Charlton Reaction

Last updated : 18 December 2005 By Paul Farrington

Paul Jewell

Jewell with hat-trick hero Camara
"I think that probably was our best performance of the season so far. The new pitch helped us because we could get the ball down and we passed it. There was definitely a hunger and desire about us today.

"Today was the biggest game of the season. Having been beaten five times on the spin, the usual stuff was getting said, and we expected that, and today we went back to basics and we looked like a team that had a point to prove. Today was a test of character for everybody, for players, managers, coaches and supporters, and we've all passed the test."

"Henri is very quick, and the first goal was a brilliantly worked throw-in which we try every week, and I thought it was a good finish [from McCulloch] that had come off the bar. The second and third goals were just down to Henri's pace.

"I'm pleased he's got the match ball and hopefully he'll go on a run as far as goals are concerned, because we hadn't scored for the last three games.

"Under the circumstances I thought the players were magnificent today. I think they've [Charlton] only had one chance during the first half, we created lots of chances and the result didn't flatter us.

"It was a good old Wigan performance, and we need a few more of those"

Alan Curbishley

Alan Curbishley at the JJB yesterday
"I'm completely and utterly shocked. At the moment it looks like we need to score two or three to get any kind of result. I'm not going to blame just the back four and the keeper; it's the whole lot of them. They don't seem to have any defensive responsibility about them.

"I'm not taking anything away from Wigan but all the goals were avoidable. When your captain lets his man run off him at a throw-in, the way we've been playing will always result in a goal.

"We had four players around that throw all marked off and then just allowed McCulloch to run off and be free in the box. It was ridiculous.

"When the centre-half and goalkeeper decide they are not going to clear it, what can you do about it? And the third one was just unbelievable.

"I said to them after the game, I pick the team so I take responsibility for that but they've got to take responsibility for some of their defending at the moment.

"As the season starts grinding on it gets tougher. It doesn't seem to matter if I make changes as whoever I bring in makes as many mistakes as those I've left out.

"It just seems that the basic art of defending has gone out of our side. I've got a midfield who don't want to track their man, who don't want to put a tackle in and just let the other team play.

"It's very difficult to take but if you're letting in goals like that you've not got a prayer. We've got to stop it. If it means I've got to change it again then I'll change it again.

"I'm grateful to the players that have got me 22 points but some of them are not going to stay in the side or get anywhere near the side unless they get their acts together. We can't carry on playing the way we've been playing."

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