CHARLTON Athletic manager Chris Powell could not ask for any more from his players in the 2-0 defeat to Derby County.
Powell, the former Rams player, was left dejected after watching his side suffer a third loss in four outings.
The Addicks are now just one point clear of the Championship drop zone.
Charlton went behind against the run of play to Jamie Ward's deflected free kick after 32 minutes at The Valley on Saturday.
And Craig Bryson sealed Derby's sixth straight win with an 87th-minute strike.
"I couldn't have asked for much more from the players," said Powell.
"I felt we got our shape and tactics right for a good half an hour before the deflected goal.
"I don't think they really had a chance before then.
"But, of course, once we conceded that goal, it gave them the impetus to push on.
"Ben Alnwick made a very good save (from Bryson) to keep it 1-0 at half-time.
"Then it was a case of the players doing their best to try to turn it around for us.
"The players are giving me and the fans everything they've got.
"But we need something to break the cycle for us.
"At 1-0, Michael Morrison had a header which, 99% of the time, he would have put away but he headed it wide.
"Then Simon Church had a chance when we were chasing the game - but those moments are just not happening for us.
"We conceded a breakaway goal at the end, which gave the scoreline a different look.
"I know they hit the bar in the second half but it was a tough one to take at the end."
Ward's opener, which deflected off Charlton's Rhoys Wiggins and wrong-footed keeper Alnwick, was a key moment in the game.
"It was either going wide or was easily covered by Ben," added Powell.
"It hit the wall and went the other way.
"Without that, you're looking at 0-0 at least - or we might have even nicked something.
"We should have gone in level pegging but it didn't happen, so we had to get on with it.
"Sadly, we just couldn't make the breakthrough."
