Nathan Jones has blasted Charlton for a “poor” 2-0 loss at Watford to extend their winless run to eight matches.
Second-half goals from Luca Kjerrumgaard and Jordan Zemura saw Watford condemn Charlton to an eighth match without victory, which has left the Addicks 17th in the Championship and just six points adrift of the relegation zone yet only three points off the final play-off spot held by Wolves in eighth.
“I thought we were poor,” sharply quipped Jones to cafc.com post match at Vicarage Road on the lack of desire and fight in his players.
“We didn’t take the game to them, we looked lethargic and didn’t have energy. The midfield got bypassed too quickly, and whenever we gave the ball away, which we did too often, they were in. There were too many things we could have done better, and seven or eight players were a long way off the standards we require.
“Maybe I should have freshened things up personnel-wise. That’s on me. It was as poor as we’ve been.”
Jones proceeded to rue the lack of final-touch quality with just 3 of 14 shots converted onto target as only Miles Leaburn and Billy Koumetio produced notable first-half moments, whilst he felt that Watford’s initial shot which led to Kjerrumgaard’s opener wasn’t the best
We were in the game,” he said, “but we didn’t really go after them and didn’t build any momentum. We passed the ball well at times, and when we played forward with a bit of quality, we looked like we could score. We had two glorious chances in the first half, Miles chance and then Billy Koumetio’s.
“We tweaked things at half-time, but it was the same again. We had possession, gifted the ball back to them, and they attacked. The shot wasn’t great, but it came back to them and they scored. It’s difficult to take because we don’t prepare like that.”
Jones continued to speak of the lacklustre end product as he felt that his team lacked quality and composure to clinically finish chances.
“Quality, composure, whatever it is, we didn’t have enough of it. We had a glorious move and a great opportunity in the first half, and we didn’t score. We had set plays and didn’t score. After they scored, we had opportunities at the other end and didn’t take them.
“If you don’t take those opportunities and you can’t keep a clean sheet, then you have to score. We didn’t demonstrate enough quality today.”
The result meant that Watford are winless in their last eight league games after having won their first three fixtures, which marked Jones’ “longest” run without a win as a manager, but the ex Luton manager feels that there are tight lines between success and failure in the Championship.
“The margins at this level are so fine, but we have to improve, and we have to improve quickly.
“We’ve allowed them to get points and lift the momentum and spirit around the place. I pride our team on being aggressive and front-footed, but we haven’t shown that today, and that’s disappointing.
“We have two home games now, and we have to get results. Performances are all well and good to talk about, but if you don’t get results, it doesn’t count for anything.”
Charlton also have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 12 away matches in all competitions since a shock 1-0 league win at Middlesbrough in April, with Jones now desperate for his players to be more gutsy and find clean sheets.
“We’ve got to get to the ball and be bolder, braver and better. At the minute, we’re not. We’ve been poor today, and we’ve been poor in the last three or four games. I thought we played very well against Burnley, but the Cardiff and Stoke games, and this game, have been way off. That’s something I have to change.
“First goal, clean sheet, win the game. Do any two of those and you win the game. We haven’t scored the first goal enough, and we definitely haven’t kept clean sheets enough. If you can’t do that, you have to rely on scoring plenty of goals, and at the minute we aren’t that type of team.”
Charlton’s next match sees them face fellow strugglers, Norwich at The Valley on Saturday 24 October at 12:30pm BST, with Jones now glad to have a week to focus on their weaknesses in training and hasn’t ruled out serious rotation to give other players a chance.
“We’ve got to turn it around and make sure we’re better in what we do and how we go about our work. I’m glad we have a week, because I’ve got some tough choices to make.
“I’ve persevered with the same 13 or 14 players, but that has to change. There are others who will be thinking, ‘How do I get a chance?’ So we’ll see.”