CHARLTON Athletic boss Nathan Jones felt Addicks supporters have appreciated his side’s performance despite a 0-0 stalemate with Reading at The Valley on Saturday.
Charlton had seventeen attempts on goal, six on target, compared to the Royals’ nine and one, respectively.
The hosts had 32 touches inside their opponents’ box, compared to fourteen.
Charlton’s best chance came on 69 minutes when goalkeeper Joel Pereira had spilled Thierry Small’s cross only for Harlee Dean to clear Miles Leaburn’s shot off the line.
“If you are going to draw a game then that is the way to do it,” Jones told Charlton TV. “I thought the fans reacted well, the fans are not dull here, they know when they have seen a side which gave everything. We tried absolutely everything to win the football game, we created enough chances and shots, we just lacked a little bit of guile and quality in the final stages.
“I thought we were excellent, we passed the ball well, I thought we were brave and when we did get in the final third we created opportunities. We had threats from both flanks, our strikers and those who came on were also threatening. I’m just disappointed that we didn’t win the game, in terms of level of performance I can’t ask for more.”
Charlton are unbeaten in their last six games, have kept four clean sheets and are seen points off Reading in sixth.
Jones added: “We’ve remained unbeaten and picked up ten points over the Christmas period out of a possible twelve. A lot of positives and things to look forward to.
“I thought we had enough chances and situations to have finished. I thought Thierry was outstanding, we got in behind their defence and looked a threat – it was just the final ball. We must have got in eight or nine times, when you are doing that, you are looking for that final ball, that is something to work on.
“The players gave me everything, look at the shifts they put in.
“I’ve got so much pride today, we have been electric at home lately, there have been some excellent performances. With respect to everyone, when we play the top sides in the division we raise our game. I saw them at the final whistle, they were delighted with the point and that shows the level that we were at.”
Jones also shared his praise for the thousands of Addicks in attendance, admitting that their continuous support will play a vital role in maintaining the momentum going forward into the second-half of the season.
“The fans are not dull,” he said. “They know when they have been hoodwinked or when they have seen a level of performance that they can get behind. Today they wanted to see a win, they may be disappointed going home, when they sit there with their beer or wine they will look and go, ‘they gave everything today.’ That is all you can ask.
“The fans were excellent today. To clap and be as vocal as they were in a 0-0 draw shows what we put on today. That relationship has to flourish for us to be successful.”
