'I don’t want people saying we're a nice footballing side...I want to win games'
Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones' verdict after 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers
Nathan Jones reiterated his focus is on substance over style following Charlton Athletic’s 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers today.
The Addicks were full value for maximum points in SE7 this afternoon with Macaulay Gillesphey, Sonny Carey and James Bree on target.
The result lifted Charlton to seventh in the Championship table ahead of back-to-back away fixtures at Derby County on Tuesday and Preston North End next weekend.
Addicks boss Jones described his side as “outstanding” as they made it successive wins at the level for the first time since June 2020.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
He said: “I’m not a coach who is obsessed with possession and looking good - feathering my own cap. I like winning football games. I like taking my football club forward. We have a glorious group here who graft and work hard.
“We want to be in every game. If we keep a clean sheet it gives us a glorious opportunity to get a point. Then if we continue being good in the final third, because we get in there a lot and have a lot of opportunities in the box against every team we play against, we can pick up points.
“But there is an evolution process in between where we’d like to have more possession and be more fluid - but that takes time. I’m not going to purely work on our fluidity and lose games. People would say: ‘They are a nice footballing side’. I don’t want to be a nice footballing side, I want to win games.”
Carey, signed on a free transfer from Blackpool, has now scored in successive matches in SE7.
But while there was disappointment when his opener was cancelled out in the 1-1 derby against Millwall, this time the attacking midfielder’s thunderous strike beyond Balazs Toth doubled their advantage.
Asked about goals being a key part of Carey’s remit, Jones said: “Well it is because right behind him he’s got Harvey Knibbs, who scored 16 goals last season, and Luke Berry, who is a serial goalscoring midfield player.
“I couldn’t believe Sonny shot from there, I thought he should’ve played it to Bree, who was inside and in a better position. But the ginger genius, we love him.
“We wanted to bring in goals in the summer. We brought in (Charlie) Kelman and (Isaac) Olaofe. We’ve got Miles (Leaburn) a lot fitter now and in a lot better position. Coupled with Godders (Matty Godden) to come back and Berry to come back. Knibbs….Sonny Carey…the size now with James Bree and his quality.
“We have significantly improved the football club and the squad. It’s up to everyone to chip in.
“I genuinely do not care who scores as long as we score one more than the opposition.”
Jones is not about to start talking up their prospects despite the way they have adapted impressively to playing in a higher division.
Another question asked was about supporters leaving the match today and dreaming of another promotion in May to the Premier League.
“We will not put a ceiling on what we can achieve,” said the Welshman. “All we’re concerned about is the next game.
“If we say: ‘We can get to the Premier League’ then c’mon (take a step back)”. We’ve won a few games, calm down. That’s how we feel.
“What I will probably guarantee is that by March or April we will be a better side than we are now. That is my job - to make this squad of players better and more fluid.
“If that is our level I’m excited about what we can achieve. I’ve no idea what that is going to be but the Championship is a cruel and tough league. It has a habit of punching you in the nose if you start walking around with a swagger. We don’t do that - we’re Charlton. We know what we’re good at and our sole purpose is to get better at being the best version of ourselves. That is all I can affect.
“I’m immensely proud of our performance - that’s how I want to see us play.
“I’m really pleased for Macaulay. He has been hard done by, because he scored the play-off final winner and then has not started any of the first six or seven games.
“It is tough to take but he was immense today. Not just the goal but his overall performance.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
“The energy our midfield three played with was brilliant. Conor Coventry dealt with Todd Cantwell phenomenally - because if Cantwell is in the game then they are a good side. He went up against him and was aggressive in everything he did.
“The game-changers we brought on really took the game away from them and that highlights it is a squad game. We say it every day - it is a culture and environment that we demand.
“We’re only as strong as our weakest links. But if we have any weak links they don’t survive at this football club because we have an ethos that it is a group and not the individual.
“We were outstanding. Our second-half performance was relentless and it should have been more. We missed some glorious chances.”
Blackburn head coach Valerien Ismael was left moaning about referee Anthony Blackhouse - adamant that Lloyd Jones had handled Todd Cantwell’s cross when the visitors only trailed by one goal.
“It can be the game changer,” said Ismael. “What is really embarrassing for me is the referee winked at our captain. The captain is allowed to speak to the referee and he has winked and laughed at him - this is unacceptable.
“He made a mistake, that can happen, but at least treat our player properly and not laugh at our players.
“It was not a great game. We had some good moments at the beginning but the performance was not that good. I don’t know why. It can happen.
“We were not good enough with the ball, it was as simple as that. The last two goals were too easy.”