MICHAEL Appleton admitted it was a frustrating afternoon for everyone at Charlton after his side blew a 1-0 lead in stoppage time at home to struggling Burton Albion.
The Addicks led for most of the game through Lloyd Jones’ 19th minute header, only to be pegged back in the 91st minute by Ryan Sweeney’s leveller.
It is the second consecutive Valley game in which Charlton have thrown away three points late on following the recent 2-2 draw with Cambridge United.
And the manager accepted his side had failed to learn the lessons from that day as his side were booed off at the full-time whistle.
Appleton said: “It is just disappointing. The reality is they haven’t looked like scoring a goal this afternoon.
“In those moments where you need to see the game out, I would expect us to be a little bit more professional, have a little bit more nous.
“I suppose because it came so quickly after the previous home game (v Cambridge), it is not as if we’ve not had that knowledge or that awareness to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“There was a lot of stuff that went on in the build-up to the free-kick for them to get the goal that I think we can eradicate out of our game – one or two individuals if we do that certainly (it) takes a bit of responsibility of having to deal with set plays in the 93rd minute.”
Charlton failed to keep a clean sheet yet again, something Appleton believes is the way it goes when things aren’t falling your way.
The SE7 boss explained: “It always happens as well when you are having a frustrating period like we are at the minute in terms of trying to keep those clean sheets.
“Sometimes when you are in a real good moment, when you are winning games on a regular basis or you are keeping clean sheets on a regular basis, those type of moments go for you rather than against you.
“Whether it is dealing with the first header, whether it is making sure that we get the second contact.
“You can almost see it with the lad who hooked his foot around the ball to release the pass – those little things go for you rather than against you when you are in a good space.
“It was difficult. It was difficult to take because I just didn’t see them scoring at all if I am being honest. It is one we’ve got to sort of take on the chin and move on.”
