Below-par decision-making helped Cambridge get more of a foothold at Charlton Athletic

Charlton manager Ben Garner conceded that his side did not deserve to take three points as they were held 1-1 by Cambridge United today.

Scott Fraser’s second goal of the League One campaign did give the South Londoners a half-time lead.

But Harvey Knibbs levelled for the U’s in the second period.

And Garner felt there was room for improvement from his players, particularly in the early stages after the interval.

Asked if a draw was a fair result, the Addicks boss replied: “Probably, to be honest. Credit to Cambridge, they were really organised, disciplined and hard-working. But we’re frustrated not to take all three points, especially being ahead.

“We gave them a little bit of momentum in the second half with our decision-making. The goal and opportunities have come from parts of the game I think we can manage and do better. Frustrating but it’s another point on the board, we’re still unbeaten at home – we need to analyse it and move on to next week.

“The difficult thing was going to be breaking them down. To do that in the first half and get the goal was great. I’d have liked us to have stepped on a bit more in the second half and gone for the jugular a bit more in the second half and get that second goal. We were probably just a little bit too comfortable and thought we’d manage the game and win it that way.

“Great reaction at the end, the last five to 10 minutes we were really good. We were really pushing for another goal. We couldn’t get quite it but we can learn from that – our mentality can improve – and there are areas of the game that we can still develop, for sure.

“We’re learning from every game. We didn’t get too carried away after Tuesday night and we won’t be too despondent from tonight. We look at it calmly and coolly – what worked well and where do we need to add and develop in games of this type.

“We had a couple of good opportunities at the end and a couple of great bits of defending from them which have probably stopped certain goals. Pleased we were pushing at the end, I’d have liked that a bit sooner. If we’d have done that for a 15-20 minute spell I think we’d probably have scored. They were tired at the end, a couple of their players were cramping up, I’d have liked us to have pushed and gone for it a little bit earlier.

“The tempo in the game [could’ve been better at start of the second half and] decisions in the game, we went into their bodies too much and needed to be a little more positive with the passing – a little bit more speed on the ball. A little bit more control of the game and not get too despondent if we can’t get through them on one side, let’s change picture and look to play through there. Also always having that mentality that we’re trying to score.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS