Dean Holden hopes Charlton fans take encouragement from display in defeat at Peterborough

Dean Holden hopes Charlton fans would have taken some encouragement from his side’s display during the 1-0 defeat at Peterborough United.

Posh took advantage of a mistake from full league debutant Pan Camara to set up Hector Kyprianou to bag the only goal of the game in first half added-time.

The Addicks piled forward in search of an equaliser after the break but were unable to force a leveller as they fell to a first league reverse of the campaign.

Corey Blackett-Taylor shot narrowly wide after cutting in on more than one occasion, whilst Alfie May was denied his first Addicks strike by the boot of Posh goalkeeper Nicholas Bilokapic. Camara also saw a header well saved in the first period.

Jonson Clarke-Harris hit the post as the hosts looked to kill the game off late on.

Holden said: “It’s about both boxes. If you don’t take your chances, you’re going to find it difficult. First half, they gave us problems with set-pieces but other than that our shape was excellent. The amount of times we won then ball back high up the pitch. We created some good chances ourselves. To come in at 1-0 at half-time was really disappointing.

“It’s a really poor goal. I’m finding myself saying that a lot at the moment. There’s nothing between the teams at that point. We should clear it but they open us up and score from it.

“We came out and for 25 minutes it was one-way traffic. We weren’t able to find that final action. They made changes, slowed it down and changed the system. It was even for 10 minutes at that point but then we put our foot to the floor in the last 10-15 minutes and did everything but score.

“You can see by the reaction from our fans that they’ll be proud of the performance but not the result. Most people inside the stadium can see that we should have got something. But we didn’t and it’s important we bounce back on Tuesday (against Bristol Rovers).”

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS