CHARLTON manager Chris Powell was left thanking the Addicks’ first half display and captain Johnnie Jackson for their 2-1 win over MK Dons on Tuesday night.
The League One leaders failed to increase their 2-0 half-time lead, which they had secured courtesy of two Jackson penalties, and faced an anxious final few minutes when Dean Bowditch halved the deficit.
But they held on for win number 20 of the campaign and with Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield both losing, Charlton increased their lead at the top of the table to eight points.
It might not have been pretty but Powell felt overall his side had done enough on the night.
“If ever there was a case for winning ugly, that was it,” said the Addicks boss.
“Our first half was decent and obviously we got the two penalties and the sending off but the second half wasn't good enough.
“What we did in the first half warranted us the three points.”
Jackson converted Charlton's opener from the spot after Gary MacKenzie had been sent off following a clash with Yann Kermorgant just before the interval.
Powell admitted he didn't have a good view of the incident but was disappointed with his side's inability to make the extra man count.
The boss said: “I didn't see exactly what went on but if you put your head into a player or raise your arms, you're going to be in trouble.
“It changed the game, no doubt.
“I think there was an edginess and nervousness from players.
“The expectance level goes up when you are playing against 10 men and people think it is going to be easy but it never is, football hasn't changed.
“It seemed to galvanise them.
“They didn't change their philosophy, they played the same way and we didn't really use the extra man and extra pass.
“We tried to get back to front far too quickly, you should never do that.
“Even if we go backwards to the keeper, it will frustrate the opposition.”
Jackson slotted home moments later on the stroke of half time when Luke Chadwick brought down the Charlton skipper inside the area.
But the 29-year-old skipper struggled with a leg injury at the beginning of the second half and had to be substituted by Powell as a precaution.
“With the games coming thick and fast we have to make sure we look after him and keep him fit,” the manager explained.
“We’re not sure whether it is his calf or Achilles but he was in some discomfort at half-time.
“We gave it 10 minutes but I felt we had to take him off.
“It is too early to say at the minute if he will be available for Saturday or not.”
The Dons snatched a goal back in the 87th minute through Bowditch and while Powell was disappointed with the performance, he was satisfied with the three points.
“It’s a positive result and if you want to have a successful season you have to have games like that,” the Valley chief added.
“If you get three points from a game, any manager will tell you they’re happy.”
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