NATHAN Jones insisted Charlton Athletic would play without “fear” at Derby County tonight.
It will be the third successive game for the Addicks, and they have taken points from the first two, after 3-3 draw at Bolton Wanderers and 0-0 stalemate against leaders Portsmouth at The Valley at the weekend.
Although Charlton haven’t won in sixteen League one games, their clean sheet against Pompey was their first in 22 league matches and the first time John Mousinho’s side hadn’t scored in eight games.
Charlton are on a three-game unbeaten run.
“We know Derby, for the level, is a very, very difficult game but we’re never going to fear anyone,” Jones said on Charlton’s website. “We have a way of playing and we go after teams – that’s the mentality now.”
Jones watched the home game against the Rams from an executive box at The Valley earlier this month after he had been appointed to replace Michael Appleton.
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored the only goal against interim head coach Curtis Fleming’s team.
Jones said: “There was nothing in the game. Charlton were probably the better side in the second half.
“It’s just that Derby showed the one bit of quality in the game from a slight error that won them the game and that’s the margins. We have to show that quality but still be the aggressive team that we are.”
Defender Lloyd Jones begins a two-match ban.
Jones said: “It gives someone else a chance. That’s what we’ve demanded from people. We’ve got six centre-halves here. We’ve got Michael Hector back, [Lucas] Nessy is there and [Macaulay] Gillesphey came on and played [on Saturday]. We’ve got cover in there.
“It’s sad really because Lloyd’s been in good form. He’s been aggressive and he’s defended fantastically well, but it gives someone else a chance now.”
