Charlton Athletic defeat described as ‘self-inflicted’ by interim head coach Curtis Fleming

Charlton Athletic interim head coach Curtis Fleming felt that the decisive goal in today’s 1-0 loss to Derby County was “self-inflicted”.

Macaulay Gillesphey’s pass was intercepted by Max Bird and he played in Nathaniel Mendez-Laing to sweep the ball beyond Ashley Maynard-Brewer shortly after the half-hour mark.

The Addicks had the same amount of shots on target as Derby, who went second after their victory.

Charlton are without a win in 12 matches and are three points above the League One relegation zone.

“We were causing them problems by playing directly,” said Fleming.

“They didn’t really cause us a lot of problems and we had 60 per cent possession – we didn’t cause them enough problems for the possession we had and the areas we got into.

“The goal we gave away, it was self-inflicted. Three of the chances they had in the first half were from us. We spoke about the Blackpool game that they had eight chances and four of them came from us – of making those decisions and putting them on the front foot.

“I was disappointed with the goal. I like the way we shook ourselves off and went again. We can’t keep conceding goals like that. They are a good team. They played for that, didn’t they? They didn’t really cut us open at any time. The time they caused us problems was when we gave the ball away.

“And if we’re in doubt then we don’t need to play into the middle of the pitch. You’ve got two strikers and a number 10. It’s different – they are on the pitch and have got to make the decisions. You have got to trust them sometimes.

“If that ball had gone in, Conor had taken it back foot and switched it 40 yards then you’d all have gone great. But it didn’t. At the moment it isn’t and we’re getting punished for it.”

Charlton go to Reading next weekend.

The Addicks have already nearly sold out their allocation for a match which will be high-stakes and high-pressure.

Asked about it being a worrying time for the club, Fleming said: “It’s a big elephant in the room – it is something we have to talk about. I can’t keep saying that you worked hard and we showed endeavour. I love that and they are a brilliant and honest group. But we have got to find a way to win games.

“We played some real good stuff. We had a couple of times the opportunity to put the ball in the box and didn’t. Strikers are looking for it and it bounces up off them. It is the final third.

“I said in there (the dressing room) if you come down from the moon you wouldn’t think it is a team who were fourth and a team who were 18th. That is a 50-50 game but they found a way of winning – and that’s what they’ve been doing.”

MAIN PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS