West Brom loanee Sam Field says Charlton are here to challenge after fine start breeds confidence

BY LOUIS MENDEZ

They were the bookies’ favourites for the drop – but Charlton’s barnstorming start to life back in the Championship will breed confidence amongst the troops, according to Sam Field.

Saturday’s 2-0 win at Reading saw the Addicks leapfrog Leeds United into second place in the Championship table – still unbeaten after six games.

Field, who made his second league start for the club during the game at the Madejski Stadium, says he will be keeping his feet firmly grounded.

“We don’t want to get too ahead of ourselves but to have fourteen points by this time is a great step,” explained the West Brom loanee.

“It’s got to give us confidence to go into games and go you know what we’re not just here because we got promoted, we’re here to challenge. A place like this, Reading are a good team, to win 2-0 is a real statement.

“I personally take it game by game. I think the lads have probably surprised themselves a bit. That’s what this league is about, it is absolute mayhem. One week you could be winning 3-0 and the next week losing 2-0.

“It’s just constant, you have to keep up with it. I think we’ve done really well to just stick in games. Sometimes, like Brentford the week before, you just have to stick in it. I’m sure we’ll keep our heads on the floor.

“I think we just want to go and enjoy ourselves. The pressure’s off. The media might not think that much but we just want to go and show what we’re capable of. That’s what the manager wants as well. He knows that we’re good players.

“We train really well, running hard in training and whatnot. I think it’s just that, going out and expressing ourselves. We only showed 60-70 percent of what we can do. Everyone enjoys it when you’re playing well, getting on the ball and moving it. Just keep our heads to the ground, keep working hard and keep seeing what we can do.”

Field, 21, is on a season-long loan from The Hawthorns and has had to bide his time as he waited to start ahead of the experienced Darren Pratley in the Addicks midfield.

“[Pratley] is a great guy, a lovely guy. He’s been really helpful since I’ve come in. You can learn off lots of people and definitely him for sure. You don’t hang around in this game for the length of time that he has if you’re not doing something right. If we have to share it like that, it doesn’t bother me at all. It helps both of us.

“It’s been a bit different. After being at West Brom for 14 years and only knowing that way, it’s a bit of a change. But these are a great group of lads. It’s a great club, I’m happy to be here. I think it’s an honour to come in and be patient. If they’re winning then they’re doing everything right. We’ve got to support each other. If I have to come on for ten minutes, like I did in the game before, that’s fine. I’ve got no issue, I just want to help the team. Hopefully I can stay in and start showing what I can really do more and more now. I’m just happy to be playing.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS