Valley skipper goes the extra mile in Blackpool victory

The win was the Addicks’ first at home on a Saturday since the final game of last season on May 5.

But the skipper believes the extra running and effort put in was well worth it in the end.

Jackson said: “It was really hard. I’ve got to say coming off at the end I was as tired as I’ve felt after a game all season, but that’s what you’ve got to do to win games in this league.

“It doesn’t come easy and you have to put that sort of effort in, especially against sides like Blackpool.

“They make it difficult for you and they’ve got some good players that move the ball well.

“If you’re not prepared to put that work in, then you’re not going to get anything out of the game so first and foremost that needs to be how we approach games going forward.”

He added: “I thought the work ethic from the boys was brilliant to be honest.

“We pressed them and certainly after we scored, we made it very difficult for them for the last 20 to 25 minutes of the first half.

“They couldn’t really get out.

“Probably pressing wise it was as well as we’ve played but it was just difficult to sustain for the whole game.

“We were going to concede some possession in the second half but it was more a case of letting them have it and saying ‘come and break us down’.

“I was pretty confident they weren’t going to do that.”

Having kept the Seasiders at bay early on, Jackson fired his team ahead in the 23rd minute with a scuffed drive from the edge of the box.

The goal was his sixth in the league this season and one which came after receiving a blow to the face from Blackpool keeper Matt Gilks.

As the ball nestled in the bottom corner, Jackson sprinted over to celebrate with The Valley’s groundstaff.

The captain was delighted to get himself on the scoresheet and went onto explain his choice of goal celebration.

Jackson said: “I did get a knock, the keeper headbutted me!

“He didn’t mean it, though, he was running backwards and I didn’t see him coming and then I turned and he’s whacked me in the face.

“It hurt but then I turned around and the ball was there, so I had a little swing at it and scored but he caught me.

“When I hit it I thought there was no way it was going in to be honest but I must’ve put a bit of spin on it and it picked up speed as it went and rifled into the bottom corner.”

On his celebration, Jackson he added: “I just ran off in that direction and I saw all of the groundstaff.

“I have a bit of a laugh with them all about the state of the pitch and I know they do their best and they always give me excuses about budgets.

“So I’ll let them off the hook, but I just ran over in that direction and saw them so thought I’d celebrate with them.”

Follow us on Twitter @NewsShopperSprt