Nigel Adkins was pleased to secure his first win as Charlton Manager with a 1-0 victory away at play-off contenders Doncaster Rovers.
Ian Maatsen’s early goal and a sturdy defensive performance were enough for the Addicks to beat Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium and move Charlton to fifth in League One.
Speaking after the game Adkins said: “We’ve come away from home against a very good, talented Doncaster side who play good football – they’re in the top four for possession all season. You can see the pitch is magnificent, so we’ve set ourselves up using our time on the training ground, to nullify things a bit. I think we had to adapt a little bit but great credit to the players. We’ve kept a clean sheet and three points away from home.”
With other matches going on following the game the Addicks could be out of the play-off places again later today. Adkins though felt the win demonstrates his side are still very much in the play-off contention.
He said: “We’re in the race, the league table will fluctuate with the disparity in games teams have played. There is going to be a certain amount of points to get yourself into the playoff position. What we’ve done is come away from home, we’ve kept a clean sheet, we’ve shown a togetherness as a team, which is important – everyone having a go for each other. We’ve scored a goal which is important, we will have more goal threat going forwards and we’ve put ourselves back in the race which is an exciting thing.”
Maatsen’s goal was the first of his senior career and Adkins said he was pleased to see the loanee find the net. Maatsen, playing on the right wing rather than in his usual left back berth, finished tidily from a flick through from Diallang Jaiyesimi and the Charlton Manager was happy with the circumstances that set the goal up.
“I’m delighted with Ian Maatsen because we’ve worked on that a little bit because we know Jayden Stockley can be a massive threat up front. I must say I thought their two centre halves were really, really good but that one opportunity when Jayden did flick it on, we had DJ [Diallang Jaiyesimi), who I thought had a really, really good game for us, and Ian on the other side going through and Ian has gone and scored the winning goal for us.”
Adkins was pleased with his whole side and reserved special praise for the returning Ryan Inniss and Alex Gilbey.
He added: “I would have liked us to pass the ball a little better, of course I would, I always want that but we’re at that stage of the season now where it is important that we pick up results as well. Long term there is a way we play but short term is there a way we can put ourselves in position to win games? So I’m delighted with the work ethic and the commitment the players put in to grind out a result away from home.”