Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones expressed frustration following his side's 3-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
At the end of a tight game, QPR netted to go ahead with just six minutes remaining before adding another goal deep into stoppage time as Charlton chased the game.
In his post-match interview, Jones noted that his team didn’t start the game as well as they’d hoped. "We knew they would come out strong, and they went direct early on," said Jones. "We didn’t deal with that very well. We turned the ball over in transition, and they capitalised on it."
Despite the early setback, Jones felt his side regained control of the game. "After we conceded, we settled in and managed to control possession. However, we struggled to find that final bit of quality in the final third," he explained. "We had opportunities, but couldn’t break them down."
Looking to the second half, Jones was more positive, admitting that his team was the better side overall. "We penned them in and had chances to go ahead," he said. "We had a shot blocked and created several set-piece opportunities, but we didn’t create anything truly clear-cut."
One key moment that Jones highlighted was a controversial decision in the second half, which he believed cost Charlton dearly. "At 1-1, we were in the ascendancy," he said. "TC [Tyreece Campbell] went clean through on goal, stayed on his feet, showing great honesty. Then, Charlie Kelman was brought down just outside the box. It looked like a second yellow card, but the referee deemed it not a promising attack." Jones appeared visibly frustrated as he continued: "I can’t fathom the decision. It’s a real blow when you feel something so clear wasn’t given."
Despite the referee’s call, Jones was quick to accept that his team could have defended better in key moments. "We need to do better in certain areas," he said. "We didn’t defend transitions well enough, and that’s something we need to address going forward."
Jones also reflected on the positives, including the fact that his team showed resilience and improved in certain aspects compared to previous games. "We didn’t start well, but we fought back," he said. "There were moments when we showed some good play, and we can take that into the next game. However, we need to learn from this and make sure we don’t make the same mistakes again."
Turning his attention to the upcoming international break, Jones outlined his plans for the squad. "We’ll use this break wisely," he said. "Luke Berry and Matty Godden will be closer to coming back and Reece Burke, and ensure everyone gets valuable training time. We’ll also work on improving certain aspects of our play as we prepare for a crucial match after the break."
Concluding his thoughts, Jones thanked the Charlton supporters for their continued support throughout the match. "The fans were fantastic today," he said. "It’s disappointing that we’ve let them down with the result, but we’ll regroup and come back stronger."
The Addicks will now turn their attention to the upcoming break and prepare for the visit of Millwall on Saturday, September 13th.
