NATHAN Jones says there is no “miracle cure” for Charlton Athletic’s relegation troubles after he secured his first point in charge as the Addicks came from behind to draw 1-1 against Lincoln City at The Valley on Tuesday night.
After a 2-0 defeat at relegation rivals Reading in his first match in charge last weekend, Jones saw his side fall behind again when Reeco Hackett-Fairchild beat goalkeeper Harry Isted in the 37th minute.
That was the Imps’ only shot on target in the game and it wasn’t enough as substitute Freddie Ladapo scored the equaliser in the 73rd minute, two minutes after coming on.
Charlton had a late chance to win a League One game for the first time since last November but Tayo Edun was denied by Lukas Jensen.
Charlton are fourteen league games without a win and they are just a point above the relegation zone.
Jones, though, was pleased with what he saw.
“I’m really, really proud of them,” Jones said on Charlton TV. “We’ll get better in possession, create more. But in terms of laying down a marker with the athleticism, aggression we showed out of possession, the commitment with a really young group that’s had to take a lot of hits…I thought we were excellent.
“We were front-footed, aggressive, we took the game to Lincoln and that’s a group that’s been losing games. Yes we’ll get better, yes we need to move the ball quicker, yes we need to show more quality, but in terms of laying down a marker and that being a platform – really, really proud of them.”
Jones added: “Second half we wanted just to believe in it, I said believe in what we do, pick better choices at times, show more quality and then we’re looking for game-changers to come off the bench to add impact and we did that.
“It’s a young group, there’s no real experience in there. It’s a start, it’s only a start, it’s only a point and it’s against Lincoln so we won’t get carried away. But in terms of what I asked them for, the honesty, the endeavour, the work-rate, the aggression – that’s a real good platform to work from.
“I’m asking the crowd as well. Yes, these are going to make mistakes because they’re a young team, but they’re going to get better and they’re going to grow and they want to play for Charlton. That’s all Charlton fans can ask for at this point.
“There’s no miracle cure here, but every week we’ve got to et stronger, we’ve got to get better, get fitter, have more quality and then we’ll be a much, much better side.”
Jones brought club captain George Dobson back into the side after a proposed January move to Hungarian side Fehervar didn’t go through.
Jones said: “He’s outstanding. He has real character, a great opinion of himself, which I like. I thought he was excellent.”
Charlton travel to promotion-chasing Bolton Wanderers this Saturday.
