NATHAN Jones said Charlton Athletic were “excellent” in their 3-0 win over Chelsea under-21s in the EFL Trophy at The Valley on Tuesday night.
Miles Leaburn scored a brace either side of the break before Tyrece Campbell added the third in stoppage-time.
The Addicks are through to the Rond of 32 with one game – against Bromley – to spare.
The Blues have spent big on young players in recent years. One of their attackers, Deivid Washington, cost £14million.
Only Charlton captain Greg Docherty started from the side that drew 2-2 with Wrexham last weekend.
“I thought we were excellent,” Jones said. “They were a very young, expensively assembled, talented team. If we allowed them time and space, they could have embarrassed us. We made a big point about dictating and going after them and we did.
“Ash [Maynard-Brewer] made three great saves, but we could have had six or seven.
“It was a really good and interesting game. I am really pleased, out of possession I thought we were outstanding. If we do the basics right, we win that comfortably, we had to earn that and we did.
“I like this competition as it gives you different tests, but it also shows that your squad is in a good place.”
Jones had special praise for 20-year-old former Chelsea academy player Leaburn.
Jones said: “He is gaining more rhythm from game-time, minutes and training. He is a big man with wonderful feet, but he has also got to realise he is a big man. We are working on that, he got two goals from being a big man tonight and we like that.
“That’ll do him good. I was really pleased with his energy and pressing, really pleased with him.”
Jones added: “We always have selection headaches. When we have a full squad, we have seven or eight in the stands. Now we are slightly more stretched, it adds competition. If they have taken that opportunity tonight and are ready, then we will put them in. I could have put seven under-21s out tonight, but we have got a squad, and we wanted to win the game.
“We wanted to give people the opportunity that they deserved. A lot of them took their chance tonight. Nothing is won or lost in October, a gruelling six months to come where we will need everyone.”
