Parkinson pleased to return to form

Phil Parkinson was pleased to end a turbulent week for Charlton by returning to winning ways in style with a 5-1 victory over promotion rivals Milton Keynes Dons at a windy Valley on Saturday afternoon.

Following losses to Northwich Victoria in the FA Cup and Southampton in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Charlton's miserable start to November looked like it would get even worse when Aaron Wilbraham fired the Dons in front early on.

But the Addicks drew level through loan striker David Mooney's first goal for the club and skipper Nicky Bailey, switched into central midfield for the game, then put Charlton in front.

The Dons had chances to draw level in an incredibly open first half, but Charlton completely dominated the second period and blew the opposition away with Lloyd Sam, Sam Sodje and Deon Burton all notching to put the seal on a thumping victory.

After three straight defeats, everything looks rosy again in the Charlton garden as they tore Dons to shreds and, speaking afterwards, Parkinson told the waiting media: "It's been a long, tough week for us.

"I'd love to be sat here having got through those cup games, but the league is our priority. It was important we got a response from the players and we did.

"After going a goal down, you wonder if the players are going to stand up and be counted and they did that to a man. They competed for the ball over the pitch and in every challenge today we came out on top.

"In the first half, every time they went forward they could have scored and equally every time we went forward we could have scored. Whether 5-1 flatters us or not, I'm not sure.

"After the first 25 minutes, our back four got to grips with the conditions and played well. It was a day for putting your foot through the ball and we did that in the second half. It was a professional performance and we did the basic things well.”

He continued: "The lads are pleased. We know we let ourselves down on Sunday; all we can do is make sure we don't drop to that level of performance again.

"We've had a blip but we haven't lost too many games. We need to drive on and put in a few more performances like that. Ultimately the league is our main aim and there are no excuses now. We look forward to the challenge.”

Parkinson spoke on Friday of his desire to see Bailey return to his early-season form and the flame-haired star responded with an excellent display in the centre of the park.

Stated Parkinson: "In the winter months and conditions like they were today you need someone to do the ugly side of the game and Nick did that with a very good performance.

"He's played on the left for a while and his goal return has been exceptional. But we felt he'd gone off the boil in the last few weeks and he needed a lift, so we put him in the centre.”

It was a tale of two Sodjes for the Addicks, with Sam heading home Charlton's fourth, before brother Akpo, signed on loan from Sheffield Wednesday on the morning of the match, made his Valley bow as a second-half substitute.

Sam had declined the chance of a call-up for Nigeria for a vital World Cup qualifier in order to play against the Dons and Parkinson said: "The competitive edge he gives the team is vital.

"We knew when we signed him that he was a Nigeria international and that we'd lose him for some games, so it was a bonus for us when he didn't go.”

On the arrival of his brother Akpo in SE7, Parkinson added: "We sorted it out this morning. We felt we needed some more pace and power up that end of the pitch. We'd been chasing him for a month and finally Brian Laws agreed to let him come down to us.

"His contract is up in the summer and it's a deal we could possibly make permanent in January if we like him and he likes us.

"If Akpo's heart is as big as his brother's, he'll give us a great chance. Strikers are so important and having Akpo and Leon McKenzie to bring off the bench can frighten the life out of defenders.”

Dons boss Paul Ince slammed match official Keith Hill in his post-match press conference, stating: "I thought the referee was diabolical in the first half.

"We had two blatant penalties, both for handball. The referee didn't have the bottle to make the right decisions and that's changed the course of the game.

"They're a good side, don't take that away from them, but it was never a 5-1. Even though it's disappointing we were quietly pleased for 60 minutes that we were the better side.”