Times are tough for managerless Charlton Athletic and Saturday's defeat to Bristol Rovers has only made matters worse, stretching their winless run to six games in League One.
Addicks legend Alan Curbishley believes the poor form – which led to the sacking of Ben Garner earlier this month – is taking its toll on supporters, criticising the atmosphere in his assessment of Rovers' 2-1 win at The Valley, which came after a brilliant brace from substitute John Marquis in the second half.
Curbishley had two spells with Charlton in his playing career and he managed the club from 1991-2006, leading the club into the Premier League and keeping them there for several seasons. He is a man synonymous with the south east London club's glory days a couple of decades ago, but Saturday was another difficult game for him to watch.
Curbishley was appearing as a pundit on Charlton's live-streaming coverage and he noted the "lack of atmosphere" from the 11,000 home fans at The Valley, saying it was only the 1,339 travelling Gasheads that made the afternoon an occasion as Rovers mustered a second-half comeback.
"If it wasn't for the Bristol Rovers fans, you wouldn't have thought a game was on today," he said.
"Somehow results have got to come and the fans have got to get back supporting the club."
Curbishley was not the only man to reserve praise for the travelling fans, with Joey Barton delighted to reward the travelling Gasheads with a memorable victory, winning at The Valley for the first time since 1958.
He said: "The fans, with train strikes, it being freezing, ice everywhere with the game in doubt and the Gasheads have turned up in their numbers today and I’m so pleased to give them that win that they’ve been long overdue at The Valley.
"I am really proud of the group and where the football club is at, but we won’t be resting on our laurels. We want to make 2023 an even better year than 2022 and if we can do that, I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for our football club to develop and play in even bigger stadiums than this."
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