Charlton boss calls for “perspective” after League One winless run extended by Oxford United defeat

Michael Appleton has asked for there to be “perspective” when looking at Charlton Athletic’s winless run in League One.

The Addicks lost 2-1 to Oxford United today at The Valley – a third defeat in a row.

Charlton have gone six matches without a victory.

They led through Chem Campbell’s early strike but that was cancelled out midway through the first half by Mark Harris.

Oisin Smyth smashed a spectacular late clincher for the U’s from at least 30 yards out.

Charlton were booed off at the end with Appleton also the subject of negative chants from the home support.

Asked if he understood the reaction, the head coach said:  “Yeah, but there has to be perspective as well – which there never is in football.

“We’re not complete idiots. You win and everything is fantastic, you lose and everything is not fantastic – that’s the business we’re in and I get that.

“We’ve got nine injuries and probably at least six or seven are first-team regulars. In the first seven or eight games we never lost and we looked like we were going to roll teams over three or four-nil.

“We’re not having the best of luck with injuries. The squad, from a balance point of view, we’ve already said we’re going to look to improve it this month, if we can. That’s why it’s so important we get the right ones so that you improve the team and the actual starting 11.

“I don’t think we’re in a position where it is about bringing players in to be squad players. They have to come in and try and be starters for us. That’s why it is so important to get the right ones.

“I’ve got to say that I can’t ask any more of the players – they gave me everything they could. For 60-65 minutes we were on the front foot and looked exciting at times with the youthfulness we’ve got in the group.

“We had three or four great opportunities at the start of the second half to go ahead again and really put Oxford under a bit of pressure – and it didn’t happen. Having said that, I didn’t feel particularly like they were going to score. I think Ash has made one save from Harris from the edge of the box.

“Even though they pushed us back in that final period of the game I felt with the little bit of care on the turnover, which we were excellent with in the first half, we could’ve damaged them and hurt them a little bit.

“Having said that, you don’t expect to concede a goal from nearly 40 yards.”

It was yet another late goal conceded by Charlton at The Valley with Burton Albion and Cambridge United also profiting in the closing stages of their matches in SE7.

Asked if he could put his finger on a recurring theme for his side, Appleton said: “No…no. The reality is that all we can as a group is keep putting ourselves in a position where we can effect it and we can do something about it.

“The reality is if you roll over and lose games 3-0 or 4-0 then there isn’t a lot you can do in those final moments anyway – you can’t bring yourself back into a game from being ahead or behind. But when you’re consistently in those moments with the group we’ve got at the moment, for me they deserve praise because they are putting themselves in those moments against decent sides.”

MAIN PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS