Curtis Fleming on AFC Wimbledon friendly loss, Charlton Athletic formation change in pre-season, Collins Sichenje absence and Charlie Kelman shoulder injury
Every word from the Addicks number two after the 2-0 loss at Plough Lane
Curtis Fleming did the post-match press interview following Charlton Athletic’s 2-0 defeat to AFC Wimbledon this afternoon.
Kai Jennings and trialist John-Kymani Gordon scored for the League One side at Plough Lane.
Addicks manager Nathan Jones was clearly unhappy at some of the finishing produced by his side as they failed to score for the first time in their pre-season programme.
But the Welshman handed the media responsibilities over to his number two as he made a sharp getaway. A fair few of the 862 Charlton supporters in attendance made the same decision in the final stages of the match, as it became pretty clear that their toiling team was not going to make a breakthrough.
South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition spoke to Fleming and here is pretty much every word the Irishman had to say.
Tyreece Campbell is held during the AFC Wimbledon friendly/Picture: Kyle Andrews
What were your general thoughts on the performance?
Fleming: “It was okay. We lacked cutting edge. We had chances. We had a couple of decent opportunities in the game. So did they - and they took them. We didn’t and that is something we have been drumming into the guys and talking about since last season - creating chances and having a little bit of magic.
“We have been playing a different shape to try and get wingers involved a little bit more. Both of the wingers had one-v-ones today, we got penalty shouts, but on another day we would be expecting them to score. Then the game looks totally different.
“In the second half, especially the last half-hour, it looked like it petered out. It wasn’t what we are. We looked a bit lethargic, we looked a bit slow and we were playing the ball around the back.
“I was shouting ‘forward’ - because that is what we have to do.
“Pre-season is a gradual build. It’s a build in fitness but it’s also a build in quality. It’s also an opportunity to play forward - making the runs we have talked about - and that didn’t really happen.
