Boss Nathan Jones admitted Charlton were “poor” after they were jeered off following the 2-1 loss to Crawley at The Valley.
Max Anderson’s 80th-minute goal earned Crawley – managed by former Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot – a first away League One win since the opening day of the campaign.
Charlton substitute Daniel Kanu had cancelled out Tola Showunmi’s spectacular first-half opener but Anderson pounced after goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer could only push out a strike by Jeremy Kelly.
After a strong start to the season, hopes had been high the Addicks could mount a concerted promotion push but a seventh league loss leaves them 12th and eight points adrift of sixth-placed Reading.
Jones said: “The performance was poor – especially first half. We had a go second half and made some really positive changes to try and get back into it.
“Some of our decision-making and our quality was not up to standard and that’s why we’ve lost the game.
“It was a really edgy night all over and players didn’t make great decisions – we’ve had more shots than them but they’ve had more shots on target. We snatched at stuff in the final third.
“We just couldn’t get any real quality apart from the moment we scored from.
“Fans pay their money and they are entitled to their opinion – when things go well they cheer and when things don’t go well you get the reaction.
“It was an edgy night but that’s probably because we didn’t give them a performance they could get behind.”
Crawley are 19th in the table and unbeaten in their last five league matches.
Showunmi’s right-footed curler into the roof of the net was a sumptuous moment of skill at odds with so much of a scrappy contest.
Elliot said: “I could go through all the players – they were all exceptional.
“Tola’s individual brilliance, we’re going to remember that for a long time. It’s not just the goal but the build-up as well was tremendous play.
“You have to have that bravery to play through teams. Yeah, it may go wrong – that’s fine.
“You know what? I think Max is an attacking player. He has played deeper but he has got great instincts and receives the ball so well in tight areas.
“I’d really like to see him higher up the pitch but he is doing a job for us at the moment.
“To come to The Valley in front of 10,000-plus people, ex-Premier League club and my home club, I know how important the football is to the fans here and how hard it is to come here and win.
“To do that just tops off a great night.”
