Nathan Jones described himself as “a bit disappointed” after Charlton Athletic’s 1-1 draw against Bristol City at The Valley this afternoon.
The Addicks’ unbeaten Championship home record is still intact but it is the third match in a row that they have been forced to share the spoils in SE7.
A little further down in this piece is pretty much every word that Jones had to say post-match to the assembled media.
That included being asked about the absence of Timothy Ouma, with rumours rife the on-loan midfielder had not reported back on time from international duty with Kenya.
Charlton had the ideal start to the match with Karlan Grant’s second goal of the campaign putting them into an eighth-minute lead. Tyreece Campbell’s curled cross looked to be behind Grant’s run but he managed to flick it into his stride before finishing smoothly across City goalkeeper Sam Tickle.
Bristol City manager Michael Skubala felt that Arthur Okonkwo should have been dismissed for his challenge on Yu Hirakawa (below) just outside of the Addicks box in the 15th minute.
Picture: Keith Gillard
Charlton had kept three successive clean sheets on home turf but hopes of extending that were ended on 27 minutes. Scott Twine produced a nerveless finish from the spot after Conor Coventry brought down Dom Ballard.
The biggest chances to score after the break fell to the home team. Tickle used his legs to deny Tyreece Campbell, who made up for not holding Miles Leaburn’s low cross, with the Jamaican international sending a follow-up attempt over the crossbar.
Tickle also tipped over Harvey Knibbs’ free-kick in the first minute of stoppage time.
Charlton had a better xG (expected goals), shaded the possession and completed more accurate passes – the key stats are below (from FotMob) – but could not edge the one that mattered most.
Next up is Tuesday’s trip to Burnley, who climbed off the bottom of the table with a 4-0 victory over Watford this afternoon. Is the fact the Clarets have ended their wait for a first league win of the season good or bad from a Charlton perspective? We discussed that on the post-match pod.
Below are all the questions – and answers – from the press conference.
Gabriel Brener (back row far right), one of the major shareholders in Global Football Partners, was at the game this afternoon/Picture: Keith Gillard
A 1-1 draw today with Bristol City, how did you see it?
Jones: “A bit disappointed, really, because we had worked on a load in the last two weeks and freshened them up. We started really well and looked fluid. We scored and then didn’t really go on, we stopped passing the ball well, we gave the ball away, we were deep and passive. That was the frustration.
“I’m really disappointed with their goal because it is someone rushing out and dangling their leg. It is the second time he has done that. He has to be better with that, because he is a defensive midfield player.
“We were better when we changed shape in the second half, a lot better. We had the best chance of the game to have won it.”
The change of shape seemed to have the desired effect?
Jones: “We are trying to evolve and trying to do certain stuff, but when things aren’t going right then my job is to do something that gives us a little more impetus.
“We handled them better and then we were bolder and braver in terms of our shape, possession and what we did. We then had more territory and created the chance from that.
“It is something I have to think about because I want us to evolve but, more importantly than anything, I want us to win games.”
Karlan Grant celebrates his early finish/Picture: Kyle Andrews
The quality of the goal you scored, is that the kind of evolution that you are looking for?
Jones: “Well we are, it was one winger to another. It will take time, I have no doubt. But I’m disappointed today because I felt that was probably there to be won.”
You mentioned the penalty given away by Conor Coventry, I guess you had no complaints with that decision?
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