Charlton boss Dean Holden believes Town are the best team in the division “by a mile” and admitted there was a gulf between the teams during his side’s 6-0 walloping at Portman Road.

Conor Chaplin hit a hat-trick, Freddie Ladapo a brace and Leif Davis the sixth as the Blues ran rampant and recorded their biggest win of the Kieran McKenna era.

“It’s a humbling experience,” he conceded. “We didn’t start the game in the correct manner, we’ve conceded three corners in the first couple of minutes, we’ve conceded two goals, we were 2-0 down after 15 minutes, I think it was.

“We then had that big chance with Macauley Bonne’s header. If we take that, who knows? But from that moment onwards, we struggled to get to grips with them.

“They overran us in midfield, we were jumping out of our positions and getting played around and we didn’t lay a glove on them, really. We have to accept that.

“It’s a really poor afternoon for us. Lucky for us, there’s a game in three games time [at the MK Dons] and we have to respond to that.

“We were on the different end of a 6-0 result a couple of weeks ago against Shrewsbury ourselves.

“We have to take it on the chin, I’ve said that to the players. We have to own it. We don’t start finger pointing and blaming. We have to look within. I’ll certainly be doing that. I do that after every game, win, lose or draw. And get back to hard work. That’s all that we can do.

“We were getting pulled apart. They’re the best team in the division by a mile. They’ve hit top form today. We’ve underperformed and that can happen.”

He added: “There was a huge gulf between the teams today. There’s no doubt about that.

“Right throughout the team, from back to front, they’ve got really good players. Players that have played in this division and higher and know what it takes to win. It shows how far the gap is from where we want to get to and where we will get to.”

Holden felt his team, who ended the match with 10 men following Ryan Inniss's fourth red card of the season, made too many errors.

“Individual decision-making in the heat of the moment,” he continued.

“[George] Hirst gave us problems in that first half with his movement. He comes short, he spins and get hold of the ball.

“Chaplin was playing off him in those little pockets. Individual decision-making. We gave the ball away too many times in our own half. We’ve not been doing that recently.

“We were on the end of a thumping. There’s no way of dressing it up. It’s not pretty stood in the technical area watching it and it’s not pretty being involved as a player.

“For our supporters, it’s a really poor day. We have to show up at MK Dons in three days' time and show that we’ve learned from it.

“As much as you can in three days. More than that, show some pride and what it means to play for this shirt. There’s four games left in this season. Four big games for every single player.”

Photo: TWTD

itfchorry added 20:17 - Apr 15 You get some very honest and realistic Managers In League 1 Nice comments -
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DerryfromBury added 20:26 - Apr 15 Frank and honest review, although to be fair, not much else he could say. Hopefully a similar review from Darrell Clarke late on Tuesday evening.
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Mr_Jingles added 21:13 - Apr 15 Heard that a few times this season.... And have to say we're playing proper good stuff. Means nothing though if we're still in league one next season. COYB...4 MORE WINS !!
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Suffolkboy added 21:13 - Apr 15 Totally and refreshingly honest with no attempt at excuses !Good on yer , mate ! Coyb
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Global_Blue added 21:39 - Apr 15 Mr Jingles,... Five more wins!
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Global_Blue added 21:47 - Apr 15 And,... I just don't get Innis. You're 5-0 down with minutes left. You're going to lose. Why make a foul that you know is going to get you sent off and banned for several games, and at the business end of the season? So you lose by an extra goal, what do you care when you're 5-0 down. The sending off was stupid and only harmed his team mates for the next few games. I hope our boys are a lot more intelligent than that.

6

arc added 22:31 - Apr 15 How long a suspension do you get for your _fourth_ red card of the season? That's mad. His season is obviously over, but I wonder if he'll be playing before Christmas!! ;-)
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Fatboy added 23:21 - Apr 15 I believe it is just a one-match ban for a professional foul red card. It's a shame he did it because to see two Town players get hat-tricks in the same game would have been special.
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Umros added 08:32 - Apr 16 Global Blue - 4 wins! 4 and nobody below Can catch and that's if they match ….
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Bazza8564 added 08:55 - Apr 16 Another honest appraisal, good comments and yes, 4 wins means w go up.We also have the nucleus and system for the next level, theres nothing to fear so we won't have to start building again
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Ebantiass added 12:35 - Apr 16 I watched it on both our and Charlton's websites and it was refreshing to hear the Charlton commentators saying that we are the real deal and there is no reason why with the quality we have and the way we play ,that we couldn't make a real good showing in the championship. One of the commentary team even said we could be in the mix for promotion come may next year. Though we should be realistic and keep both feet firmly on the ground IF we go up and invest wisely ,keep the best of the squad, keep our manager and have a good start who knows what could happen. Brilliant display yesterday when all said and done.

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Linkboy13 added 14:31 - Apr 16 I think we should keep our feet on the ground the championship is much quicker and physical and won't be easier. I'd be amazed if we don't buy at least three or four players.
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bucket99 added 15:51 - Apr 16 I love that comment about the effect that Hirst has on the opposition. It's clear we're a better team if he's playing. I just hope we can keep him, he could be vital next season.
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Ipswichbusiness added 16:41 - Apr 16 Linkboy13 is correct, the Championship (if/when we get there) will be much harder, not least because it is distorted by parachute payments and clubs which are prepared to spend ludicrous sums for promotion. The squad has many players who will need to be moved on; anyone who can't get in the team in League One is unlikely to be good enough for the Championship. We will have to clear them out to make room for, probably, at least four quality players (two defenders, a midfielder and a forward).

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TractorBeezer added 17:06 - Apr 16 A very honest assessment without BS excuses from Holden. Refreshing!
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Karlosfandangal added 18:14 - Apr 16 Ebantiass Love the dream…….however their is a big gap from League 1 and Championship and your right in Town sign the right players we will be ok…..3 or 4 seasons won't hurt Town in the Championship because there is a massive jump to the Prem. Just look at Burnley
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dusth added 20:04 - Apr 16 I did look at Burnley at PR and on iFollow and we we weren't playing as well as we are now. Rotherham aren't going down by the look of it and we blew them away. I think some of younger players and new acquisitions have huge careers ahead of them and some of the decent older players have upped their game massively under McKenna. Of course there will be acquisitions but this side, judging by the disappointing Championship games I've seen are already mid table. I'm not suggesting back to back promotions or anything like that - but we don't need to be too humble and don't forget the extra player, or should I say the extra 29000.

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dusth added 20:07 - Apr 16 We played excellently against Burnley of course.
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Marcus added 10:23 - Apr 17 In reality we need to consider what is the lowest acceptable achievement for development - this season it really must be promotion. Next season staying up is minimal, however with the squad we've got, a few key signings and momentum we should be at least contenders in the top 10 - promotion would be a luxury. Promoted too quickly and probably then get relegated, but at least move to the parachute budget. It seems to be almost necessary to be able to compete. Ideally we'd stay up and develop further - in a dream world we'd 'do a Leicester'. No more vague five year ambitions - the challenge is to constantly and steadily progress. Supporters are often impatient, let's hope we get the stability to grow without any silly reactive management changes.

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