HAPPY ADDICKS SPAN AGE GAP
THERE are 13 years between Johnnie Jackson and Diego Poyet, but both played integral roles as Charlton picked up their first league victory since Boxing Day.
Poyet, the 18-year-old son of Sunderland manager Gus, anchored the midfield expertly while skipper Jackson, 31, nodded in the winner two minutes into stoppage time.
The result moves the Addicks to within a point of safety, but for QPR it is now three defeats in a row.
And Charlton manager Chris Powell was delighted with the contribution of his experienced captain, and fledgling midfielder.
“Diego is a good footballer and he definitely showed that,” said the Charlton boss.
“He is very calm and makes the right decisions at the right times. He makes time for himself and you always recognise a good footballer when they have got time on the ball.
“He made some important tackles and is an all round midfielder.
“Diego is the one who will break attacks up, and start them.
“I am pleased for him because he has taken he his chance. I have always said that you have to be ready, because you will get a chance.
“He is certainly showing that he is capable of playing at this level.”
On Jackson he added: “John does a lot of unseen work. He has moments of quality but normally with him it is with his goals.
“The team put in such a terrific shift, John led from the front and the fans could see that.
“It is a terrific day for this football club, and this performance is the benchmark for the rest of the season.”
The victory was just rewards for the Championship strugglers who should have gone ahead on 13 minutes when Jordan Cousins fired a shot against the foot of post, and Reza Ghoochannejhad’s follow up then struck the other upright.
On 28 minutes Nedum Onuoha burst through four Charlton chal- lenges before appearing to be tripped inside the penalty area by Rhoys Wiggins, but referee Eddie Ilderton waved away his protests.
Home debutant Marcus Tudgay then laid the ball of to Jackson on 71 minutes, but the Charlton captain could only drag his effort wide.
Disaster almost struck for the Addicks with 15 minutes to play when Dorian Dervite routinely played the ball back to his goalkeeper Yohann Thuram-Ulien.
The stopper inexplicably gave possession straight to Modibo Maiga, but fortunately the West Ham loanee mis-controlled, and the chance was gone. It looked like ending all square when Rob Green dived to his left to deny Astrit Ajdarevic a minute into stoppage time.
But from the resultant corner Jackson nodded a deserved winner at the far post, leading to pandemonium in the home terraces.
And QPR assistant manager Kevin Bond was left disappointed with another goal-shy display.
He said:“We have found goals hard to come by throughout the whole of this season, and now we have lost Charlie Austin which hasn’t helped. In the early part of the campaign we dominated sides in terms of possession but didn’t get enough in terms of our end product. This was like that.
“We controlled the game on a difficult surface against a difficult team who are fighting relegation, but we didn’t create enough chances. If the worst comes to the worst, in a game of few chances, we should have come away with a 0-0 draw.
“We fell asleep for a split second and it has ended up costing us the game.”