Charlton stopper Stephen Henderson is convinced Valley goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts is the finest in the country.

The Dubliner arrived from West Ham last summer and quickly established himself as the number one in SE7.

And Henderson emphasised just how impressed he’s been with his new coach since crossing the Blackwall Tunnel.

The keeper admitted: “I’ve made some big stops and saved two penalties this season - and I owe it to him.

“He’s the best goalkeeping coach in England without a doubt. I’ve been with some high standard coaches and he’s by far and away the best one I’ve worked with.

“I can’t give him enough praise, because as a person you won’t meet a better man either.”

One moment which will last long in the memory of Charlton fans will be the keeper’s penalty save in the 2-1 defeat to Millwall at The Den on Good Friday with the game still scoreless.

And it was a derby clash Henderson acknowledged he was relishing.

“The passion on that day was not just for show, I knew how much the game meant to the supporters.

“I went into it more nervous than I have ever been for any other game to be honest.

“To lose was heartbreaking, considering I got my head to that corner in the last minute too!”

Reflecting on the campaign as a whole, Henderson believes Charlton can make the top six next year, so long as they maintain consistency throughout the entire 46 matches.

“It’s not been a bad season - we won’t get too carried away because we could have done a lot better.

“That patch where we won three or four in a row left us thinking that we could have easily been up in the play-offs, but it’s fine margins.

“Next season the play-offs is what I want, it’s as simple as that.

“When I said that we could still make the play-offs despite being 17 points behind I got laughed at, but that’s just the way I am.

“It was possible – so why not? It was a bit far-fetched but that’s my attitude.”

A mid-season spell out of the side for three months through injury coincided with the dreadful mid-winter form of the team.

Upon his arrival back into the fold at home to Brentford on the February 14, Guy Luzon’s side finally picked up a win which was followed by an impressive run of results.

It was all a bit too little too late to mount a top six bid, however, and the keeper admitted the campaign’s conclusion had come at a frustrating time.

“I didn’t really want the season to end because I went through a run of games where I thought the best in me was coming out, so for it to end now is gutting.

“But overall the lads probably needed the rest because we have quite a small squad.

“Finishing where we have is very good, but I want better.”

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