Charlton Athletic Manager Nathan Jones Criticizes Team After Portsmouth Loss
Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones did not mince words following his team's disappointing 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth at The Valley on Tuesday night. The loss saw Portsmouth capitalize on errors, with Terry Devlin scoring twice to secure the victory for the south coast side.
Jones Points Finger at Goalkeeper and Team Performance
In a post-match reflection, Jones was highly critical of the overall display, singling out goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski for the first goal. He stated, 'The majority of the game we were dominated physically. The first goal is a really poor one to concede, no one closed him down and then it went straight through our goalkeeper, and that can't happen.' Jones emphasized that the performance was unacceptable, noting that Portsmouth wanted it more on the night.
He added, 'If you don't do the basics well then you can't have a platform in the Championship. The first goal is a goalkeeping error, he has to save that.' Despite Jayden Fevrier pulling one back for Charlton in the 64th minute, it was too little too late, with the result leaving Charlton just three points ahead of Portsmouth in the Championship table.
Update on Michail Antonio Transfer Talks
Jones also provided an update on the club's potential signing of former West Ham striker Michail Antonio. Reports had indicated that the 35-year-old, who was in a serious car accident in December 2024 and released by West Ham last summer, had held initial talks with Charlton over a short-term deal.
When asked about the transfer, Jones told reporter Richard Cawley, 'Nothing yet (to share). Wheels are still in motion and that's where we are.' This suggests that discussions are ongoing, with Jones reportedly believing Antonio could offer value to the squad before the season ends.
Broader Implications for Charlton Athletic
The defeat highlights ongoing challenges for Charlton Athletic in the Championship, with Jones stressing the need for improved fundamentals. The potential addition of Michail Antonio could provide a boost, but for now, the focus remains on addressing performance issues. The team's attendance figures and ranking against rivals like QPR and Millwall continue to be topics of interest as the season progresses.
