Charlton boss Nathan Jones hailed “eccentric” FA Cup hero Gassan Ahadme as the Addicks thrashed Walsall 4-0 to reach the third round.
Ahadme opened the scoring, getting across his man to power Conor Coventry’s swirling cross inside Tommy Simkin’s near post after a tame 16 minutes at the Bescot Stadium.
Matty Godden pounced on Brandon Comley’s ill-advised back pass to double the lead in the 28th minute before Ahadme made sure five minutes from time by nodding in his third FA Cup goal this season and substitute Tyreece Campbell added a fourth.
“We were excellent first half, with a little bit more quality we would have gone in further ahead,” Jones said.
“I was really pleased for Gassan. He got a bit of stick having missed a big chance last week when he could have got us a point at Huddersfield with 10 men but he is a great kid who works hard.
“He is as dedicated as anyone, a bit eccentric but we like that.
“We have put him in there for when we put balls in and play how we can, he is one of the best technicians in terms of headers that I have ever worked with.”
Walsall boss Mat Sadler bemoaned the concession of “a few rubbish goals” as his promotion-chasing League Two side were swept aside by their League One opponents.
“I feel as though it is an opportunity missed. I don’t believe it was a 4-0 game,” he said.
“Clearly on the day we weren’t quite as ruthless as we have been in both boxes, which was unfortunate.
“We gave a couple of goals away that we shouldn’t have and didn’t capitalise on our moments.”
