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Academy graduate Joe Aribo speaks after his goals against Rotherham

Academy graduate Joe Aribo says that Charlton’s form will have the other play-off contenders sitting up and taking notice.

Speaking after winning a third game in a row, culminating in a fine 3-1 victory at The Valley on Easter Monday, Joe said: “They’ll be watching us and they’ll be worried. We’ve got to take every game as it comes. Not look at the game ahead of that one. We’ve just got to keep working hard, winning if we can, and we’ll see where we go from there. We just need to maintain our form, keep winning games. Everyone is feeling good. We’ve won three on the bounce. We just need to keep going. Every game that comes we must keep going, fighting.”

“Everyone is working for each other. You can see out there, we’re hunting in packs. From there, it makes everything easier. Hard work is the main thing. You have to win the battle first and then earn the right to play. Everyone has seen a different side to us because we definitely had to battle out there today and that’s what we’ve done. It does show that we’re a good battling side as well as playing.”

Joe who grabbed a brace in the victory over the Millers – which takes him up to six for the season – and says that caretaker boss Lee Bowyer has played a big part in goals being added to his game. Lee Bowyer used to do one-to-ones with me. That is still going on. He always talks to me before games, just to make sure I win my battle first and stay in the game.

“I feel very good. To get two goals is good but the team performance and results are always key so I feel very good about that.

“The first one was just instinct. I wasn’t even going to go but it just fell to me and I just headed it. It came off my shoulder to be honest. The second one I just remember it being high in the air, then chesting it, touch, touch and then just finished on my right. I enjoyed that goal. It was on my weaker foot. I was surprised I shot but I’m happy it went in.

Joe Aribo is one of the three contenders for the Valley Gold Player of the Year trophy alongside Ezra Konsa and Anfernee Dijksteel. Valley Gold Members can vote by clicking here.