Reaction on two counts pleased the manager in Valley win
JIMMY HAILS BOUNCE-BACK FROM LOSS AND EARLY GOAL
JIMMY Floyd Hasselbaink was thrilled with two specific reactions from his Burton Albion players as they beat Charlton Athletic 2-1 at The Valley on Tuesday night.
One was for them to react positively to a dispiriting home defeat to Sunderland three days earlier – the other was to react quickly to finding themselves behind early in the game again.
After a shaky start against Charlton, the Brewers achieved both, first goals for the club for Michael Fondop and Danny Rowe negating Jayden Stockley’s 10th-minute opener for the Addicks.
Burton simply got stronger and more determined as the game went on, Charlton’s fire went out and Albion might have had a couple more goals by the end.
“I’m very proud, especially after Saturday, where we didn’t really perform,” said Hasselbaink.
“I’m proud to come here, to one of the teams that everybody expects to do really well and go 1-0 behind early (and for the players) to react and play like that for 60 minutes.
“It was a big performance, a big reaction, that’s what we wanted. The boys have been absolutely magnificent.
“We wanted a reaction after Saturday, a good performance but, even with the reaction, we needed people to be on top of their game and I thought (goalkeeper) Ben (Garratt) did that. Our full-backs did that and our striker.
“We had some big performances and we looked really good.”
Hasselbaink put the poor start down to being surprised by Charlton’s set-up.
The Addicks flew at Burton early on and Garratt had already made a fine save from Stockdale before the striker scored with a header from a 10th-minute corner.
“They had changed their formation. They went to the same formation as Sunderland,” said Hasselbaink.
“Obviously, they had looked at us and thought we would have a problem with that formation.
“In the beginning, we did because we did not expect them to play that system but we adjusted really quickly. “They scored but it didn’t put us back. We actually went stronger. To be losing 1-0, to go to 2-1 and to be comfortable is a big thing. It’s very, very pleasing.
“Don’t get me wrong, I prefer clean sheets, but it can happen that you get a setback in a game and it’s about reaction, being organised and trying to get yourself back into it. They did that.
“We are very happy with the performance – but we are even more pleased that we won because we need the three points.”
The goals came from Hasselbaink’s two free agent signings, made after the transfer window had closed, and the manager was full of enthusiasm about the potential of both.
The equaliser, after 25 minutes,
They scored but it didn’t put us back. We actually went stronger. It was very pleasing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
was a classic striker’s header by Fondop from Jonny Smith’s delicately chipped cross from the left, after the right-winger had gone on a run the full width of the pitch and stayed on the left to receive a throw-in from Owen Gallacher.
“The first goal was a really wellworked cross and I like it that we scored from a cross and that the striker scored,” said Hasselbaink, who plucked Fondop from nonleague football last week.
“Mike worked them, they were hanging on his shirt, he got to the back post and got his head to it to score. It was a big goal for us,” said the Dutchman.
“He did a lot of work holding the ball up. It stuck and he brought his team-mates into the game.
“When a striker works hard like that, other people have to provide him with an opportunity and we did that.
“The goal must give him some satisfaction. We need to work hard to get him fitter, for him to be able play 90 minutes.
“He can’t yet but it was a big decision to take him off because he was our outlet. We had to do that because we can’t afford him to get an injury.
“We hope he can grow from this and get fitter and stronger. What he gives us is his hold-up play, bringing the others into play, and that’s very important for us.
“He did that very well and rewarded himself with a goal, which is absolutely important for a striker.”
The second goal came from Danny Rowe, who had replaced the injured Kieran Wallace in the first half and made a big impact with his strong running at the defence.
Rowe’s 25-yard shot looked on target before flicking off Ben Watson and looping over goalkeeper Ben Amos.
“It had a little deflection but if you don’t shoot, you don’t get them,” said Hasselbaink.
“Danny can give us some quality that, in this league, if you have it, is a big weapon.
“He’s also one of those we need to watch out for, get him stronger and be smart with.
“Normally, I would have substituted him, but we couldn’t afford to take him off with his quality. He was brilliant.
“Believe you me, there is a lot more to come from him. He is such a silky player who can put defences in trouble.
“We need to get him on the ball more.”