Sonny Carey - AKA The Ginger Genius - keeps delivering goals at The Valley
Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones praises summer signings in victory over Sheffield Wednesday
Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones talked about his long-held transfer interest in Sonny Carey after the summer signing extended his scoring run at The Valley.
The 24-year-old put the Addicks ahead in today’s 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
It is the third home match in a row that Carey has netted and puts him top of the club’s goal charts.
Jones has been a long-term admirer of the player, dating back to the summer of 2021 when Carey left King’s Lynn.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
Carey finished the last campaign strongly as a left winger at Blackpool but has been used in number 10 role by the Charlton boss.
“We tried to sign him when I went back to Luton,” said Jones. “We had him in the building and just couldn’t end up getting the deal across the line - he ended up going to Blackpool.
“He is versatile. Blackpool played differently to us - 4-4-2 - and they got loads out of him. He was one of their excellent players, as was Rob Apter. They were a really good counter-attacking side that sat in.
“For us he has been brilliant in that central midfield role. That is where we always saw him playing, even when we were going to sign him from King’s Lynn.
“He must be playing well because he is keeping out Harvey Knibbs and Luke Berry, who are two very good Championship players as well.
“We want outcomes from our attacking midfield players and he has certainly given us that. The Ginger Genius, as we call him, is in good form. But he works hard every day. There is more to come from him - he can assist and get better.”
Carey flashed a dangerous ball across the face of goal in the first period that had nobody in the right place to convert from close range.
“That is where [Charlie] Kelman should be,” said Jones. “Kelman is working so hard and looks a threat with his movement - he just needs a goal. But those are the ones I expect you to be at. He (Kelman) looked for the cutback but we have attacking midfielders who come for cutbacks. We want him finishing that.”
James Bree collected his third assist since joining from Southampton.
The right wing-back’s free-kick delivery was bang on the money for Burke to head home at the near post in first-half stoppage time.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
Asked about Bree’s quality on deadballs, Jones said: “He is the best I’ve ever worked with - bearing in mind that I worked with James Ward-Prowse. Prowsy was phenomenal and Breezer is of that ilk.
“That’s recruitment for you (in terms of him already having a big impact in his opening months in SE7.”
Jamal Lowe’s 69th-minute goal panicked the hosts before Ethan Horvath was sent off for clattering Isaac Olaofe in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Referee Tom Reeves allowed play to continue for a few seconds before calling a halt.
The official dismissed the Wednesday goalkeeper with opposition boss Henrik Pedersen indicating it was the linesman who spotted the foul.
“Football is difficult to referee,” said Jones. “But Knibbsy (Harvey Knibbs) goes through and it is a foul. He prides himself on scoring goals. He is brought down and nothing is given.
“With the greatest of respect, that (Horvath’s foul) is one of the easiest decisions you will ever get to see in the world. He has touched the ball around him and then been wiped out.
“You will not see an easier decision in the world than that.
Picture: Kyle Andrews
“I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. We finally got to the right decision, praise the Lord. One of them was switched on from the three or four, which is good.
“I would like to understand his thought process on it. You will not see an easier decision to make, barring if he clubbed him over the head with a baseball bat.”
Charlton head to Ipswich Town on Tuesday.
Jones said: “We have got two games this week, not just Ipswich but Hull as well, so it won’t be the same three starting elevens.
“I’m delighted we won today. You come out of these international breaks and you never know what you’re going to get with it - people had two weeks off and we’ve had internationals who have travelled around the world.
“First half we were good. With a little more killer instinct we probably could have scored more. Charlie has had two situations where he could score. Bree has put in some wonderful balls we could score from. Two was the least we should have had.
“We warned them at half-time because we watched them (Wednesday), they were 2-0 down twice and came back to 2-2. In the Wrexham game they should have won 3-2 or 4-2. We knew there could be a sting in the tail and we almost had that.
“We saw the game out really well and came strong late on. The positives you have to take is it’s a win in the Championship - it is very tough to do that against any opposition, and this lot are having a right good go.”
Carey waa a signing that came totally out of the blue and the fan base were wondering/hoping we would sign better. A few months on and he has been a revelation, a work ethic allied with the ability to hurt teams with goals and assists.
I would prefer Leaburn to start, and Kerman to use his pace as opponents as opponents (hopefully) tire. However I do accept the choice isn’t clearcut!!