Pigott on target in draw with Lions

Joe Pigott was on target as Charlton's U18s drew 1-1 with near neighbours Millwall in a pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Damian Matthew's U18s drew 1-1 with near neighbours Millwall

The striker notched his second goal in three summer outings on the hour to put the Addicks in front at Sparrows Lane.

The Lions levelled five minutes from the end through substitute Michael Zanelli, but Addicks development coach Damian Matthew was pleased with his side's progress.

"It was an excellent performance,” he said. "We were creating chances but the only thing lacking was the finishing. We spent a lot of time this week going back to revisit finishing in training, and the quality has been good this week.

"We're pleased with how things are going. The fitness is good, which is the important thing with pre-season, and that's down to the quality of work that [physio] Erol Umut does with the boys, which is always appreciated.

"In terms of our play, we've got some good wide players this year, we've got attacking forces in terms of the front players, and we've got very, very good defenders. So there is a nice balance this season.

"The keepers are acquitting themselves well, too. George Howard has signed his scholarship but he will have to be patient with Conor [Gough] and Brandon [Hall] in front of him. But that's part of being a goalkeeper, being patient and developing."

Charlton created the better openings in the first period against the Lions, but couldn't quite cash in on some attacking enterprise.

However, Pigott, who netted against Southend United in the opening summer sharpener, was on target again 15 minutes after the restart.

The goal came after great work on the left from Callum Harriott, the winger pulling the ball back for Pigott to convert past the visiting keeper.

Added Matthew: "We spoke at half-time about how we had played well but had not taken our chances. We just needed to have a bit more quality in that area.

"Credit to Joe, he's our main goalscorer at the moment and that's two in three games for him. We're pleased to see his appetite for scoring and we're looking for him to develop in other areas.

"It's been the other way round with the other forwards, because we've been pleased with their movement and their hold-up play, so now we're asking them to be more clinical in the box. It's all about getting that balance right, but we are developing well.

"The goal came after some excellent wide play from Callum," Damian continued. "As mentioned before, he is one of our wide players in whom we have a lot of confidence this year.

"It's a difficult position when you play out wide because you can do a lot of work and not get the ball, or you can have a lot of the ball and then you are asked to produce."

Charlton continue their warm-up to the new league season, which begins on Saturday, August 21st with a home match against Blackburn Rovers, against a Kent Football Association side at Sparrows Lane on Saturday (11am).

"The team we are playing is predominantly U17 so it will be a good opportunity for a lot of the first years to get some more minutes under their belts," said Damian.