REACTION | Robinson on Checkatrade defeat, missed chances, incomings, outgoings and takeover talks

Addicks boss Karl Robinson spoke to the assembled press following the penalty shootout loss to Oxford United on Tuesday evening. Here are five key points from his post-match press conference...

THE MATCH

"I’m proud of the performance because we basically had one training session and we had one fit centre-back today. Harry Lennon wasn’t fit, neither were Patrick Bauer, Naby Sarr or Jason Pearce. 

"Ezri Konsa was the only fit centre-back, so we went with Jacko. I thought the back three looked very accomplished considering the age of the two playing alongside Jacko and we had seven academy players take the field tonight which is a testament to the football club."

MISSED CHANCES

"We need a striker and we need to score more goals, because we can’t keep relying on the same person all the time – he needs a break. 

Again, we’ve had 60-odd per cent possession and had 23 shots, but scored one goal. They had one real chance and scored and you’re writing the same article every week – ‘Charlton were the better team, but didn’t take their chances.’ It’s the same story week in, week out."

OUTGOINGS

"There are teams who might be looking at Ricky who might think they could be in the Premier League next season. These things are out of our control, but we’ve not had any bids, so it’s not like we’ve been sitting here fending off bids. 

"We had a game today, so that was the most important thing. I’ll speak to Ricky tomorrow and ask him what his thoughts are and what’s going on. But we were in match mode today and he was on the bench, so we’ll have a conversation tomorrow. 

"We rejected a bid for Dillon Phillips and I've been quite clear on my stance on that. Unless I can get a number two as good as him, the boy isn't going anywhere."

INCOMINGS

"We need more players. Adam Amstrong has gone today and Kieffer Moore has, obviously, gone to Barnsley. There are a number of strikers who are getting knocked off the list and that’s the frustrating bit. But that’s out of my control, I can only control the circumstances that I’m in control of, so that’s what I’ll do."

TAKEOVER TALKS

"I need to keep doing my job, keep working hard and keep doing the right things. We know that there have been people in and talking to a number of different people and the decision lies with the owner when that time comes. 

"It’s business as usual, in some ways. We can't let this season slip. We've worked so hard to put ourselves in this position, it can't be a drain on people again, it has to be something to kicks us forward."

Robinson's full post-match press conference will be available to watch on Valley Pass later this evening


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