Charlton AthleticSport

Stevenage boss Steve Evans impressed with his side’s display at Charlton Athletic

Stevenage manager Steve Evans felt his side “dominated possession” in yesterday’s 0-0 draw at Charlton Athletic and credited home keeper Harry Isted with a couple of key stops.

The Addicks number one twice kept out attempts by Varaine Oliver in the second half in SE7 while Jamie Reid, one of the leading scorers in the division, headed a close-range chance over.

“I’m really pleased with the performance,” said Evans, who was not on the touchline as he completed a ban.

“We dominated possession for long spells of the first half without really creating. I think it’s a record amount of entries into the penalty box away from home for us.

“Good opportunities and the goalkeeper has made two fantastic saves from big Vadaine Oliver. Jamie Reid has a chance you normally expect him to score. He’s going through that little spell but the only way he is going to get a goal is what he had done today – be prepared to go back in.

“We love the kid, whether he scores them or not. We have come The Valley, we’ve silenced the crowd and outplayed them all over the pitch.

“I dread to think what the stats are – 80 or 90 per cent possession. It probably won’t be that when they calculate it here but that’s what it felt like.

“We just said to the players that good teams find a way to win a game or score a goal. It’s not just the strikers who miss chances – big Carl (Piergianni) should probably score with a header 10 minutes from time. He puts it wide when he should get it on target but he has been a man-mountain for us.

“I looked before the weekend and asked who had the tough weekend of the contestants (for the play-offs) – we did! We have come out three points behind when other people might’ve thought we’d come out four behind.

“We’ve had to go to The Valley now Nathan (Jones) is here and they’re a different team. It wouldn’t have mattered who was on their bench today – we wanted to win more than they did and it just never fell for us.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD

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