NATHAN Jones felt “euphoric” after Sonny Carey’s dramatic 95th-minute winner for Charlton Athletic against West Bromwich Albion at a bouncing Valley on Tuesday night.
Carey collected a clearance from a corner and beat one man before his shot from 22 yards nicked off Chris Mepham to deceive goalkeeper Josh Griffiths, who couldn’t stop the ball squirming under him and in.
That sent home supporters wild and Jones sprinting down the touchline to celebrate with his players.
The Addicks had earlier missed a penalty when Griffiths dived to his left to deny Greg Docherty after the visitors were penalised for handball against defender Ousmane Diakite.
Charlton are up to fifth in the Championship after fourteen games, a point off Millwall in fourth.
“It feels euphoric,” Jones said. “I am proud of the team and how they kept going. West Brom are a fantastic football club, former Premier League, a top-end side in the Championship. But I thought we were excellent, to go toe-to-toe with them.
“We didn’t take a backwards step, the only disappointment with tonight was the penalty [miss].
“For the full duration of the game we were at it, we were aggressive and I am really proud of the team.
Nathan Jones up on the hoardings celebrating
Carey was denied by Griffiths from similar distance before his winner.
Jones said: “It took a penalty save, a world-class save from Sonny Carey and it’s taken constant pushing to the 95th minute [to get the win].
“In the first half we didn’t move the ball well enough, and we weren’t creative enough. I asked them to be brave at half-time, to control the ball more, use the structure and we did.
“West Brom are a well-coached team, but what a way to win a game, and there is no better time to do it.”
It was 24-year-old Carey’s fifth league goal since his summer move from Blackpool.
“It is wonderful and you have to enjoy those moments. I said to Sonny at the end go and enjoy it as you don’t often get seventeen or 20,000 people singing your name,” Jones said.
“The subs came on and gave us a massive impetus late on and it would have been a travesty if we didn’t win it and definitely if they had nicked something at the end.”
West Brom head coach Ryan Mason made no excuses after a sixth league defeat of the campaign which leaves one of the pre-season promotion favourites in fourteenth place.
“It’s a disappointing result and it’s not good enough,” Mason said. “I could speak all day long about the performance and positives, the moments we created, the chances we should have taken but I don’t think at the moment anyone wants to hear that.
“We have lost another game. The disappointment is there and it is frustrating. It is my responsibility and at the moment I am not giving enough to the players to change that and I need to do it.
“The one thing I will say is they are giving me everything and they are putting everything into it but it’s not enough at the moment. It’s another one that we shouldn’t have lost but have done and the feeling inside the dressing room is there is a lot of anger.
“I’m fine. It’s football and I know what it takes. I am in this position and I can handle it but for whatever reason at the moment the results aren’t good and it is my responsibility to fix.”
