Charlton captain Jayden Stockley was left delighted after the Addicks’ five star performance against Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night.
The striker, along with debutant Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Sean Clare gave the home side a commanding lead at the break. Morgan Whittaker’s goal for the Pilgrims in the second half was merely a consolation as Charlie Kirk and Miles Leaburn ensured the victory as Charlton breezed past the visitors and up into sixth in the Sky Bet League One table.
“It was nice,” said Stockley.” It’s not often you get the full performance like that. I think we deserved that slice of luck, being the penalty and the sending off. I think our intensity right from the first whistle, we wanted to put a 90 minutes together for the fans, for us as confidence wise. We’ve been doing it sort of 45-60 [minutes], first half-second half and I think today was the collective group putting in a shift for 90 minutes today.”
Manager Ben Garner named three changes to his side after the disappointing defeat to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, with Charles Clayden, Sam Lavelle and Rak-Sakyi coming in for their first starts of the season in place of Steven Sessegnon, Ryan Inniss and Corey Blackett Taylor, and the skipper was quick to point out the quality in the side.
“It was excellent, the strength in depth,” he said. “You saw from the QPR game. QPR played a strong side and we more than matched them. We played terrific football and we’ve taken that into the Sheffield Wednesday game. Unfortunately we didn’t win that one but I think that left us with a bit of a sour taste and to put things right for these next few homes games in front of our fans.
Stockley was also full of praise for his teammates. He said: “I can’t speak highly enough of the boys. Everyone, the way they’ve approached training straight after a disappointing loss to Sheffield Wednesday when we deserved more and to go out there and do that, we could’ve easily felt so sorry for ourself but we started from the first whistle, the warm-up, I could sense it being a good night.”
Last night saw five different players on the scoresheet, four of which grabbing their first goals of the season and Charlton’s number nine spoke of how the manager is demanding all his players to contribute with goals this season.
“I think you’re going to see from our players this year, goals wise, it’s going to be a lot more shared out. The gaffer’s demanding me, wide men, the midfielders, wing backs to all get involved and get goals for the team because we’re going to need everyone if we want to be where we want to be at the end of the season.
“Everyone’s got their personal tallies in mind and it’s going to be a bit of competition to try and get the goals. I think that’s what it should be, a bit of healthy competition between the lads, that competitive nature to get goals and to pull us out of it sometimes. You saw Sean [Clare] chip in with a goal, we’ve got quality all over the pitch and we should demand more from each other.”
With goals from Rak-Sakyi and Miles Leaburn scoring in front of the Covered End off the bench, Stockley highlighted the pathway that young players have and the importance of creating a welcoming environment.
“It’s amazing and I think it comes from the gaffer,” said Stockley. “We’re trying to create an environment in the training ground where every time a young player comes up to train with us, we just want them to enjoy it. We want them to express themself, the way we’re playing is going to allow that. It’s going to allow them to showcase all their attributes. This club ‘s got a great tradition of bringing players through and we’ve got to use it, especially [with] us being in League One at the moment, there’s a massive pathway for young lads to come through.
“It’s up to us older players, you know I call myself old I’m only 28 but I’m one of the older lads in the team, scarily enough! But we’ve got to create an environment where, yes they’re going to come and enjoy themselves, but they’re going to work hard first and each and every one of them have. You saw Charles [Clayden] come in today, he’s had to wait for his chance and he was excellent.”
The skipper grabbed Charlton’s second of the night from the penalty spot, following James Wilson handling the ball in the box and subsequent sending off, and he jokingly expressed his frustrations about his missed opportunities, but was also left beaming with pride for his teammates getting on the scoresheet.
“It was nice to kick off for the season,” said the striker. “Unfortunately at the moment I keep heading it straight at the goalie! I just want to shank a header and it go in the bottom corner, I keep connecting with it too well at the moment!
“It’s nice for me personally but I just see the delight on Jes’ [Rak-Sakyi] face getting his first Charlton goal. It really brings him into the group with a bit of confidence, Miles [Leaburn] kicking on again, Kirky getting a goal. It’s brilliant for the boys and seeing those happy faces coming into the training ground but it’s all off the back of working hard. Pressing, intensity, you don’t get to enjoy moment like that a lot of the time but that’s built on hard work.”
The Addicks are straight back in action in League One on Saturday as they take on Cambridge United at The Valley (3pm kick off). With games coming up thick and fast, the skipper further highlighted the importance of squad depth and healthy competition in the team.
“Recovery is going to be such a massive thing and that’s where we’re going to need the squad this year,” he said. “We’re going to need competition for places, everyone’s going to get a chance to come in and play. Games, it’s going to be sort of horses for courses in terms of the gaffer likes to set us up in a particular way each game.
“When the lads perform like that, when you come in you’ve got to take your chance like the lads did at QPR. We’ve got lads in the wings waiting to play and lads playing out there who want to keep their shirt so it’s a bit of healthy competition at the moment.”
Article by Tyler Rowlinson
The Addicks host Cambridge United at The Valley on Saturday. Click here to get your ticket.
