Lee Bowyer bemoaned defensive errors as his Charlton side conceded twice for the sixth time in the last seven league games.
The Addicks fought bravely and created chances against a strong Preston North End team but were unable to level after Patrick Bauer headed the home side into a 51st minute lead.
It started well for Charlton who scored the opener through Andre Green in just the fifth minute but a super strike from former Manchester United midfielder Josh Harrop just after the half hour levelled the scores.
Speaking after the game Bowyer said of his team’s performance: “There were pros and cons. I thought we started the game really well. Everything was working that we’d worked on in the week. They had more possession than us but they are a good side. We respected them but at the same time we won the ball back and just needed to take care of the ball. We scored a good goal, I thought it was excellent and again something we worked on during the week.
“They score a good goal [Josh Harrop’s equaliser]. I just said to the players and I’ve said to them in the past, if someone gets the ball 25 yards out and puts it in the top corner sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say “great goal” because sometimes that happens in football. The first one, they get that, a great finish but then to lose the game on a set piece hurts. That hurts me because that comes down to someone not doing their job properly. Just mark your man and that’s happened too many times to us this season. Again we conceded two goals, alright the first one is a great strike but the second one!
“If you keep conceding two goals you aren’t going to win games. We score near enough every game but if you keep conceding two you are going to lose more games than you win. That’s what winds me up and drives me mad because we probably deserved something from this game but we end up coming away with nothing because someone falls asleep and we get hurt.
Charlton had chances to level as the half went on but weren’t able to find a finishing touch. Bowyer said: “To come here and give everything and fight like we did, I can’t fault their effort and their commitment again but that quality in the final third lacked today. I think that was noticeable. We got into so many good areas, especially in the second half, out wide and then we’d kick the ball behind the goal. If you want to compete in this division you have bring more quality in the final third.”
