Charlie Kelman says Charlton must learn from Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Norwich City and use the week ahead to dust themselves off and prepare for their next test.
The result was the Addicks’ first home defeat of the season at The Valley and despite being pleased to score his first Championship goal of the campaign, the forward said the team’s result mattered more.
“Scoring that first goal was special, especially with my mum, my partner and my best mate here,” said Kelman.
“But I’m disappointed because I wanted to win. Winning is the main priority.”
Charlton started strongly, but Kelman felt the team lost momentum after taking the lead.
“I thought we started really well in the first 20 minutes and put them on the back foot,” he explained.
“But after we scored, I felt we dropped off as a team and gave them too much respect. In this division, you get punished for that.
“Sometimes we need a bit more know-how. We’re quite a young team, and when teams start pulling us apart, we need to stick together, force them wide and manage the game better.”
Meanwhile, Kelman reflected on the disallowed own-goal which would have levelled matters in the second half.
The forward was adjudged to have been interfering with play in an offside position, forcing Ruairi McConville to nod into his own net.
Although Kelman felt the decision was harsh and acknowledged that the decision could have affected the match, he insisted Charlton could not use it as an excuse.
“Decisions like that can affect games, but we can’t blame the referee,” he insisted.
“The defender came up to me and said that he had got away with one. But I had a good chance to make it 2-2, and if that goes in, we’re on the front foot.”
With Middlesbrough next up for the Addicks, Kelman called for the team to respond and urged supporters to stay behind the players.
“The fans spend their hard-earned money and follow this club up and down the country,” he said.
“You can feel their frustration, and it’s not nice because we want to give them performances they can be proud of.”
“We need to go to Middlesbrough, dust ourselves down and put in a performance. We’re going to need the supporters with us for the full 90 minutes.”
