Dean Holden praises two-goal Miles Leaburn after Charlton hammer Shrewsbury

Posted Sunday, April 02, 2023 by PA

Dean Holden praised Miles Leaburn after Charlton demolished Shrewsbury 6-0 at The Valley.

The thumping – the first six-goal haul for them at home in 47 years – saw the striker net twice.

While Holden believed his side put in the complete performance, he was especially pleased at Leaburn raising his season’s league tally to 11.

He said: “I am delighted for Miles getting his first double haul of the season. I asked him in training if he was going to make it four in four, and he said no – he wanted to make it five or even six in four.

“It’s the first time we’ve scored six at home for nearly 50 years, so that is some stat, I am very proud.

“The first 25 minutes was a bit scrappy, but a wonderful free-kick livened us up and from then on we were electric.

“It’s the most complete performance since I came into the job, and the players said it was the most complete performance of the season. It has been a long time coming.”

Scott Fraser curled home a free-kick on the edge of the area after 26 minutes, past the outstretched Marko Marosi.

The visiting stopper turned a Leaburn header over the bar on 33 minutes, but Albie Morgan then fired low and hard for his fifth this season.

Jes Rak-Sakyi slotted home following a solo run and after the interval Leaburn made it four with a 25-yard shot that left Marosi rooted to the spot.

Leaburn added the fifth goal for Charlton with a penalty after Tom Flanagan was dismissed for a handball in the area, while Macauley Bonne added a sixth in injury time.

Shrewsbury manager Steve Cotterill was left subdued by the thrashing of his side, the first time in his managerial career he has suffered a six-goal reversal.

He said: “I never saw that coming at all. We trained very well this week, and we actually started the game well. Their three goals were all against the run of play.

“But it was against the run of play with our mistakes.

“It’s unlike us, and going in 3-0 down at half-time, we didn’t deserve to be down that scoreline.

“The fourth goal we haven’t defended well enough, and then you’ve got a sending off – which it wasn’t.

“The penalty goes in, you’re down to 10 men, and it’s an uphill battle. It’s easy to play when you’re two or three goals up, the difficulty is when you’re 3-0 or 4-0 down.”