Ben Garner was delighted with his team’s work ethic in Monday’s 3-0 win at home to Portsmouth.
The Addicks were outstanding with Ryan Inniss, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Eoghan O’Connell all finding the net, as Garner’s side extended their unbeaten start to the season at The Valley.
On his side’s performance
“It was a really pleasing performance. I thought we started the game really fast and intense and set the tone for what we wanted in the game. We deservedly went ahead and I was probably a little disappointed that we didn’t come in 3-0 at half-time.
“We had some other great opportunities to really put the game to bed and saw it through. I’m really pleased with the clean sheet. I think the standout for me was the team ethic, how hard all the players are working for each other, which is something we have spoken about and want as a minimum standard here. The pleasing thing for me is that I think we can still play a lot better and improve a lot more.”
On Charlton’s start to the game
“We had a shape that we thought would work against them in terms of spaces between their lines and through their pitch. I thought that worked well, the players took that on brilliantly. The way we worked without the ball was fantastic. Our defensive structure and organisation was really good. We pressed well and we were such a threat on the transitions. When we play like that we can beat anyone, especially here at The Valley and I think we’ve proven that so far this season.”
On Ryan Inniss and Eoghan O’Connell scoring their first goals of the season
“I’m delighted for both of them, because we work hard on set pieces, they are both keen to get in and score and defensively both were excellent tonight. To get the goal was the cherry on top which was really pleasing.”
On Corey Blackett-Taylor’s goal
“It was a wonderful finish. He was such a threat all night. The pleasing thing for me tonight was Corey without the ball. He did his job for the team, how hard he worked, his defensive shape, the way he pressed – that’s the most important thing for the team and then his talent and ability on top is the bonus.”
On being unbeaten in four
“The pleasing thing is, when we weren’t winning the games, the spirit was still great. The attitude of the players coming in every day was fantastic because if it is not, that is when you maybe start to worry as a manager and think that they aren’t buying in but that wasn’t the case. You could see in their eyes that they wanted to turn this run and we’ve been so close, even the games here at The Valley, that’s four wins, three draws in the league but we could have had seven wins. We could have won those three draws, so that’s really, really pleasing. Wins give confidence, more than I can ever do, so all that has been missing is a win or two. We’ve got that now, we’re unbeaten in four, we’re unbeaten at home, now we need to push on.”
Charlton are back at The Valley next week against MK Dons and Ipswich Town. Click here to purchase your tickets.
