Nathan Jones covered his face when South London Sport: Charlton Athletic Edition told him at Friday’s press conference that his team had the chance to make it the club’s best start to a second tier season since 1992 if they beat Preston North End.
“Thanks for that,” said the Welshman, before going on to supply more quotes.
Well, the Addicks managed to make it three victories on the spin in the Championship and it left them top of the table on Saturday night.
Charlton are also the only side in the EFL to have taken maximum points this season.
Nathan Jones celebrates at full-time/Picture: Paul Edwards
Karlan Grant’s 56th minute goal at The Valley - his first since re-signing for the Addicks - meant Jones managed his first victory over a side bossed by Paul Heckingbottom, who had won three of the four previous matches.
Below is pretty much every word from the post-match press conference.
The perfect start continues. What did you make of that?
Jones: “We thoroughly deserved it. They had one chance all game which was the header (Callum Lang) where he was stretching. Apart from that we contained them.
“We listened to their manager and what he said after their game on Wednesday - that they knew what they were going to do against Charlton. They had our number in the three games (before today). They play a back five against us and have someone who goes in between the lines, so they play a bit of diamond, and we hadn’t handled it very well.
“Today we stuck to our shape. We didn’t try to contain. We tried to believe in what we did. We were excellent, apart from having a bit more cutting edge and getting the second [goal].
“I’m really pleased and really proud of the group, especially after the week we’ve had. Amari’i (Bell) has played through injury. We have got Mesik, who has had to put in a massive shift at Tottenham and then had to go again.”
Karlan Grant is hugged by Nathaniel Chalobah/Picture: Kyle Andrews
It’s early days but never bad to be top of the league?
