Charlton Athletic review of the week: Docherty happy to bounce back from playing dip, Kelman prevails in penalty spot mind games and management milestone for Jones
Women bounce back in WSL 2 and former Addicks striker makes non-league move to Isthmian League Premier strugglers
This is a chunky Charlton Athletic review of the past week. It kicks off with exclusive quotes from Addicks skipper Greg Docherty.
We also have reaction from Charlie Kelman after his nerveless penalty against Oxford United and a management milestone for Nathan Jones
Greg Docherty/Picture: Kyle Andrews
DOCHERTY ON FIGHTING BACK FROM FORM DIP AND COADY BEING A HUGE PRESENCE
Greg Docherty feels he is adding plenty of value to Charlton Athletic’s team now but admits he fell short of his own high standards over the winter period.
The Scottish midfielder, 29, has started nine of the last 10 Championship matches but had played just 30 minutes in the six league fixtures prior to that, not making the squad for the 1-0 win over Sheffield United and 4-0 hammering at Millwall.
Asked how he would assess his own season, the Addicks skipper told this website: “It started really well. The season, like every one, has had its ups and downs. I had a spell over the winter period that I wasn’t too happy with. I reflected back on that a bit and then I came back in, after the Millwall game, probably with the bit between my teeth as well.
“It has gone well since then and I’ve enjoyed it. We’ve picked up a lot of positive results. We’ve had one defeat since I’ve been in the team and I think we’ve only had one bad performance in that time and that was the Portsmouth defeat.
“I’m happy with the place I’m in at the moment. I think people can see how much I love being part of this team and I give absolutely everything for it.
“I know the role I’ve got and I’m privileged to have it. I do believe we’re a strong team when I’m in it and I just want to keep trying to show that.”
Conor Coady/Picture: Kyle Andrews
Docherty has also praised the leadership qualities of Conor Coady. The former England international arrived in the January transfer window from Wrexham.
“I’m the captain but I’m not scared to lean on Conor,” said Docherty. “You can’t not when it is a guy that has been to two major tournaments. His record and stature in the game speaks for itself.
“He is everything I thought he would be - and probably more. You know someone has got a good reputation but he has added to that from the first day he came in. He didn’t come in at a great time, in terms of the result, but leading up to the Leicester game he added a freshness, a smile and positivity. He just had an aura about him that really lifted the mood.
“He was a really, really good signing to get through the door.
“I’m very respectful to him and he’s very respectful to me, being captain, but I’m quite happy for him to say his bit as well. He has been there, done it and worn the T-shirt.
“One of the best things I can say about him is even the other night (at Boro), he is used to playing in footballing teams, but he absolutely loved rolling his sleeves up, defending his box, heading and tackling. He was the happiest in the dressing room after the game. It’s great to see.”
Charlie Kelman celebrates his goal against Oxford United/Picture: Kyle Andrews
KELMAN PUTS KEY PENALTY PAST FORMER TEAM-MATE
Charlie Kelman won his mind games against former team-mate Jamie Cumming on Saturday - converting from the penalty spot in Charlton Athletic’s 1-1 draw at Oxford United.
The striker’s sixth goal of the season, three minutes into second-half stoppage time, cancelled out Cameron Brannagan’s opener, also a penalty, in the 57th minute.
Kelman was up against U’s goalkeeper Cumming. The pair were on loan together at Gillingham in the 2020-21 season.
“My mate Jamie was in goal. I enjoy the boos. It just does something to me - the pressure. I was buzzing when it went in,” said the former USA U21 international.
“Yeah, 100 per cent (Cumming would have known where Kelman was putting his strike). I’m going to put it there with a bit of pace. Thankfully it went in.
“Brannagan went the same way and he was giving me a bit before the penalty, so I thought I’d go that way as well. Hopefully there are many more to come.
“I had a penalty in midweek - in a sudden death shootout in training - and I tried to dink it down the middle. Conor Coady took my head off! I would never do that in a game.
“We wanted to stick it on Oxford and be aggressive but if someone had said we would get seven points from nine then a lot of people would’ve taken it.
“I felt like we let Oxford off a little bit and allowed them to grow into it in spells. We find ourselves in a good position going into the last eight games. We take the point and move on to next week.”
The full interview with Kelman is on our post-match pod - which can be found here.
Nathan Jones before the Championship match at Oxford United/Picture: Kyle Andrews
TON UP FOR JONES
Nathan Jones hit the milestone of 100 league games in charge of Charlton Athletic after Saturday’s match at the Kassam Stadium.
The Welshman is the first Addicks boss to make it to a century since Lee Bowyer in July 2020.
Charlton have won 156 points under Jones and he has a league win rate of 41 per cent. His full league record is won 41, drawn 32 and lost 27.
SICKENER FOR MBICK
Micah Mbick is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines with the knee injury suffered while on loan at Colchester United.
The teenager was stretchered off against Newport County on March 7.
U’s manager Danny Cowley said: “There is damage to the ACL and PCL and I think there’s damage to the medial ligament and lateral ligament as well.
