Ruthlessness was the biggest difference between the sides, says Charlton boss Jackson

Charlton Athletic 0-2 MK Dons
Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson said MK Dons were simply more ruthless in front of goal than his side Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson said MK Dons were simply more ruthless in front of goal than his side
Charlton boss Johnnie Jackson said MK Dons were simply more ruthless in front of goal than his side

Johnnie Jackson said the biggest difference between his Charlton Athletic side and MK Dons, who ran out 2-0 winners at The Valley on Tuesday night was ruthlessness in front of goal.

While Charlton did not have many clear-cut chances compared to Dons at The Valley, their pressure in the first half especially left the manager thinking his side should be ahead at the interval, but instead it was the visitors who took the lead five minutes before the break through Tennai Watson’s second of the season.

Dons looked a much better proposition in the second half, but were let off the hook when Mason Burstow missed Charlton’s best change, firing into the ground and watching his shot balloon over the bar with the goal unguarded at the back post.

When Kaine Kesler-Hayden fired in Dons’ second on the hour mark, it all but sealed Charlton’s fate as they suffered their fourth loss in a row, while Dons have just one loss in their last 12 in League One.

“They were ruthless in their moments,” said the Charlton manager afterwards. “We were probably the better side in the first half, we matched them toe-to-toe. But one moment cost us and we were 1-0 down, going in chasing a game we shouldn't be.

“They took their chances - they're a team that creates loads and tonight they haven't created loads but they've been ruthless with the ones they had and we haven't.

“We started brightly, I felt we were the dominant team but we went in 1-0 down and changed the dynamic of it. When you're on a losing run, it's difficult to get the players in a mindset to go again. When you're in a rut, that becomes more difficult. You have to take your moments when they come and we couldn't do that.”