Johnnie Jackson has called for resilience from his side after MK Dons condemned the Addicks to a fourth consecutive defeat in Sky Bet League One on Tuesday night.
Tennai Watson gave the Dons the lead late in the first-half before Kaine Kesler-Hayden added a second on 59 minutes to settle the contest.
“MK Dons were ruthless in their moments,” Jackson told CharltonTV. “There wasn’t loads in it. First-half I thought we were probably the better side. We matched them toe-for-toe, created some chances there and, again, one moment costs you.
“You go in [to half-time] 1-0 down and all of a sudden you’re chasing a game that you shouldn’t be. They’ve taken their chances, they’re a team that creates loads and tonight they haven’t created loads of openings, but they’ve been ruthless with the ones that they have and we haven’t.
“We need toughness now, we need resilience,” added the boss. “No one is going to feel sorry for me or the boys in there. The only way you get through these periods is by biting down, working hard and grafting your way through it.
“What I would say is that they’re knackered in there because they’re giving it their all, so I’m not going to criticise them on that front. If I saw a team that wasn’t trying then I’d have problems, but they’re trying.
“They just need help because we’re depleted, we’re light. It’s costing us in crucial moments, it’s costing us being able to sustain pressure in football matches and it makes it really difficult.
“I just said to the boys in there - barring Nile John who had to miss out tonight because we’ve got six loans and I have to leave one out every game - that everyone’s had an opportunity now,” he continued. “No one can say that they haven’t been given a chance. Some have come in tonight and been given a chance.
“It’s down to me now to pick a side at Hillsborough on Saturday that I think warrants the shirt. That will be from what I saw tonight, that will be from what I see in training on Thursday and Friday. Obviously when you’re on a losing run like that no one can turn around and say, ‘well, you can’t take me out’. I have to pick an 11 that I see fit now.”