Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones: 'I was really disappointed with elements of the first half'
Every word from Welshman's post-match press conference after Tuesday night's loss to high-flying Middlesbrough
Nathan Jones spoke to the written media on Tuesday night after Charlton Athletic’s 2-1 loss to Middlesbrough at The Valley.
Here is every word he said.
The tribute to Norman Barker
“It was a really poignant tribute, a touch of class from our football club, in terms of how we organised it. It was a credit to the Middlesbrough fans as well, who were truly outstanding - not all fans are like that or would have been as respectful and as inclusive as that. We thank them. We know they are a class football club anyway.
“It is a touching moment. We’ve lost one of our family and his family was here. I know the family has said it is a fitting way to go, if you like, but it is very difficult to say or think that because they have lost someone very dear to them.”
His thoughts on the match
“I’m really disappointed with elements of the first half. We kept giving the ball away. You keep giving the ball away then these are an excellent side. We were aggressive against them and picked a team to be really front-footed, we tried to win the ball off them.
“They have got Premier League quality. They have got great resources and a wonderful football team that is well-coached, so we knew it was going to be a tough night, especially with what we have missing.
“Overall, when we are us and when we are doing the basics far better - keeping the ball far better, aggressive and athletic - then we can compete with anyone in this league. Second half we were really good and, to be fair, they had to change to curtail us. We scored and we had other opportunities. We should’ve had a pen in the first half, I can’t understand how that wasn’t given.
“We’re in a tough moment. We have played four of possibly the five or six best teams in the league and it has been a tough run. We have to come through it.”
On making three changes at the start of the second half - did he feel those switches gave Charlton more impetus?
“It categorically did. I don’t want to speak badly of the ones we brought off but we gave the ball away for the goal but also did it identically a minute before - so we didn’t learn from that.
“The second goal is the killer, it really is, because we are attacking right before half-time. We put a great ball in that lands in the box, our left wing-back isn’t there and their full-back goes past us far too easily. We don’t stop the play and we’re not aggressive enough. They break and score.
“It is the killer goal. Chasing a 2-0 lead, if it is only one then we equalise and I fancy us to go on and win the game. As it was, they made changes and saw out the game. We probably didn’t demonstrate enough quality in the final third to punish them.”
Impact from Rob Apter as he produced the cross for George Edmundson’s own goal
“That is why he is there. He probably thinks it is harsh and he is hard done by not to be in it (the team) but that is a squad game.
“We have big injuries - five arguable starters plus Onel [Hernandez] are injured - which is a big thing for us. We are having to fill gaps and plug holes. It is not going to change any time soon, so we have to come through this.
“We have played some top sides that are perennial at this level and have aspirations to go up.”
Onel Hernandez injury
“Yeah, he picked up an injury eight minutes into the game the other day. It is just what is happening to us.
“Onel wasn’t conditioned, he was without a club for a long period of time. So is Jerome [Roussillon]. It is difficult to get these up to speed, but such is the injury crisis we have at the minute to people like Amari’i [Bell] and Josh Edwards that we’re having to plug gaps. They are big players for us.
“Onel has picked up something but he hasn’t had pre-season or game time. We are picking up free agents just to try to plug gaps.”
Birmingham next
“It is a tough moment we’re going through.
“One, we want to get people back. Two, we want the window to come really, really quickly. But also we have to be better. We tried to find a way tonight to be aggressive and front-footed - we were - but every time we had decisions to make, we made poor decisions. We had counter-attacks when we were four against three and we didn’t finish the action - they did. They had two counter-attacks and scored both.
“We should have had a penalty - didn’t. When we do get back into it, we put them under a lot of pressure late on and they defended fantastically well. That is the tale of the game.
“Middlesbrough have been in this division or the Premier League for the last 10-15-20 years, spent big money and have got some wonderful players, so if we’re not full-strength it is tough for us at times.”
Pictures: Paul Edwards and Kyle Andrews