CHARLIE Kelman and Jayden Fevrier scored two outstanding goals as Charlton Athletic secured their survival in a “monster of a league” on the penultimate weekend with their 2-1 win against Hull City at The Valley last weekend.
Kelman cut in from the left before curling a sumptuous right-footed effort from the edge of the box past Ivor Pandur into the top-right corner.
Hull defender John Egan levelled with header from a corner in the seventh minute of first-half added-time.
The Addicks had to win to ensure they didn’t go into the final day with their place in jeopardy in their first season back in the Championship. And Fevrier ensured they did it in style as he skipped past two challenges on the edge of the box before curling low left-footed into the bottom-left corner.
Jones has now rescued them from relegation from League One, won the play-offs and kept them in the second tier in just over two years in charge.
West Bromwich Albion’s 0-0 draw at home to Ipswich Town confirmed their survival.
Those two results sent Oxford United down despite the U’s beating Sheffield Wednesday 4-1.
Lloyd Jones heads a clearance. Photo: Keith Gillard
“I think this achievement has been underestimated,” Jones said.
“We want to move forward. We started really well but we always knew that this was going to be a tough season.
“We were coming into a monster of a league – where we have come from in such a short space of time, to be competing is firstly an achievement. To be as competitive, front-footed and aggressive as we have, has been another achievement.
“To go through the season, we have had injuries, we have been really under the cosh at times, but six points above the relegation zone is the worst we have been. I think it is the most wonderful achievement and I am so proud.
“We feel in recent weeks at home we have let ourselves down and given us a mountain to climb and given ourselves more of a mountain to climb than we should have.
“I have done most of my best work in the Championship. Most of my work has been done with low resources in the Championship and significantly over-achieving. This week has been one of the toughest of my life because it means so much – I love this club.”
Jones added: “We have to get cheap goals out of our game, and we can’t do that.
“We said to the players, in your individual roles, think sanely, make good decisions, keep moving forward. Our game management should have been better.
“Fortunately enough, we came out and we played really well in the second half, I thought. Hull have some wonderful individuals. We finished stronger, scored some great goals and we could have won 3-1.”
Jones had words of praise for his staff after exuberant celebrations on the final whistle.
“I am so proud of how we work, of what we do, the level of sacrifice and organisation,” Jones said.
“The evolution process is in a constant phase. To do what we have done and be in pretty much no danger for 45 games, I am proud of that.
“[Survival] is another achievement that means we can continue and take a giant leap forward. We have proven we can deliver. The players, staff and the board, every member of staff does meteoric work here.
“Two years ago, we were in League One and in danger, and now we are competing with ex-Premier League sides.
“We move forward every single year, we have had some tough times, but we responded to that. The supporters have been a huge part of it.
“We are going to get better. It has been exciting and an entertaining season. We want to maintain the levels that we did for the first fifteen games of 46 and that is the next challenge. I am so proud of this football club, I love working with this football club. Get your season tickets, this is the next step, the next phase of what we want to do.”
Meanwhile, defender Lloyd Jones was named player of the year for the second season in a row. He was also crowned the players’ player of the year after climbing the club’s player of the month for five consecutive months.
“It means more to me this year, it’s been a tough year,” Jones said. “We’ve had some tough moments and we’ve had some great moments. I’m delighted to get some recognition off the fans and my team-mates, but I care more about this team staying in the Championship.
“I can’t wait to go again, I’ve absolutely loved playing in the Championship this year and I think everyone else has. We keep going now, go and get the rest and then we will come back in pre-season and go again.”
