Charlton boss Dean Holden on Bristol Rovers ‘smash and grab’: Only one side was trying to win that game

Charlton manager Dean Holden says his side must improve in both boxes after Bristol Rovers snatched a last-minute win at The Valley.

Rovers edged ahead through former Addicks loanee Scott Sinclair just before the hour mark. He tapped home after a free-kick was saved by Ashley Maynard-Brewer – the ball recycled into the six-yard box for a close-range finish.

Charlton were back on terms thanks to Daniel Kanu’s first league goal, but the visitors grabbed all three points deep into added-time.

Alfie May had hit the post for the hosts moments before Luke McCormick’s shot squirmed beyond Ashley Maynard-Brewer to seal the win for the Gas.

Holden said: “There was only one team trying to win the game of football. They came for a point and ended up getting a smash and grab. Fair play to them. We’re conceding poor goals at the moment. We need to be more clinical in both boxes. That’s the only thing that’s letting us down.

“Ash [Maynard-Brewer] made a really good save from the free-kick and nobody reacted. There’s three or four there for the tap in. That’s not good enough. We’ve got to see them moments off. It’s a concentration thing and a little bit of naivety.

“The second one. We had a free-kick on halfway. Should put it into their box but we’ve gone short and ended up losing it. They boot it up the pitch, a set-piece or two later and they’re in. We don’t react or mark well enough in the box and it’s a sucker punch.

“We showed a really good reaction to get back into the game and scored a really good goal. There was only one team trying to win the game, but we don’t feel sorry for ourselves. We’re getting punished at the moment.

“There’s a lot of really good signs but we’re being punished. There were some big moments around their box. We’re not capitalizing on those key moments.

“[Maynard-Brewer] is honest enough to know [that he should have done better with the second goal]. You look back at the second one, we’re not defending well enough in front of him. But he’s the last line of defence and will look at that and think he could have done a bit better.”