Boro loanee helps Charlton go up as dugout changes are discussed

CHARLTON Athletic secured the final Championship place of next season on Sunday after beating Leyton Orient in the League One play-off final at Wembley.

- By CRAIG JOHNS

Middlesbrough loanee Alex Gilbert started the game and helped his side win promotion to the Championship, though it was Tyneside-born defender Macaulay Gilesphey who scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for the Addicks.

It completes next season’s Championship line-up after Sunderland condemned Sheffield United to another campaign in the second tier.

For Charlton it is their first time in the Championship since 2019-20, with Boro picking up 1-0 wins in both fixtures that term, despite it being a difficult campaign for Jonathan Woodgate’s side.

Now led by Nathan Jones, the Welshman was quickly diverting attention to next season after the play-off win.

Jones said: “We didn’t play well today, but we defended really, really well. To win here, keep a clean sheet, I'm so happy. There is so much euphoria and pride in the boys for the work they've done.

“When I came here I knew we could build something. This is the first step, now we kick on.”

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