Nathan Jones, Charlton Athletic’s manager, has apologised to Addicks fans following their 3-2 defeat to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night.
Charlton came into the game at Memorial Stadium with only one win in their last five League One games, and things didn’t get any better against the Gas, who went behind inside half an hour thanks to Scott Sinclair’s second goal in as many games.
The Addicks showed little improvement in the second period, as two goals in 10 minutes from Jamie Lindsay and James Wilson extended Rovers’ advantage to 3-0 with 20 minutes remaining, leaving Jones’ side needing to perform an incredible comeback to win the game.
They came close, with Alex Mitchell reducing the lead in the 79th minute and substitute Matty Godden scoring a second in extra time, but it wasn’t enough as they suffered their third consecutive defeat.
Nathan Jones’ honest apologies following Bristol Rovers’ loss The Addicks are now 13th in League One after nine games and have been too inconsistent to mount a serious bid for the play-off spots, but they must find their form soon, with a home game against league leaders Birmingham City coming up next.
Boss Jones was naturally disappointed after the Rovers game, as he went over and apologized to the traveling fans, and he was certain that he, not his players, should be held responsibility for the loss.
“I accept full responsibility for this outcome. I got the team wrong, and I didn’t get the tactics right today. I chose a team that underperformed, but I chose that team, therefore I’ll accept full responsibility for that today,” he told Addicks TV after the game.
“That’s what I told the fans [after the game]—we let them down tonight, and I let them down tonight. I’ve never done this before. I accept full responsibility for that.
“We performed poorly.
We didn’t win battles; they were more front-footed than us, but I accept full responsibility. Everyone scores from outside the box against us; we are not learning.
“That’s the thing I can only do so much with, but I got the team selection wrong today.”
Charlton needs to make things right as soon as possible.
At the best of circumstances, the third-tier can be a cruel league, as Charlton will be well aware, given that this is their sixth season in League One in nine years.
Despite this, things appeared to be improving under Jones after his appointment in February, as the Addicks were defeated in only two of their final 16 games last season, and they appeared to have carried that form into this season, losing just one league game in their first six, but this recent run has brought them crashing back down to earth with ease.
It is the first real blip that they have suffered under Jones, but while Bristol Rovers should have a winnable game with the Gas near the bottom of the table, the defeats against Blackpool and Stevenage were not particularly out of the ordinary, given both clubs are currently sitting above Jones’ side in the table.
As it stands.
Charlton must not allow their poor form to worsen over the next few weeks, which will be easier said than done considering their impending games against promotion-chasing opponents Birmingham, Stockport County, Barnsley, and Wrexham.
Leave a Reply