Charlton first-team coach Damien Matthew has asked called for the club to stick together following a "tough week" that was made worse by the 5-0 defeat at Watford.

Matthew, along with goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts, took caretaker charge for the trip to Vicarage Road with the new head coach, Guy Luzon, still awaiting a work permit to be approved.

A brace from Odion Ighalo, first-half goals from Craig Cathcart and Troy Deeney (pictured) and a last-minute free-kick from Dániel Tőzsér gave the home side an emphatic victory to round off a disappointing week for Addicks fans.

Despite the result, Matthew wants to see the club stay united through a difficult period.

He said: "It's been a tough week for the players and a tough week for the club,

"All we can do now is dust ourselves down and hopefully get one or two signings in and improve.

"Inside of that changing room, togetherness is a message that we want to spread among everyone,

"The fans have a massive part in that as well, so hopefully we'll start to give them something to cheer about.

"I've been here eight years now and the fans in my time have been excellent, very supportive of the team and of the club.

"We'll know they'll be there for us again and they'll support us whatever may be."

The 44 year old said that while his team started brightly, conceding the first goal did have a huge effect on the players and their confidence.

"The first goal in goal in the Championship is crucial, especially in the situation we are in at the moment.

"You try to ignore everything that's gone on, but confidence does play a massive part in football,

"We needed to score and score early against a team that are creative and have chances and they punished us today."

Despite the work-permit not yet being approved, Matthew revealed that Luzon had been involved on the training ground throughout the week and is confident that he can have a good spell at the club.

He said: "The visa had been applied but it hadn't quite come through, so it's been a tough week, not just that but with the previous head coach going, you don't know how players are going to react until the situation.

"We need that consistency in Guy being the head coach, and we look forward to developing again.

"He's met the players, he's had some chats and they are well aware of how he wants to play as well, so we tried that in the first-half.

"The players are well aware of the task ahead and I think it'll be enjoyable for him.

"He is a good coach, got a lot of good experience for someone so young and we are looking forward to the relationship developing." 

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