Curtis Fleming was pleased to see the Addicks return to winning ways, beating Bromley 1-0 at The Valley in their final Bristol Street Motors Trophy group game.
The win means the Addicks ended the group stages with a perfect nine points.
Speaking to CharltonTV post game, the Addicks Assistant Manager said: “We wanted to get a win. After a defeat, the next game is the most important, you shouldn’t be thinking about anything other than that. We would have like more goals probably, I thought at times we got quite comfortable in the game, we didn’t create as many as we would have wanted.”
Fleming was on post-match press duties because of the sending off of Nathan Jones just before the half-time interval. Referee Ben Atkinson adjudged that the Charlton Manager had been on the pitch when he touched the ball with his foot just before half-time and showed him a red.
“I was a bit shocked, just like everyone else in the stadium,” Fleming explained. “It happened with Mikel Arteta and he got a yellow card from it. The referee said at half-time as we were coming back out that he had to give him a red. He was in his technical area; it is a tight one.
“We think it was very harsh, to be honest I think the gaffer hasn’t been treated to well this season [by referees]. We go to most grounds, and he is quite animated, like a lot of coaches, as soon as he steps out that half an inch, they are on him.
“It’s crazy to say but the gaffer has to dust himself down and go again, it is something that we will look at and send a report in about.”
The game also saw academy starlet Kai Enslin handed his Charlton debut – it was an opportunity the 19-year-old grabbed with both hands.
Fleming said: “It’s a wonderful club, what a conveyor belt it is as well! He has waited a while; others have jumped up and got their debuts, but he has waited. I remember watching the 21s doing a bleep test in pre-season and he ran everyone into the ground. He’s very humble and talented. He has trained hard every day and came on the pitch tonight giving himself the best chance. No one is happier for him than us, I was buzzing to tell him [he was playing], that is why we play football, he will remember this day.
“I thought he grabbed his opportunity tonight. We talk about the shop window, looking for a chance in the squad, after tonight you would say he has probably kicked the door down. We’ll have to see what happens.”
