Parkinson Pays Tribute To Benson

Paul Benson's goal proved the difference against Milton Keynes Dons on Tuesday and his first goal for Charlton has seen him come in for praise from Phil Parkinson.

Benson's ability in the box saw him score the winner and it was that moment of quality, that Phil Parkinson knew he was capable of that proved the difference in a tight match, Parkinson said: "One moment of quality has won it for us.

"We've said all along that if we can get crosses into the box, Benno will get on the end of them. In fairness to Benno, he has got on the end of a lot of crosses, they just haven't gone in.

"But tonight when he was needed most, he stuck one away for us. It's great for him and it's great for us."

After five games without a goal some would have been worrying that we'd signed another striker that would struggle to score, even though his track record suggested otherwise. However The Addicks boss thinks that the former Dagenham & Redbridge strikers all round contribution has been good since his arrival but he also knows that this goal will be a boost to him, adding: "I think his all-round game has been good since he's been here but every striker needs to score and he'll be pleased to have the weight lifted off his shoulders.

"While you wait for that goal, you have to keep doing the basics well; win your headers, hold the ball up and to his credit, he's done that.

"As a striker, when you're not scoring, that's what keeps you in the team and that's why he's kept his place. It paid dividends tonight."

For Benson to score more goals though Parkinson knows that we have to keep supplying the crosses to him as if we do he'll take more than he misses and more of his goals will (more often than not) prove winning goals, also adding: "If you look at where Benno's goals come from, they come from crosses. Get the ball in the box with quality and he'll have a desire to get on the end of it. He's shown that already since he's been here but without having the end result.

"A lot of his goals are often winning goals. He always seems to score important goals and he's proved it tonight for us."

With that duck now broken as long as we continue to supply him with the chances I'd expect the goals to flow for Benson now.

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