Michael Appleton: Charlton Athletic boss fuming after 'disappointing' FA Cup draw

Charlton manager Michael Appleton made 11 changes for the FA Cup tie with Cray Valley Paper Mills

Charlton manager Michael Appleton criticised some of his players following Sunday's 1-1 FA Cup draw with eighth-tier Cray Valley Paper Mills.

Scott Fraser gave the hosts the lead at the Valley but a second-half Lucas Ness own goal sent the tie to a replay.

Appleton made 11 changes to the side that beat Wigan last week to offer squad players a chance.

"I'm disappointed with three or four of the group - maybe more - I thought they would be better," he said.

"I've had a good look at how certain people in the group deal with a little bit of disappointment and anxiety.

"Some have shown OK but some have given me me something to think about in terms of when I need to use them again.

"Ultimately, I take full responsibility because I picked the team and clearly it was the wrong team."

The Millers play five leagues lower than Charlton, in the Isthmian League South East Division.

Only three miles separate the near neighbours but it was expected there would be a gulf between them on the field.

'Almost a lack of discipline'

"There was a frustration in our group and almost a lack of discipline to the point of where, instead of trying to be positive, it was safe, safe, safe," Appleton told BBC Radio London.

"No-one had the energy to make a mistake or want to make a mistake, so disappointing, but we are still in the tie.

"There was enough quality in the starting 11 - or I thought there was - to do that on a regular basis and do that consistently over the 90 minutes and that didn't happen.

"When Cray scored the equaliser, they are the moments you find out about players and I found out about one or two but not in a positive way."

"We weren't technically good enough at times and we didn't show enough nous. Sometimes, from an anxiety point of view, you get drained when it's not going for you but overall you have to give Cray an awful lot of credit."

Charlton will make the short journey to Eltham for the replay with Cray Valley next week.

First up, they face League One leaders Portsmouth on Saturday. Pompey themselves were on the end of an FA Cup upset with a 1-0 defeat at National League leaders Chesterfield.

"We were expected to win the game," Appleton added. "We were massive favourites.

"The underdogs have come here and got the replay but we have seen in various games over the weekend that sometimes it doesn't go to plan."