Sunday 4 October 2015 15:43, UK
Guy Luzon praised Johnnie Jackson for inspiring Charlton's comeback in the 2-2 draw with Fulham but refused to say if his captain will start their next game.
The Addicks manager also insisted he saw no reason to drop out-of-form goalkeeper Nick Pope, despite his latest error leading to Fulham's opening goal.
Pope spilled Ross McCormack's free-kick to give Ryan Tunnicliffe a routine, close-range tap-in before McCormack scored Fulham second goal with a fine left-footed finish the goalkeeper could do little about
That appeared to secure victory for the visitors, but substitute Jackson then scored with an 81st-minute header with his first touch of the game and Charlton responded with intense pressure until Jordan Cousins headed the equaliser deep into stoppage-time.
"It was not easy for us to respond because of our last results but Johnnie (Jackson) joined the game and influenced immediately the result," said Luzon, whose team have lost five of their past seven fixtures and next travel to Reading after the international break.
"He scored then we had great chances to score a second one. We did that and Tony (Watt) at the end had the chance to win the game.
"After being 2-0 down it's great to come back with a point but we deserved more than one point.
"I told (Jackson) only one thing - try to influence and try to score from the first corner.
"Unfortunately Johnnie had a lot of injuries during the last month. I hope he will be fit and of course he is a player with top ability and character. He brings experience, character, leadership and also quality.
"He has been unlucky with injury but I hope that he will be fit and that he will help us.
"I am not worried (about Nick Pope's error). I will give backing to all my players, mistakes are part of football. Nick Pope will continue to play."
Fulham manager Kit Symons, who seems incapable of ending his team's inconsistent form, criticised his players for the "galling" way they failed to retain their two-goal lead.
"I'm incredibly disappointed. To be 2-0 up and dominant in the game and cruising to then throw it away is inexplicable," he said.
"There's no excuse. We should have gone on and got a third and killed the game off. We made poor decisions; don't take those chances when they come. If that's the case you've got to do the job right at the other end.
"Two free headers: two points thrown away. Up to the last 10 minutes we never looked in any trouble whatsoever.
"Defining moments in games: the crowd were singing for Johnnie Jackson to come on about 15 minutes earlier. He suddenly came on, made an impact, gave them a big lift. They took advantage of that and we shot ourselves in the foot.
"Ryan Tunnicliffe was with him, let him have a free header. There was no confusion over who was marking him.
"Just do our job properly (and) we'll see the game out, so it's incredibly frustrating not to have won.
"We were so comfortable, it's really frustrating, really galling."
