NATHAN Jones has attempted to rally his wounded Charlton Athletic troops after last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to relentless Championship machine Coventry City made it eleven goals that the Addicks have shipped in their last three games.
Charlton stunned the runaway leaders by taking the lead through Harvey Knibbs in the thirteenth minute,
However, Frank Lampard’s side hit back with two goals in four minutes before the break from Josh Eccles and Ellis Simms.
Sonny Carey had a chance to make it 2-2 before Simms scored Coventry’s 50th league goal this season in their eighteenth game.
After going into the game without defenders Reece Burke and Josh Edwards as well as strikers Charlie Kelman and Matty Godden, the visitors lost Amari’i Bell to injury in the 30th minute.
“Look, it’s a tough one to take because I felt we were right in the game,” Jones said. “We obviously took the lead. We had three or four other opportunities, one cleared off the line, and we were right in the game. Then obviously we pick up an injury to Amari’i.
“We then have to shuffle the pack and then it gave them a little bit of impetus to score two quick goals in around half-time and that’s the disappointing thing.
“The second half we made changes. We had a great opportunity to have equalised and then we don’t and then it’s a pretty even game. They have a few shots and then they’ve probably clinched the game with a chance, but it was a game that could have been different.”
After being in the top six at the start of November, Charlton have tumbled to seventeenth following a fourth successive defeat.
Jones added: “We are stretched at the minute. It’s been the toughest of weeks in terms of the opposition and bear in mind we’ve had three of four games away from home lately and that’s really stretched us. The toughest of games have come at the time when it’s coincided with us having those injuries.
“We have to put that behind us. We’ve got a December coming up where we have to take points and we have to make sure that we are competitive because we don’t want to let this run to continue.”
Charlton will have the backing of a big home support in the next two games as they return to The Valley to host Portsmouth in Saturday and Middlesbrough the following Tuesday.
Jones said: “I’m delighted we’ve got two home games. We’re going to need everyone, the fans, everyone, to get behind us. We knew that we’d have tough spells in this league. What I didn’t imagine is the injuries that would happen, which has meant that we are patching things up a little bit and that’s a frustrating thing.”
The game against Pompey kicks off at the earlier time of 12.30pm.
