NATHAN Jones hailed his substitutes as Charlton Athletic came from behind to draw 1-1 with Stockport County at The Valley on Saturday – including “firework” forward Kaheim Dixon.
The Addicks trailed at the break after goalkeeper Will Mannion clashed with Nick Powell and Louis Barry scored from the penalty spot in the eleventh minute.
Luke Berry came on for Allan Campbell at half-time before another substitute Rarmani Edmonds-Green – who had replaced the injured Kayne Ramsay 37 minutes in – equalised in the 66th minute.
Dixon, who turned 20 earlier this month, joined Charlton from Jamaican side Arnett Gardens in the summer and came on for his debut in the 91st minute.
“The impact the subs made today was excellent,” Jones said. ‘I think Luke Berry was excellent when he came on, Miles Leaburn was a joy to have back. It was good to see young Kaheim come on, give him long enough and something will happen, he is like a firework that boy.”
Charlton had over 60 per cent possession and seven shots on target compared to Stockport’s two.
Defender Alex Mitchell had an injury-time chance to win it but was denied by goalkeeper Corey Addai.
The result dropped Charlton to twelfth in the League One table, level on points with County who are ninth.
“There were two aspects really,” Jones said. “The first was an extremely poor decision early on. The other was that we had done enough, created enough and had enough clear-cut chances to have won the game. Let’s look at what was sandwiched in between that, it was a very good performance from the team.
“My only criticism is that we didn’t dominate the first ball, we allowed them to do that. Apart from that, we moved the ball well and were fluent. We had enough possession, chances and shots to have won the game today, that is the only disappointment.
“In terms of the level of performance against a good side, they are well coached and have a good manager, a very difficult team to play against. I thought that was as dominant as we had been for a long while.”
Chuks Aneke and Lloyd Jones were both absent.
Boss Jones said: “Chuks felt something, when he feels something, we have always got to be careful in terms of that. Nothing serious, we just have to manage it. Lloyd ironically felt his calf, we scanned it and something else showed up. Baffling as he finished 90 minutes and trained the following Tuesday, a baffling injury.”
Charlton travel to Barnsley on Tuesday.
