Johnnie Jackson has given his thoughts ahead of Saturday’s trip to high-flying Wigan Athletic as he seeks a reaction from his side.
The Addicks return to Greater Manchester for the second time in four days on the back of a first league defeat in five on Tuesday against the division’s form side in Bolton Wanderers.
“I was disappointed with both goals at Bolton, to be honest,” the boss reflected. “I felt like there wasn’t a lot in the game. I thought, going away from home, that our shape was good and we limited to few opportunities, certainly in the first-half.
“We did well to get ourselves back into the game and then you’re hoping, at the very least, that we go on and draw it, maybe even go on and get the win. I thought we were in the ascendancy at that stage of the game so to then get pegged back was disappointing.
“There’s lots of food for thought for us as coaches to address and we’ve done that with the lads today. We know it’s something that we need to get better at and improve to stop us dropping points in the future.”
Jackson’s men take on a Latics team who currently sit second in Sky Bet League One, nine points behind table toppers Rotherham United but having played three fewer games.
“It will be a tough game, obviously they’re a top side and one of the best in the division,” he said. “I fully expect them to be right in the shake-up for automatic promotion come the end of the season.
“On paper it’s one of the more difficult fixtures you’re going to face but we normally do alright in those ones. We went to Sunderland and won, we went to Portsmouth and won. We went to the form team in the division on Tuesday and, for me, have only been undone by our own poor defending in those situations. We certainly didn’t get opened up really at any stage.
“We’ll go there, prepare right, make ourselves difficult to beat and know that in any game that we’ll always get opportunities because of the quality that we have on the pitch.”
The gaffer reported no fresh injury concerns ahead of this weekend, though admitted the majority of his side’s preparations will be conducted indoors, such is the nature of the turnaround.
“Everyone’s okay from Tuesday,” Jackson confirmed. “There’s obviously a lot of tired bodies because there was a lot of travelling involved. We got back in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
“It’s going to be a quick turnaround again. We’re back on the road tomorrow so a lot of it will be about recovery, getting ready to be fresh again on Saturday and trying to tap into the players’ minds as much as their legs to get the work in that we need.
“There will obviously be training on the grass, but a lot of it will be done in the tactics room with video meetings and things like that as well to try and get a final few points across and prepare as best we can ready for Saturday.”
Meanwhile, Jackson thanked the 328 Addicks in attendance at the University of Bolton Stadium in week - with another strong travelling contingent expected at Wigan this weekend.
“Great support, as always. Again, we’re gutted for them that we didn’t give them something to take back down the road with them. We thank them as always for their support.
“I’m sure there will be a load up at Wigan as well and we’ll be doing our best to give them something to cheer about up there, that’s for sure.”