Nathan Jones has impacted Charlton Athletic – but previous woes mean that they will still finish with low League One points tally
Charlton are facing the very real prospect of their lowest points return in League One since they were relegated in 2020.
The Addicks nudged their unbeaten run under manager Nathan Jones into double digits after a stalemate with Stevenage on Monday.
Jones has lost just once since taking over from Michael Appleton but seven draws since then, including their three most recent outings, have ensured their undefeated sequence has not had more of a transformative effect on their league standing of 16th.
The former Luton Town, Southampton and Stoke City boss is averaging 1.45 points per game – an improvement on Appleton (1.25) – and if that return stays the same it would see the South Londoners collect another seven points and finish on 54.
That would still be five fewer points than the 2021-22 campaign when they collected 59.
Charlton’s best total since making the drop was 74, when they missed out on the play-offs on goal difference, while they accrued 62 last time around.
Jones has overseen the Addicks’ best unbeaten run since March and April 2021, a period which saw Lee Bowyer, Johnnie Jackson and Nigel Adkins fill the hotseat. The trio had six wins and four draws before a 1-0 reverse at Peterborough.
The last time Charlton went 11 games undefeated – seven victories and four draws – was the promotion-winning 2018-19 campaign over a two-month period between February and April.
One of the big things which Jones has been able to do is cut down on the defensive lapses. His team have conceded 13 times – compared to 20 in the 11 matches prior to his arrival.
“We want to be better – I’m not jumping through hoops and saying we’re magnificent,” said Jones, speaking after Monday’s match. “We are showing we are difficult to beat.
“We’ve played the top three and taken five out of nine points.
“Clean sheets are important because if you can’t keep clean sheets then you won’t be at the top end of the league. Usually my teams are very good defensively.
“At Luton we were always one of the highest for clean sheets. It’s about doing the basics well.”
PICTURES: PAUL EDWARDS
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