“Normally when you do the PCL, the posterior cruciate, it’s in car crashes or rugby players, it’s that front-on, high velocity impact. The fact he’s picked one up playing football is quite unique and shows you the ferociousness of the tackle.
“We all feared the worst but had some positive news on Wednesday. His season is finished but hopefully it might not need surgery which would be great because that would mean he’ll get back ready for pre-season.
“I’ve managed 17 years and he’s the best [number] nine we’ve ever worked with. He’s incredible, so talented.”
Charlton boss Nathan Jones did not provide such a gloomy prognosis, speaking about Mbick after Saturday’s match at Oxford United.
He said: “It’s not as bad as we first thought. We’re disappointed, more for the boy than anything. He’ll be fine. He is young and he will come back. God-willing he will be back not far off pre-season.”
PAYNE ACCOLADE
Jack Payne has won League Two Player of the Month for February.
The former Charlton Athletic midfielder scored four goals in the month, three of them coming against Barnet.
Payne officially left the Addicks payroll in May 2024 but had spent the previous season on loan at MK Dons. He signed a two-year contract with Colchester United.
Payne, 31, made 42 league appearances for Charlton after being plucked from Swindon Town by Ben Garner, who had made the same move earlier in the summer of 2022.
Lucy Fitzgerald won Player of the Month for February/Picture: Keith Gillard
BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Charlton Athletic took another step towards the WSL 2 title with a 1-0 home victory over Sunderland on Sunday.
The Addicks had seen their 479-day unbeaten league record - 27 matches - ended in midweek as they slipped to a 2-0 reverse at the hands of Portsmouth at The Valley.
Amelie Thestrup scored for the south Londoners yesterday as they recorded a 12th victory of the WSL 2 campaign.
The result leaves Karen Hills’ side nine points clear of second-placed Birmingham City, who have two matches in hand.
“I wanted to see a reaction from Wednesday to see the character that we have, and they didn’t disappoint today,” Hills told the club’s official website. “They were excellent from minute one.”
Lucy Fitzgerald has been named WSL 2 Player of the Month for February. The midfielder scored four goals in that period.
Charlton head to fourth-placed Bristol City on Sunday.
LISBIE SIGNS FORMER CHARLTON TEAM-MATE
Cray Valley made four signings on Friday - with Chris Dickson one of the new additions made by manager Kevin Lisbie.
Dickson, 41, had started this season with Cray Wanderers but left at the end of January.
The striker played with Lisbie while the pair were contracted to the Addicks.
And Dickson told this website in an interview earlier this year (click on the hyperlink above to read it) that Lisbie’s unselfishness helped him to secure a permanent deal at Charlton in 2007 as he scored twice in a trial match against Fulham reserves.
“Kevin played the game of his life for me - because he did all the things I didn’t want to do. He asked: ‘How do you play?’. I told him I went in behind and he told me: ‘Keep going in behind’. Kevin kept coming short and playing me in. I scored two goals and almost got a hat-trick,” said Dickson.
“Alan Pardew pulled me out of the changing room and gave me the most aggressive handshake ever! He said: ‘That’s my striker. That’s what I want my strikers to do, I love it. See you Thursday’.”
Dickson came on as a 46th-minute substitute in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Wingate & Finchley. Cray Valley are in the fourth and final relegation spot.
Josh Laqeretabua/Picture: Kyle Andrews
DEFENDER MAKES NON-LEAGUE MOVE
Josh Laqeretabua has joined National League South side Bath City on loan until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old centre-back made his debut in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Hornchurch.
Bath are four points adrift of safety and have gone nine league matches without a victory.
Charlton’s individual development coach Dave Huzzey said: “Josh is another one of our young players who is thought of highly by our first-team and academy staff. He’s performed excellently in our U21s game programme and the next step of his journey is to go and do the same in the men's environment.
"Their manager Darren Way is someone who has worked in youth development before and will understand what Josh will need from his time with them.”
Laqeretabua’s only senior action for Charlton this season came in the EFL Cup. He played the full 90 minutes in their 3-1 loss at Cambridge United in August.
MITCHELL IS AT THE RACES
There was a short video clip on social media last week that seemed to show Alex Mitchell just a little bit worse for wear with Plymouth Argyle team-mate Ronan Curtis at the Cheltenham Festival.
So when the pair combined at the weekend - Mitchell finishing off a Curtis corner in the sixth minute of Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Reading - the on-loan Charlton centre-back produced a horse-themed celebration.
Argyle are keen on a permanent deal for the centre-back, 24.
Mitchell has scored twice in 31 League One appearances for Plymouth. He needs to play twice more this season to reach 100 matches in England’s third tier.
Nathan’s relief when talking about Micah was pretty palpable I thought listening on Saturday… crazy to think a knee injury like that can basically be recovered from by… resting?… sounds like Micah will be ok, that’s the main thing. Cowley’s comments on him just underline why so many in football think we have such a special talent.