MICHAEL Appleton believes perspective is needed after Charlton were booed off again following a third straight loss to Oxford United at The Valley.
The Addicks made the perfect start when Chem Campbell slotted home on five minutes after Corey Blackett-Taylor’s initial shot saved by James Beadle.
Oxford were back on terms midway through he first half, a well-worked attack ending with Finley Stevens’ cross being converted by Mark Harris.
Chem Campbell really should have restored the home side’s advantage early in the second period but he headed off target.
There was to be a late sting in the tail five minutes from time as Oisin Smyth unleashed a stunning shot from outside of the box that flew past Ashley Maynard=Brewer to consign Charlton to a third straight league defeat.
That prompted more boos and jeers at the final whistle, something Appleton accepts as inevitable but the under-fire boss also pointed out injuries to key players are also a big factor.
“Yeah, but there has to be perspective as well which there never is in football,” he replied when asked if he understood the reaction from the stands.
“You win everything is fantastic, you lose and everything is not fantastic.
“That’s the business we are in, I get that.
“We’ve got nine injuries and probably six or seven are first-team regulars.
“In the first seven or eight games when we’ve been here, we never lost a game and we looked like we were going to roll teams over three or 4-0.
“We are not having the best of luck with injuries, we are definitely not having the best of luck with injuries.
“The squad from a balance point of view, we’ve already addressed that that is something we will look to address this month if we can.”
Appleton also stressed any signings Charlton do make will have to be players who can fit straight into the side immediately.
He added: “If we are going to improve that is why it is so important to get the right ones.
“You try and improve the team and the actual starting XI.
“I don’t think we are in a position where it is about bringing players in to be squad players.
“They have to come in and try and be starters for us and that’s why it is so important to get the right ones.”
Today was yet another game where Charlton have thrown away points late on, the fourth time it has happened in as many matches.
Appleton knows it is an ongoing issue but didn’t want to be too critical of his injury-hit side.
He said: “All we can do as a group is just keep putting ourselves in a position where we can affect it and we can do something about it.
“If you roll over and lose games three or 4-0 there is not a lot you can do in those final moments anyway, you can’t bring yourself back into a game from being ahead or behind.
“But when you are consistently in those moments with the group we’ve got at the minute, for me they deserve praise because they are putting themselves in those moments against decent sides.”
