CHARLTON Athletic manager Nathan Jones hailed his “absolutely magnificent” side as the Addicks defeated promotion-chasing Derby County 2-1 on Tuesday night thanks to Karoy Anderson’s first senior goal.
Anderson struck ten minutes from time as Charlton came from behind for their first victory in League One in seventeen games since last November.
Charlton were playing their third consecutive game against the top three and went behind in the 39th minute when Eiran Cashin headed home from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing’s corner.
Charlton got the chance to level when Rams goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith brought down Daniel Kanu, and Alfie May made no mistake from the penalty spot.
Kanu then had an effort saved by Wildsmith but Anderson scored from the rebound.
Charlton, who are now unbeaten in four, moved four points clear of the relegation zone and up one place to nineteenth.
“I’m really proud,” Jones told Charlton TV. “Second half I thought we were magnificent. Absolutely magnificent. We stepped on, we were aggressive, won the first ball, got on the second balls. Then we looked a threat and scored two really good goals.”
“Karoy, I really like the kid. I love the kid, actually. In my short time here he’s been everything that you want from a young footballer.
“Daniel Kanu has been excellent. I thought Conor Coventry was excellent tonight, in how he went about his work. Especially given he’s been out of the team. I’ve demanded stuff from him and he’s come back and reacted wonderfully well.
“We just played four of the form teams in the league. Lincoln are flying, they’re doing really, really well. And we dominated the game – should have won that but we didn’t. Then we played the top three, and haven’t lost. I’d have taken that absolutely all day long.
“Now we’ve got to keep that going, keep maintaining that, because we’ve got some big games coming up.”
Charlton are on the road again this Saturday at Northampton Town.
Jones added: “There’s a good mood in the changing room at the minute, but it’s only one win.
“I can’t remember the last time they won, so let’s not get carried away. There’s a lot of hard work to be done. We’re setting platforms, we’re putting foundations in place to hopefully give us a springboard for the future.”
Jones also thanked the away fans.
He said: “It’s outstanding that 700 would travel up here on a Tuesday night. After the home game, with games coming up, and especially because of where we are in the league – the Charlton fans are absolutely outstanding.”
“I’m as big a Charlton fan as anyone now.”
