Manager on a deserved victory at The Valley.

Leam Richardson | “I felt we came away with our just reward”
Manager reflects on a 2-0 win at Charlton Athletic thanks to goals from Tendayi Darikwa and James McClean
Richardson: “I thought the lads stuck to the task well; there was a great atmosphere here and they’re a tough team to break down so to go home with three points from London is great.”

Wigan Athletic manager Leam Richardson felt Latics’ 2-0 victory at Charlton Athletic on Saturday afternoon was no less than his side deserved as a dominant performance return a second victory of the season in League One.

Reflecting post-match with Latics TV, Richardson said:

“First and foremost, I am made up with the result; I think the result comes on reflection of Tuesday’s performance.

“The 711 fans who came today, the way they sang, kept behind the team and helped the momentum shift towards the end of the game so to score two goals in front of them right in front of them at the end made for a fantastic afternoon.

“I thought we started the game ever so well and their keeper made three big saves and they possibly took control towards the end of the first half.

“We came out second half, imposed ourselves a little bit and then with the goals towards the end of the game, I thought we finished the game strongly.

“I felt we came away with our just rewards.”

Equally pleased for Richardson was the way in which his side performed despite remaining a relatively new group.

“I’ll reiterate again, regardless of the result, that some of these lads are playing together for the first time,” Richardson explained. “James McClean comes in for the first time, Gavin Massey come off the bench, and I felt Charlie Wyke didn’t half lead the line well; I thought he was a man, he took all the punches, all the knocks with Will Keane playing in and around him.”

On his goalscorers, he added:

“It was a good job Tendayi [Darikwa] scored after Tuesday’s miss – he was desperate – but I felt we were strong towards the end of the game – imposing.

“I thought the lads stuck to the task well; there was a great atmosphere here and they’re a tough team to break down so to go home with three points from London is great.

“James [McClean] has only been here a couple of days but he took in the information really well in terms of what we wanted when he went on and we know the quality on the pitch and how much he loves football.

“He’s having a fantastic career and hopefully now this is a great positive start for him to build his career and go forward for the next five or six years.”

Leam Richardson | “I felt we came away with our just reward”