NATHAN Jones hailed a big week in Charlton Athletic’s season after his side claimed seven points including a late rescue act against Hull City at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.
Joe Gelhardt gave the hosts the lead a minute into the second half but the Addicks battled back impressively to bag a point through substitute Luke Berry’s second goal in three games this season as he finished from a corner in the 91st minute.
It was a positive way to finish a month that started with a 2-0 defeat at Preston North End, before wins over Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town.
It means Charlton are in the play-off places heading into November and a Valley clash with Swansea City on Saturday.
Jones made four changes to the side that defeated the Tractor Boys 3-0, with Miles Leaburn, Tyreece Campbell, Rob Apter and Harvey Knibbs starting.
Berry, James Bree, Charlie Kelman, Conor Coventry and Onel Hernandez – the latter for his debut – all came on after the break to help the visitors chase the equaliser.
“I’m super proud of the character and super proud of the game-changers that came on that really wanted to get that game back, and we did, so I’m so, so happy in terms of that,” Jones said on Charlton TV.
“Seven points in a Championship week, with two away games in there, is a wonderful haul.
“I’m proud because it was a big week. Today was tough – it was a big effort, we freshened it up, some players who haven’t had minutes played today and we showed that we have a really, really competitive squad.
“I’m super proud of the squad and of the football club today and I’m delighted for the fans, who have travelled distances this week, and come away with something.”
Jones added: “I thought it was a fair result in the end.
“It would have been a real travesty if we had come away with nothing. We started really well in the first 10 minutes and had three big chances, but then it settled down.
“They had one chance in the first half which was a delivery in from the left-hand side and then it was always going to take a bit of quality, or a mistake, to break the deadlock and, for us, it ended up being a mistake – trying to dribble out of our own box and it gave them the opportunity to score, so I was disappointed with that because if we had done our basics, then we would have kept another clean sheet which would have given us the chance to win the game.
“But, first and foremost, James Bree does what he does and puts in wonderful, wonderful quality and, secondly, Luke Berry arrived at the back stick at the perfect time to do that – that’s why I brought him to the football club.”
The Swans are thirteenth in the table, three points off sixth-place Charlton.
Jones said: “We’ll dust them down, give them a couple of days off and be ready to go.
“We’ve got a week to prepare for it, it’s a home game and it’s one that I’m really looking forward to”
