Charlton Athletic 1 Bristol Rovers 2

A comparatively sparkling first 35 minutes today. We got the ball forward quicker, got more crosses in, had pops at goal, and took the lead. Then came half time.

Rovers were not at the races, but they improved latterly in the half. The Charlton TV crew echoed all of our thoughts at half-time, and that was we need to keep a clean sheet.

Chance would be a fine thing. Two shocking errors from Ryan Inniss gave our old nemesis John Marquis the chance to tuck away two goals, rather expertly, in less than 20 minutes after coming on as a sub.

And that was that. Was followed was absolute spineless bilge.

I said at at the end of August that not signing a striker (Garner didn’t want Marquis) was foolish, but not signing a centre half, a left sided one preferably, was criminal.

The defence is a shambles. None of them capable of playing the kind of game imposed on them by the owner’s make believe delusions of grandeur.

This is truly the worst team I have ever watched in 47 years of supporting the club. Not just that, but there is absolutely nothing to cling on to. No pride in the shirt, no belief in an owner, no dreamy attachment to an ex-player as a manager and a group of players that cave at the slightest thing that goes against us.

Where’s the balls, where’s the leadership, where’s the standards, where’s the consequences, where is the identity. We are pathetic.

I feel for Hayes. I am sure he is a very bright coach, but Sandgaard has to make an appointment, even if it is another temporary one. We lack leadership and we are falling fast.

Nevertheless, what does Sandgaard care? And how can we trust him to make any well-judged decisions when every time his lips move it is unbelievable tosh.

Anthony Hayes: “What we tried to do this week, in particular, is we talked about being reliable in our own half, playing off less touches – look to get it forward and run forwards a little bit more. Probably some of the stuff we saw in the first half. But ultimately we can keep coaching them and working with them, it’s up to the players to make the best decisions. In those two moments we don’t pick good decisions and we don’t have good execution in terms of technique. It’s bitterly disappointing.”

Joey Barton: “Credit to John, his pressing, workrate, composure and calm finishing have ultimately been the difference between the Gas not winning here since 1958 and the Gas winning here today – 62 years. It’s another bit of history for our group.”

Stats (CAFC first): Possession – 46% / 54%; Passes – 368 / 451; Accurate passes – 270 / 346; Shots (on target) – 13 (5) / 11 (5)