Johnnie Jackson was left frustrated with his Charlton side as they were condemned to a 2-1 defeat against Lincoln City at The Valley on Saturday, despite crafting a host of openings.
Jayden Stockley’s 17th goal of the season two minutes from time ultimately proved to be too little too late for the Addicks, who fell victim to strikes from Morgan Whittaker and Anthony Scully either side of the interval.
“I don’t quite know how we’ve lost the game, to be honest, with the chances that we’ve had,” Jackson told CharltonTV. “I’m disappointed with the nature of the two goals we conceded. They have got a threat on the break and that’s how they set up: they tried to contain us and hit us on the break, and they managed to do that a couple of times.
“We’ve done more than enough there, especially in the second-half we created more than enough to get something from the game - probably enough to win it.
“I think the centre-forwards will be disappointed that they haven’t taken their opportunities because we provided enough today. That’s their job to stick it away so they’ll be gutted, but we’ve let two in at the end as well. It’s a collective, it’s a team thing.
“It hasn’t gone our way today; on another day you win that game but we haven’t. There was a lot of bright play, a lot of things that we can be positive about and obviously we’ve got a game in three days so we can’t wallow.
“There’s a lot that we can take out of that game as far as our attacking play goes and there’s things that we need to tidy up, as always. Even in defeat I think it was a positive performance.”
The boss had no gripes about the dismissal of Alex Gilbey, who was given his marching orders late in the first-half having collected two cautions for a pair of cynical fouls.
“It was a little bit naive from Gilbs,” said Jackson. “Obviously, he’s been booked for the first pull-back and that’s something that referees, especially when it’s breaking up a counter-attack, punish.
“On another day he might let the second one go, just because. But to the letter of the law it’s a second booking so I can’t really have any complaints about that.”
Jake Forster-Caskey made his long-awaited return to action midway through the second period and the reigning player of the year marked his return by claiming an assist.
“It’s fantastic to see him back,” he said. “I didn’t put him on the pitch for sentimental reasons, I put him on there because I know what he can do.
“I’ve seen what he’s done in the three games for the U23s and what he’s been doing in training, and that gave me the confidence that I could bring him back into the fold today.
“I thought he added something really good from the bench and I thought he allowed us to get a bit of control in midfield. He can pick a pass - we know what he’s got, he’s obviously set the goal up with his left foot from the corner. It’s great to have him back and, for me as the manager, that’s another option now.”