Charlton Assistant Manager Curtis Fleming was disappointed with the Addicks' performance in a 1-0 loss at Norwich City.
Nathan Jones was suspended for the fixture after picking up his third yellow card of the season in Saturday's win against Oxford United. It was his assistant, Fleming, who was on post-match media duty.
Speaking to CharltonTV he said: “We’re disappointed. We’ll have a look back at it. Straight after the game I had a chat with the gaffer. I don’t think we were the best version of ourselves, we have to be the best version of ourselves in every game we play in. This was a good game for us to go into today, a good opportunity for us to go and win the game and I don’t think we really turned up.”
It was Jovon Makama’s 61st-minute strike that was the difference between the two sides.
Speaking on the goal Fleming said: “Defensively I think we were a bit rattly. They weren’t putting us under major pressure but anything that seemed to go into the box we were scuffing. It was hitting people in the back of the leg and it was dropping to different people and that was the only real way they were going to score.
“I think that happened for the goal. We scuffed a clearance, it breaks, it drops to Makama who is on a good run of form. We know he’s right-footed, we didn’t get a block in on that which was disappointing but it didn’t seem to happen for us today. I don’t think we caused them problems and I think we could of because I think the best version of ourselves today could of got a good result.”
Fleming confirmed Kayne Ramsay missed the game with a calf injury picked-up in Saturday’s 1-0 win at home to Oxford United. He explained he was pleased to see Amari’i Bell return to action and get 60 minutes under his belt.
The fixture also saw a full Charlton debut for academy graduate Keenan Gough. Fleming was full of praise for the 19-year-old, saying: “I think the kid did unbelievable to get through that, it’s 105 minutes in the Championship where he’s been playing U21s football for most of the season. It shows a real drive. He’s done so well with us in training. It’s brilliant for him and he’ll remember this day forever.”
Charlton will look to return to winning ways on Monday when they travel to Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth.
The Addicks are back at The Valley on New Year’s Day for the visit of Coventry City. Click here to purchase your tickets now!
