We can’t lose at home to the likes of Morecambe if we’re serious about challenging next season – Charlton boss Dean Holden

Dean Holden admits his side can’t lose at home to the likes of Morecambe if they are looking at achieving anything at League One level.

Morecambe won for just the second time on the road this season and only the fifth time in their last 45 League One away outings – two of which have come in SE7.

The visitors edged ahead early on with Cole Stockton’s second goal at The Valley in as many years. Aaron Henry lost out on the edge of the box, with the ball falling for Stockton to rocket beyond Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

Jack Payne had the ball in the net midway through the first-half, but the whistle had already been blown for an Addicks foul. Stockton then wasted a big chance to double the Shrimps’ lead before Charlton were on terms against the run of play. Jack Payne squared for Jes Rak-Sakyi to bag his 14^th of the campaign.

The Addicks started on the front-foot after the break but once again were caught napping as Morecambe re-established their lead. Stockton nipped in behind Michael Hector as a cross was allowed in too easily.

Jensen Weir added the third when Stockton’s drive was palmed out by Maynard-Brewer. Scott Fraser pulled one back with ten minutes left but the Addicks couldn’t find a leveller.

“Full credit to Morecambe,” said Holden.

“They’re fighting for their lives and came here and got a result. For us, certainly where we want to be next season, that’s not good enough. You can’t be losing at home to Morecambe, with total respect for them, if we want to do anything serious next year.

“Not good enough. We never started the game. We gifted them a goal, gave cheap possession away. Cole Stockton hit a wonder strike. That can happen early in the game and it’s about the reaction. We didn’t react well enough. So much carelessness in terms of passing in the first-half. A lot of unforced errors, we were inviting them to counter-attack.

“We’ve given the initiative to a team who, although they drew at Portsmouth and beat Wycombe last week, are in a difficult position in the league. We handed them the initiative. Gave them confidence. Allowed them to come to The Valley, get touches of the ball and feel like the home team. We should have been 2-0 down, Cole Stockton missed a sitter.

“Luckily, we came in at 1-1 and actually we should have been 2-0 down. We played much better second-half with the ball, carried much more of a threat, but we’ve gifted them two goals. We’ve not defended well enough. The second goal has landed, we’ve not defended one v one on the outside and he’s ghosted off the back of our defence to score.

“The third one, Stockton hits the shot. As a defender you’ve got to react, you’ve got to expect Ash [Maynard-Brewer] to parry it. We were a little bit like mannequins.

“There’s a response, we score a good goal through Scotty. A big chance for Miles at 1-1.

“We have to respond. However the season has gone, we can’t finish it off with two home defeat to Morecambe and then Port Vale [next weekend]. It’s all on next week now, looking for a response.”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS