Johnnie Jackson bemoaned a poor end to the first half, as his side lost 2-1 at Crewe Alexandra, although he thought a disallowed stoppage-time equaliser should have been given.
Oliver Finney and Mikael Mandron scored just before half-time for the home team after a strong opening 25 minutes by the Addicks.
Speaking to CharltonTV after the game Jackson said: “I thought we started the game well, we were moving the ball, getting into good areas and then we just stopped doing that in the second half of the first half. We stopped doing the things that were getting us joy – that was a really disappointing period of the game.
“Obviously we’ve conceded in those moments – poor goals. The first goal, poor, we don’t follow it in, the guy gets a tap in. Then conceding a corner – poor. Going 2-0 down in a game for 20-25 minutes we completely dominated – it can be a mad game at times.”
Charlton were coming off a narrow defeat to Premier League Norwich City in the FA Cup where the Addicks had the better of the game.
“It was like chalk and cheese from Sunday,” explained Jackson, “I don’t know where that performance in that period of the game came from. [Crewe striker] Chris Porter is an experienced centre forward but I’ve got enough experience out on the pitch there that we should be able to deal with him and we were just causing our own problems really. I thought most of their chances came from us messing about with the ball or not being decisive enough and it has ended up costing us.”
Jackson’s side pulled a goal back in the 80th minute through 18-year-old Mason Burstow – the striker’s first league goal for the club.
“I’m really pleased for him. I thought he did well when he came off the bench. I knew he could have an impact from the bench, he’s come in, scored a good goal and had a hand in the disallowed goal at the end. I’m really pleased with young Mason.”
Charlton piled on the pressure, with Conor Washington well-denied by Crewe keeper Dave Richards before Elliot Lee found the net in the last minute of stoppage-time. The goal was controversially ruled out by the linesman’s flag.
Jackson said: “I just asked why he disallowed it. The linesman was saying that Leko was in the keeper’s eyeline, interfering, but I don’t think it would have made a difference on whether the keeper would have saved it or not. It’s looped over his head and gone in off the bar. He saw it all the way and tried to save it and couldn’t. It is disappointing. I thought the goal should have stood. It was too little, too late anyway, we go in 2-0 down and it’s easy to come out and have a go then, you’ve got nothing to lose. Where was that in that period I’m talking about in the first half where we lost our intensity and lost our way.”