Charlton goalkeeper Stephen Henderson has labelled his side’s 3-2 defeat to Brighton on Saturday as “devastating” as the Addicks failed to take advantage of their two-goal lead.

Early strikes from Ademola Lookman and Reza Ghoochannejhad had put the visitors ahead at the break before Manchester United loanee James Wilson pulled a goal back shortly after the restart.

A straight red card to Patrick Bauer and goals from Bobby Zamora and Tomer Hemed rounded off a frustrating day for Charlton, who on reflection deserved at least a point.

And Henderson admitted the manner of the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow.

“It’s probably the toughest feeling I’ve had after a game all season, especially after the way we took the lead,” said the Irish stopper.

“It’s just the way our season is going at the minute and today summed it up.

“The keeper has made three really good saves, I came in at half-time thinking if it was 3-0, they wouldn’t have come at us as much as they did.

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“I thought they were poor first half, we were good too but I knew they were going to come out all guns blazing second half.”

While the Addicks performed arguably their best half of the campaign so far against the Seagulls, Henderson was quick to state his disappointment in his team’s poor showing after the break.

He said: “We need to keep our performances going for 90 mins, it’s happened at Middlesbrough, where we’ve played well first half and got battered in the second.

“Maybe they are aware that sometimes we are a bit slow getting going in the second-half as it’s happened a few times.

“We need to change and it needs to be more of 90 minutes of how we played in the first half today.”

Despite the loss, positives were there to be seen for Charlton, especially in 18-year-old Lookman who scored his first goal of his professional career.

And Henderson believes that Addicks fans have every reason to be excited by his potential.

The 27-year-old said: “I called it a few months ago, he [Lookman] is special.

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“When he got on the ball in the first couple of minutes, I just knew he was going to score.

“Since he’s come in, he’s been our best player, the fans should be very excited about this lad.”

With Leeds and Bolton at home to come, Henderson is hoping that the fans can help the side bounce back after consecutive defeats.

“We’ve got two cup finals coming up - two massive games,” said the former West Ham keeper.

“The lads and I know what situation we are in at the minute, we just need them on board.

“I’ll be doing everything I can to get a clean sheet and while, it’s not been going the way we want at the minute, the effort has been there.”

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