CHARLTON manager Chris Powell admitted his side could have few complaints with today’s 2-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

The newly-promoted Addicks lost their first Championship game of the season after being undone by Lewis McGugan’s first half free-kick and Sam Hutchinson’s decisive 75th minute strike.

Substitute Ricardo Fuller caught the eye after coming on for the final 10 minutes and saw his 88th minute header go in off the bar and then Forest keeper Lee Camp.

But that didn’t hide the fact Charlton were second best for long periods, something Powell was honest enough to put his hands up to afterwards.

He said: “We are obviously disappointed because I felt over the 90 minutes we were beaten by the better team, no doubt about that.

“The first half display wasn’t good enough but there was a response somewhat in the second period.

“Their second goal, whether there was a foul on Rhoys Wiggins possibly?

“Even the first goal the free-kick I felt shouldn’t have been given against Chris Solly but you’ve got to defend better for both goals.

“But there was a response from the boys in the second half in the last 20 minutes.

“We got the goal eventually and then w are chasing it putting them on the back foot but I’ve no complaints with it really, we were beaten by a better team today.”

Powell added: “Forest are a good side, they’ve got some players of Premier League quality, let alone Championship but so have I.

“They moved the ball around well.

“At times we didn’t really come to terms with it but I felt we were good enough to come and make a proper game of it but we only done that really in fits and starts in the second half.

“It is 90 minutes and they’ve got to do it over the course of the game.

“That’s just how it has gone today but we will dust ourselves down, we’ve got a terrific game to look forward to in 13 days time so we will make sure we are ready for a big south London derby.

“We’ve got time now to get over any knocks. It is our first defeat and it was always going to happen over the course of a season but we will be OK.”

Forest’s opener was particularly disappointing from a Charlton perspective as McGugan’s whipped in free-kick from the left beat everyone including keeper Ben Hamer on its way into the net.

Powell refused to comment on the poor defending having not seen the TV replay but added lessons would be learned quickly on the training pitch once he had identified what had gone wrong.

He said: “I’m always disappointed with any goal we concede.

“Once I see it again I can make a better comment on it but it has gone straight in so something must have happened and we’ve got to correct that if there is any real faults from the defender or the keeper.”

On the positive impact made by Fuller, Powell added: “He is nowhere near ready.

“I just feel he has shown us enough in training, he has been willing to do extra work and he has got that Premier League quality.

“I think you saw that as soon as he came on – he held the ball up, got people into play and that’s what you’ve got to do with a player like him.

“I felt he would give us something and he certainly did whether that goal is given to him - I hope it is - or an own goal for Lee Camp.

“But we need to do that longer periods and we never done that today.

“Forest I felt played very, very well in the first period so I’ve got no complaints in that respect.”

Charlton now have almost two weeks to prepared for the south east London grudge match with former landlords Crystal Palace and Powell is determined to make the most of the luxury afforded to his side after three unwanted seasons in League One.

“It is the first one we’ve had for many a year,” he said.

“We’ve just got to use the time wisely.

“We might miss one or two, Ricardo might be going away.

“We’ve got Crystal Palace on the Friday and we will make sure we get them training right, doing the right things and the correct things on how we can get better and make sure we are right for that game.”

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