Inside view with Charlton defender Frazer Richardson
15:38, 28 January 2010
updated: 15:38, 28 January 2010
Monday night’s defeat against Leyton Orient was not what we wanted.
It was the second match of a run of three consecutive home gamesand we were certainly targeting a maximum return of nine points, especially after the good away win at Wycombe earlier this month.
We knew from the match against Orient earlier this season that the game wouldn’t be easy, however, despite their league position and we know we were below par on the night.
We ended the night still just three points from an automatic promotion place, though, so we can’t get carried away by one bad performance.
I’ve returned to the side recently following a spell on the sidelines that lasted longer than I wanted it to – and longer than it probably should have done.
The week before Orient, we faced Hartlepool and that was the first time I’d played a full 90 minutes since we beat Huddersfield in mid-October, so I was aching a fair bit after the final whistle.
When I initially injured my hamstring, I didn’t think I’d be out for that long but I had a couple of setbacks.
That was the most annoying thing. Just when I thought I was about to come back, the problem flared up again.
I probably rushed back a little bit the first time because I was desperate to play and help the team.
However, I feel a lot stronger for it now and hopefully that will be the end of it, because I’m not a good watcher of games. I go and support the team but I hate sitting in the stands. I just want to be out there playing and, hopefully, winning.
It’s Tranmere next on Saturday and we only have to remember our last game against them in August to get us thinking positively again. We won 4-0 and it was a great performance.
We can’t become complacent, though. Tranmere have changed managers since then and although they are still struggling near the bottom of the table, their results have certainly improved. But we need to get back to winning ways if we are to finish in the top two and avoid the play-offs.