‘Disappointed’ – Fleetwood Town boss Crainey’s verdict on 2-0 loss at Charlton

Stephen Crainey bemoaned his Fleetwood side’s lack of composure in the final third after they lost 2-0 at Charlton yesterday.

Mason Burstow’s second League One goal of the season put the Addicks ahead in the second half before Albie Morgan clinched the victory of the hosts with a stoppage-time strike.

Crainey said: “We’re disappointed to lose the game. I don’t think we deserved to lose the game. There was nothing in the game. A set play is how we conceded the first. We knew [Ryan] Inniss would be a threat and he got the first contact, and we just couldn’t tidy it up before the second contact from Burstow.

“The lads gave me everything and, on another day, we would get something out of the game, but it just wasn’t meant to be today. When you’re coming to stadiums like Charlton, with big crowds, when you’re on top you need to take your chances when you get them, and that was something we didn’t do today.

“If we’d have shown a bit more composure in the final third, we would have maybe got a goal or two, but it just wasn’t our day, so we’ll dust ourselves down and go again on Tuesday.

“It’s a great experience [to play at Charlton] for them [young players] at an early age so if they can learn from it and move on and take it forward, I’ll be delighted. I thought the younger lads were good once again today, but really disappointing to lose the game as I didn’t think we deserved to lose it.

“We want to develop young players into football and that’s what we’re doing and will continue to do that. Games like these help them for the future so hopefully, they learn from it and take it into the coming games.

“For them to get the experience of coming here as young lads and footballers in general, not everything is going to be rosy so when you get setbacks like today, it’s how you bounce back on it and that’s what we’ll be looking to do.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS