NATHAN Jones has asked Charlton Athletic fans for “one more big effort “to get them over the line in the second leg of their League One play-off semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers at The Valley.
The sides are level 0-0 after the first leg at Adams Park last weekend. It was a tense game between two teams that were separated by just one point at the end of the regular League One season.
“It was a real hard-fought game and an important one, because we didn’t want to come into the game with a deficit and have to chase anything,” Jones said. “We wanted to come in with a minimum of parity and we managed to achieve that. Now we have to win a game at The Valley which is something we’ve been very good at.”
The Valley is set to be sold out on Thursday night (May 15).
“We asked them to get behind us and they have,” Jones said. “The momentum’s built and the numbers have grown with the songs, the atmosphere, the adrenaline and the energy that they’ve brought. It’s coincided with the team being in a better place, so it’s the chicken-and-egg scenario.
“They’ve been superb – they’ve travelled in their numbers and really got on board with everything. We’re asking them for, at the moment, one more big effort because they can be vital and a packed, singing, energetic Valley can be a wonderful place to play if you’re a home player.”
Addicks captain Greg Docherty said: “It’s so easy to picture what it’s going to be like and how brilliant it’s going to be walking out of the tunnel. The Valley where it is, the position of it, the way the stands are built – the noise just travels so well. Particularly when we score, I’ve not heard such sound like that before ever since playing in England, it’s an incredible atmosphere.
“It really does help us and I’m so proud to walk out and lead a team like Charlton.”
