‘Disastrous’ – Nathan Jones reacts after Charlton’s 5-1 Carabao Cup Second Round defeat to Tottenham and injuries.
Spurs’ Mikey Moore (41′), Dominic Solanke (45′), Kevin Danso (67′), Savinho (82′) and Ben Davies (85′) all got on the scoresheet, while Lloyd Jones (87′) got a consolation for the Addicks.
The night became more frustrating for Jones however when Collins Sichenje and Billy Koumetio had to be taken off due to injury after 15 minutes.
Jones made 10 changes to the Charlton team that beat West Ham at the weekend. Tottenham’s De Zerbi made 5 changes to the side that lost at Brentford.
Nathan Jones has described it as a “disastrous” evening with the injuries. Doesn’t think either Sichenje or Koumetio is short term.
Says that also changes their transfer strategy and focus for the remainder of the window.
Reece Burke also injured in lead up to the Spurs tie.…
— Richard Cawley (@RichSCawley) August 26, 2026
“This has a game we didn’t need” says Nathan Jones, confirming he has lost three centre-halves to injury including Reece Burke on Monday. Says it’s a disaster and will reshape transfer targets. #cafc
— Rick Everitt (@airmanbrown) August 26, 2026
Jones on transfers: “Everything we were going to go for we’re now not able to – because we have got to replace now. That is absolutely disastrous for us. We lost two and we don’t think it is weeks.” #cafc
— Richard Cawley (@RichSCawley) August 26, 2026
SHORTENED HIGHLIGHTS:
EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS:
Jones said, as per the club website: “I’m really disappointed. The goals we’re gutted about because they are from set plays, allowing people to come inside and shoot – that’s bread and butter for us, we don’t do that.
“I’m disappointed with the goals but it’s a disappointing night for so many other things as well. We picked up two injuries which kills us, we lose two centre halves during the first 10-12 minutes against a top Premier League side – what do you do? Then we’ve got a young team, with players that haven’t played and we’ve come up against a top side – we’ve been nowhere near but that’s not a massive surprise.
“Up until about 40 minutes, we could have kept the ball better but our keeper didn’t really have to make a save, their keeper had to make one or two saves. We were ok and we were in the game. When you give them those two goals in quick succession then they play with freedom. They are a world class team, they have players they are bringing on and it’s really, really difficult.
“This was a game tonight that was great for the fans, great for the club but from a squad perspective, coming out of a Championship game and preparing for another, it’s a real tricky one. There are very few upsets now, Premier League sides are too good, they have too many resources, they have too big a squads, they have world class internationals right throughout them and then when you play them at their place it is very, very difficult. We’ll dust ourselves down because our bread and butter is Saturday.
“If I’d played my first team today then we’d have been up against it physically to go into the game against Preston at the weekend and we can’t do that because this game will be quickly forgotten about, while our Championship season is something that is day in and day out. I feel a little bit down and sick for the injuries because if we lost 5-1 but had no injuries it would not have been that problem. The injuries – there is a knock-on effect from that.
“It’s dusting ourselves down [over the next two days]. We managed to rest a load of players tonight. We left a number of them at home, it’s just in a certain area where we’re struggling a little bit. We’re going to have to work very hard in the next few days.”
Interview with Spurs’ De Zerbi, as per the club website:
Interviewer: “It felt like a night where you needed goals and you got them – Solanke, Moore, Savio – important for them to score as well…”
De Zerbi: “Yes we need goals, we need to create chances to score. To become a top team, we need many things, but one of these many things is to score, to be stronger when we are attacking in the last 30 metres. We have to score, we have to shoot and make combinations. We have a lot of very good players and they have to make a big target, a big goal for them to score and increase the number of goals. There will be competition in every position of the pitch and I will put on the pitch the players with more goals and who are able to create more chances to score.”
Interviewer: “You saw how quickly the fans took to Sávio – was that the perfect introduction for him?”
De Zerbi: “Yes, it is a perfect day for him. I think his biggest step, his biggest improvement is to increase the number of goals because with his qualities, he is one of the best wingers. But the best wingers score many goals. I spoke with him yesterday, two days ago. We put the goal on 10-12 goals because we need 10-12 goals from the wingers. Last season, I think we suffered too much. Also because the number of goals were not enough to compete for nothing more than that position.”
Interviewer: “How important was it for Mikey Moore to show what he can do as well?”
De Zerbi: “It is important for him, it is important for us because he is our player from the academy and in this day we have to understand what the best solution is for him, for us, because I would like to keep him because he is young, but a good player, but we can’t make the wrong decision because he needs to play and put games inside of him. With Johan Lange and Vinai, we have to find the best solution.”
Here’s what social media had to say as Nathan Jones reacts, calling it ‘disastrous’ after Charlton’s 5-1 defeat to Tottenham and injuries…
@millieedmund17: I’m hoping this is just an overreaction, seems very silly to pull out on a deal we’ve won for a position we have needed filling for a long time..
@_DanJbh: I’m not even bothered about the result last night, i’m more bothered by Nathan Jones comments after the game, hate that we cant just get clarity over said deals. Him blurting his mouth in anger or not doesnt help. Now we just wait… its shit #cafc
@Bernies_Wknd: Fans will be absolutely fuming if this is the case!!! Get a fucking loan in at CB we can’t have Apter as our only natural right sided winger 😭😭 imagine getting this close with JRS then this bullshit happens
@TobyCafc1947: No no no no this can’t happen, we can’t miss out on jes we NEED a rw.
@Nozza_: Best atmosphere around the club in donkey’s years wiped out in one evening. #cafc
@Bernies_Wknd: If all the rumours were true and his medical and paperwork done yesterday surely he’s signed already. This cannot be happening to us, surely – we have the worst fucking luck 😭 it’s ridiculous. Get a defender on loan until January surely that is doable and if not then WTAF! #cafc
@Bobs_YP: Cancel the JRS deal and we’re fucked, most exciting team we’ve had for ages and JRS would be a key component to that. You’ve got loans and free agents even the academy for cover short/mid term, we need firepower going forward. Makes no sense to pull out now.. #cafc
@Jackosaysrelax: I sit next to the dugout . I hear and see some of the things he says and does and he’s a very emotional man. But this needs clarity in some form. How quickly would he have spoken to Rodwell after the game #cafc
