Nathan Jones expressed his delight at Charlton’s recent form – with his only disappointment that they lacked a finishing touch in their entertaining 0-0 home draw against Reading.
Both clubs came into the contest at The Valley on three-game winning streaks but had to settle for sharing the spoils, not that either manager was complaining about that afterwards.
The closest the Addicks came to a winner was in the 69th minute but Harlee Dean saved the blushes of Joel Pereira, clearing Miles Leaburn’s shot after the keeper had dropped Thierry Small’s cross.
Jones’s side are unbeaten in six league matches and the Welshman said: “If anyone said before our game against Northampton ‘You’re going to have one called off but you’ll have four games and take 10 points’ then, unless you are ultra greedy to kind of take that.
“In terms of what we can effect it has been an excellent Christmas period.
“I’m really proud of the performance. We’ve had enough chances to win comfortably. They’ve had one chance where we turned the ball over and Ash (Maynard-Brewer) has had to make the save.
“Other than that we were really outstanding. That showed by the reaction from the fans at the end. They clapped us off after a goalless draw. If you’re going to draw a game then that is the way to do it because we were pushing, made positive changes and were front footed. It is another clean sheet.
“We probably just need that little bit more quality in the final third and we win that game. We are looking a far better side all round. We have only conceded twice in the last six matches. We’ve shown we are an excellent side when we’re at it and we’re still gaining momentum.”
Reading had a big chance to go ahead moments into the second half but Maynard-Brewer frustrated Sam Smith, who had been played through by Harvey Knibbs. The Charlton keeper got enough contact on the ball to take it past his left post.
The Royals drop to sixth in the standings but boss Noel Hunt could not fault his players.
Their recent form is also impressive and the Irishman said: “We got that little bit of luck that we deserved and hadn’t had in the last two or three games, when we have had penalty shouts and stuff.
“The boys were amazing. The clean sheet was so important to us, I don’t think we’ve had an away one since April. That was a massive thing for us in terms of how we defend as a team.
“The boys battled all the way through. Away from home it is important we have a strong base – in terms of our spine.
“These haven’t dropped many points at home and they have got a strong squad – you look at the likes of Chuks Aneke coming on.
“Taking 10 points from 12 in the last nine days has been outstanding from the lads. It shows how close and strong we are as a group.”
