NATHAN Jones wants to get another unbeaten run going and push towards the top six after Charlton Athletic lost for the first time in five Championship games as Preston North End won 2-0 at Deepdale.
Jones thorught a wrong throw-in call contributed to his side’s loss.
Former Addick Thierry Small – booed by away fans after rejecting a contract offer in the summer to join the Lilywhites – opened the scoring in the 67th minute before Daniel Jebbison grabbed the second ten minutes from time.
Jones felt the officials got a “clear as day” decision incorrect before the first goal.
The defeat was just their second away from home in the Championship this season.
“It was a game of really fine margins,” said Jones. “Both sides were honest, working hard, and you could tell the first goal was always going to be vital. The conditions made it difficult for either team to find fluency, it was a real second-ball game, with things bouncing and bobbling all over.
“What disappoints me is the decision that led to their first goal. It’s clear as day, James Bree heads it out off their player, yet somehow the throw-in is given to Preston. From that, they go down the left, cross it in, and it ends up in the back of our net. That changed the whole game.”
Jones added: “I’ve got an honest group who give me absolutely everything. We’ve had two long away trips this week, and that takes a toll.
“We’re still in the top half of the Championship heading into the international break, which is a positive. But I want us to take that next step, to start pushing those top-six boundaries. If we’d won on Tuesday (a 1-1 draw at Derby County), we’d have been right up there.”
Charlton are back at The Valley to face Sheffield Wednesday after the international break.
“We’ll rest up a bit, do some good work on the training pitch, and get minutes into a few who need them,” Jones said. “It’s not so much about bouncing back, but about starting another run again when we return.”
Addicks fans made up 1,100 of the 14,991 crowd after a long trip north in difficultconditions.
Jones said: “The fans were brilliant again. It was a massive journey for them, especially with the storm and the train problems. We really appreciate their backing, and we’re gutted we couldn’t send them home happy. But we’ll learn from this, and we’ll be better for it.”
Meanwhile, Sonny was voted Charlton’s player of the month for September.
The summer signing from Blackpool scored in back-to-back home games against Millwall and Blackburn Rovers.
Carey produced a number of all-action displays throughout September, helping Jones’s side finish the month unbeaten having taken eight points from a possible twelve.
The midfielder claimed 44 per cent of supporters’ votes, followed by James Bree in second with 37 per cent and captain Greg Docherty in third with 10 per cent.
