Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has forecasted that Leicester City’s matchwinner Abdul Fatawu will be competing in the Premier League ‘next week’ following his stunning winner on Saturday.
Fatawu netted the game’s sole goal with a signature finish, cutting in from the right and curling a left-footed shot into the top corner. The goal was one of six attempts City recorded at The Valley compared to Charlton’s 20.
Jakub Stolarczyk was compelled to make six saves to block Lloyd Jones, Miles Leaburn, and Conor Coventry. The home team also had a goal disallowed in the second half for an apparent foul inside the penalty area.
Fatawu’s winner marks two victories from three for Marti Cifuentes. However, City will be anxious about transfer rumors surrounding the 21-year-old, with Everton and Aston Villa reportedly contemplating a late move in the window.
The transfer window shuts next Monday (September 1), and City are prepared for interest in their key players. Bilal El Khannouss missed the triumph in south London amid speculation over his future, while Fatawu has been expected to secure a transfer to the top flight before the window closes.
“I thought we were dominant,” Jones said.
“It took a one-in-a-million strike to win the game for them from 30 yards, we had so many opportunities to have got something out of the game and I think if we had scored, we’d have gone on to win the game.
“That’s the lesson, they’re ex-Premier League. He’ll end up in the Premier League in a week’s time. That was the only difference.”
Jones also expressed his conviction that Charlton merited more from the match. “It’s hard to be disappointed at the level of performance because if that was 5-1, it would have probably been a fair result,” he said.
“Three or easy easy, in terms of the balance of play, the chances, the opportunities, the territory. Everything I thought we totally dominated, just they demonstrated that ounce of quality that we didn’t.”