Nathan Jones: Red card shown to Greg Docherty during loss at Huddersfield changed the game
Nathan Jones felt the dismissal of skipper Greg Docherty changed the course of their 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town.
The Addicks captain was shown a straight red card for a foul on Nigel Lonwijk minutes after the South Londoners had drawn level in the first-half at the John Smith’s Stadium.
Charlton have now won just twice in their last 12 League One outings and none in their last five.
They remain seven points off the top six but slip to 14th in the table – sitting just four points above the relegation zone.
The Addicks fell behind early on as Thierry Small was unable to prevent Matty Pearson from rising and heading home a 14th-minute corner. The same man hit the bar moments later but Charlton seemed to be dealt a lifeline as Rarmani Edmonds-Green was wiped out by Brodie Spencer in the area.
Matty Godden converted from the spot for his 5th League One strike of the season. But any change in momentum was soon halted as Docherty was dismissed.
The South Londoners did what they could to try and hold Huddersfield at bay in the second-half but David Kasumu drove the Terriers back ahead midway through the second-period.
Miles Leaburn and Gassan Ahadme both headed wide late on as Charlton slipped to a second consecutive league defeat.
On Docherty’s red card, Jones said: “It had a huge effect on the game. We weren’t able to be as aggressive or front-footed as we want but even with that, we created three or four good chances in the second-half that we should have scored. We had two point-blank headers we should have scored. We had a late chance. We had enough chances to have got something from the game even with 10 men.
“I’m proud of that second-half performance. But first-half, we have to defend the set-plays better. That’s two set-plays we’ve conceded in the last two games and that can’t continue. We’re missing big personnel but that’s a really disappointing thing.
“We started really well. We played all the first 10 or 12 minutes in their half. Then we didn’t do our job on a set-play. That was a big thing. Then we were in the ascendancy and scored. The sending-off changed the game. Coming here as an away side, we were front-footed.
“No real problems apart from set-plays. Their two set-plays early on that we didn’t do our job on. Matty Pearson twice. Our players were warned because I’ve worked with Matty Pearson and he’s done that for me on hundreds of occasions.
“That was the little bit of lack of discipline that we’ve shown early on. Apart from that, we were in the ascendancy and had no real problems. Got to grip with the games and scored. The sending off changed the game.”
PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS