NATHAN Jones has backed Harry Isted to “bounce back” after the Charlton Athletic boss admitted he “hammered” the goalkeeper for his mistake that cost the visitors three points at Northampton Town on Saturday.
Charlton led through Karoy Anderson’s goal after four minutes at Sixfields and appeared on course for consecutive wins for the first time since last March.
Alfie May hit the post as the visitors created the best chances to extend their lead.
But with ten minutes left, Isted dawdled on a back-pass allowing Sam Hoskins the chance to dispossess him and Louis Appere finished to an empty net.
Jones replaced previous first-choice Ashley Maynard-Brewer with Isted for his first match in charge, and the stopper has played in each of Jones’ six games.
“I’m just so disappointed,” Jones said. “It was a difficult game in the first half but I thought we were excellent in the second half.
“We won every first ball, we landed on the seconds, we played some really good stuff and we created two glorious chances to put the game to bed.
“We’ve drawn through a huge error. We were in total control and I couldn’t see them scoring and that’s the disappointing thing because they didn’t create anything all afternoon.
“We defended superbly and we won every first ball and every second ball, and we also had two great chances, but you can’t legislate for such a big error like that. It’s cost us three points.
“I’ve hammered [Isted]. I probably shouldn’t have done but he’s a good goalkeeper and I’m just so disappointed because it’s a huge error. He got an earful from me but he’s a great kid and he’ll bounce back.
“It’s good that we’re still unbeaten but we want to win games and we should have won today because we were the better side and they didn’t deserve anything.”
Meanwhile, Cobblers bus Jon Daly described how the Addicks’ style has changed under Jones.
He said: “They’ve gone from a really good footballing side under Michael Appleton to a side who are hugely direct, trying to be aggressive, trying to get themselves out of the relegation zone.
“One player they targeted today, they kicked the hell out of Marc Leonard.”
