By Paul Green at The Valley
NATHAN Jones was struggling to figure out exactly how Charlton were defeated 1-0 by Wrexham at The Valley.
The hosts spurned numerous chances against the Welsh big spenders, but failed to take any of them and were ultimately undone by Ollie Rathbone’s decisive strike on the half-hour.
Luke Berry and Harry Clarke could easily have fired the Addicks in front before then and there were other notable second-half opportunities for Tyreece Campbell, Miles Leaburn and a last-gasp volley by Sonny Carey.
Wrexham keeper Arthur Okonkwo pulled off a vital 90th-minute stop to deny Carey and Charlton a share of the spoils, something the manager felt was the least his battling side deserved.
Jones explained: “How we haven’t scored three or four I don’t know because it was a dominant performance. I thought we were excellent in how we moved the ball.
“We limited them to just counter-attacks – and bear in mind they’ve got some very good players. But in the moment, they do take chances, to be fair.
“I watched them play Portsmouth in midweek and Portsmouth had all the possession, all the chances and they [Wrexham] were clinical. They scored at the moments they needed to – and that’s the sign of a good side.
“But for us today our level of performance was excellent, but we had to take chances.”
He added: “If we are going to win games, we are going to punish teams and be how we want to be then we have to take chances because they weren’t just half-chances today.
“They were clear. Bez’s chance is unbelievable. I expect him to score that because that’s the player he is.
“Harry Clarke’s chance is gilt-edged. TC has a chance in the first half, Miles Leaburn has a chance in the second half, with Sonny Carey the keeper makes an unbelievable save at the end.”
Jones also admitted his surprise when he discovered the Addicks had a mere dozen attempts.
“The stats said we’ve only had twelve shots – I couldn’t believe that,” the SE7 chief said.
“A more dominant display I don’t think you will see, but in the moments we have to take them because if we don’t that’s what happens.”
Results elsewhere at least ensured there was no real damage done to Charlton’s bid to survive in their return season to the Championship.
They remain seven points above Leicester City in the final relegation spot, although Rathbone’s winning goal underlined once again the fine margins in the division following the battling 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday.
Jones said: “We scored more in midweek from three shots. Today if we had been a tenth as clinical we would have won the game, but we weren’t and that’s just the frustrating thing.
“That’s the level. It is hardly a chance they have [for the winner].
“They get to the edge of the box, there is two people around him, he has scuffed it into the floor and it has gone through legs and gone into the corner.”
He added: “They’ve won the game from there. You could say they defended their box well and stuff, but they haven’t. We’ve missed chances today.
“I’m just so frustrated because I want to be eulogising about a fantastic performance today, but I’m not – I’m kicking myself because we’ve lost the game.”
