Jason Pearce targeting cup replay success

George Jones reports

Jason Pearce is targeting replay success against Milton Keynes Dons.

Charlton and the Dons contested a goalless draw in SE7 at the weekend and will now do it all again at Stadium MK on Tuesday, December 13th.

And Pearce, who’s side were unfortunate not to win the tie following an improved second-half display, says that they will be intent on securing their place in round three where, should they progress, they’ll face Brighton & Hove Albion.

“The gaffer had a bit of a go at us at half time and probably rightly so,” he said. “We needed to press the ball better as a team – we gave Milton Keynes a bit too much respect and were letting them play out a bit too much.

“They had a lot of the ball and we want to dominate in games, especially at home. The gaffer has just come from MK Dons and they probably knew exactly how he wanted us to play.

“He had six years there so there was probably no harder team to have played against in his first game.

“We were pleased to get a clean sheet but disappointed not to have won the game. We have got the replay to come and hopefully we can go there and win it.” 

The squad have been working under new boss Karl Robinson for just over a week now and Pearce, who turns 29 today, says that he and his teammates are really enjoying working under him.

He said: “All of the lads are really excited and we are all trying to buy into how he wants to play.

“The gaffer has come in and, because we’ve been in a good bit of form, he hasn’t tried to change too much, while still putting his stamp on things.

“He wants us to not fear teams and to show what we can do as a team. We are Charlton Athletic, a big team at this level, and we want to perform better overall at home and away.

“Karl is going to try and put his stamp on things and we’ll try and show that on the pitch.”