t think it has – at all. Birmingham are top of the league for a reason.

“I don’t think anyone in the changing room saw it as a free hit. The manager, just before the game, gave a really motivational speech. It got the lads up for it. But his overriding message, even before the game, was that it is just another three points, that it was just another team and that it is not going to define our season, if you lose one game.

“To be fair it was the same message after it as well. He acknowledged it is a busy schedule. Maybe we could’ve done more but also maybe it was a game too far with the schedule we had been on. He said that we gave him everything and I think everyone did.

“Birmingham showed a bit of know-how in the way they saw the game out.

“That won’t affect our confidence, especially going into Saturday and how good our home form has been.”

The average to get into the top six in recent seasons averages out at 75 points – meaning Charlton would need to average 1.8 points per match to hit the number.

Jones said: “Our focus is just on the preparation going into the next game.

“We have given ourselves a right chance to get in the play-offs and we are quietly confident we can with the squad that we have got and probably also how we have performed in the the last 12 to 15 matches. It feels to finally have clicked.

“We want to get back to winning ways and it is good to be back home, especially attacking that Covered End in the second half is a real boost.

“We want as many people to come as possible, because it is a helping hand to us. Then it is down to us to deliver on the pitch.

“We seem to be finishing games really strongly at the moment and that is down to the fans and our fitness levels to keep going.”

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