Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has expressed admiration for midfielder Terry Taylor following his standout performance in the club’s 1-1 draw with Stockport County on Saturday.
The Addicks entered the League One clash with just one win in their last four matches, but Taylor’s display offered a significant boost to the team’s outlook.
Charlton’s Battle for Points
Stockport County took an early lead at The Valley, with Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry converting a penalty in the 12th minute after Nick Powell was fouled in the box. Charlton, however, fought back and secured an equaliser in the 68th minute when Rarmani Edmonds-Green tapped in from close range. Despite chances for both teams, neither could find a winning goal.
While the result left Charlton with mixed emotions, Nathan Jones was quick to shine a light on one player who made a lasting impression during the match: Terry Taylor.
Nathan Jones Full of Praise for Taylor
With regular midfielder Conor Coventry suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards, Jones handed a rare start to Taylor, who had not started a League One game in over a year. The 23-year-old midfielder rose to the occasion, delivering a performance that helped Charlton secure a point and gave Jones a selection dilemma ahead of their next match against Barnsley.
Speaking after the match, Jones praised Taylor’s impact on the game:
“He was excellent. I left him on when I was taking others off. He was really fluent. He got on the ball, he dictated play against two good midfield players. He was excellent,” Jones told London News Online. “He just ran out of legs at the end. He probably made one bad decision where he played it short and could have put it in.”
A Selection Dilemma for Jones
Taylor’s strong performance against Stockport, where he created four chances—more than any other player on the pitch—will undoubtedly leave Jones with a difficult decision ahead of the midweek fixture.
With Coventry available again after serving his one-match ban, the question now is whether Jones will stick with the in-form Taylor or revert to Coventry, who has been a pivotal figure in Charlton’s midfield throughout the season.
Jones will likely welcome the headache of having two quality midfielders vying for a starting position, but it remains to be seen whether Taylor’s performance was enough to keep his place in the team for the Barnsley match.
