Darren Pratley: Fans and players need to stick together – Charlton Athletic players deserved boos on Tuesday night

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Darren Pratley has urged everyone connected to Charlton Athletic to stick together – and reckons that is the best way to aid them exiting a sticky spell.

The Addicks have taken five points from a possible 30 and Tuesday’s 1-0 loss to Huddersfield Town was a fourth successive reverse.

Some supporters booed Lee Bowyer’s side at the full-time whistle.

Pratley said: “We’ve had good times at this club, especially since I’ve been here in the last 18 months. It’s all been good, all been rosy – but there are two sides to football. This is where you have to stick together.

“We got booed, rightly so. We weren’t good enough at home. Come Friday it’s a new game. The fans and us need to stick together as a team and get through this period.

“The fans pay their money, they can say what they want – as long as they respect us when we’re leaving or coming in [to the ground] then that’s fair enough.

“The team gave everything it could. We don’t moan when we get praised, patted on the back and told how good we are – so we can’t moan when we’re told we’re not good enough.”

Matthew Daly’s 90th-minute goal clinched maximum points for Huddersfield on a frustrating night where Charlton failed to fashion a serious chance on goal.

“It’s disappointing to lose another game – the fourth in a row,” said Pratley. “A draw probably would’ve been a fair result, we didn’t really create too much.

“The last couple of games we haven’t created too much or tested the keeper – especially at home. Earlier in the season, and a lot last year, we were creating quite a lot. It isn’t happening for us in front of goal and we’re conceding.

“The only positive is we’ve got another chance on Friday to turn it around against Hull.”

Charlton have had a heavy injury list. Despite Lyle Taylor’s return they were still missing the likes of Jonny Williams, Josh Cullen, Erhun Oztumer, Sam Field, Beram Kayal, Tomer Hemed, Chuks Aneke and Jake Forster-Caskey.

“We don’t want to make excuses,” said Pratley. “The sides we’ve been putting out lately have been good enough to get something out of games.

“Everyone knows we’ve got loads out and it’s been tough – but we need to keep grinding.

“The Championship is a tough league. Hudderfield, for example, started the season losing every week and they seem to have turned it around a little bit.

“We’re going through a bad patch but it’s important we stick together – not get in our groups and start blaming people. Try and stop the rot.

“Losing games does affect confidence, no matter how people dress it up.

“We’re still trying. We’re not hiding. But that’s when you have to stick together. Once you get one result it goes from there.”

PICTURE BY KYLE ANDREWS