For a brief time at Fratton Park, it appeared that Charlton Athletic had saved a crucial Championship point.

Harvey Knibbs’ stoppage-time header in the sixth minute of extra time appeared to reward persistent late pressure and save the Addicks from another humiliating defeat on the road.

Instead, football’s harshness hit almost instantly.

Portsmouth stormed forward from the outset, and substitute Yang Min-hyeok scored a thrilling goal in the 98th minute to condemn Charlton to a 2-1 defeat, dropping them to 20th place in the standings, only two points above the relegation zone.

Charlton suffered their eighth defeat in nine games, while Portsmouth’s victory pushed them out of the bottom three.

The style of the setback – late optimism followed by quick sorrow at the hands of an out-of-form relegation rival – guaranteed that the post-match reaction, particularly Nathan Jones’ appraisal, would be heated.

Nathan Jones responds to a “sickening” Charlton Athletic defeat after a last-minute Portsmouth triumph

Nathan Jones spoke to the Addicks’ in-house media after the match and provided an emotionally passionate defence of his team’s effort, despite the cruel outcome.

“I get a sick feeling in my stomach because I think that it would have been a travesty to draw that – but to lose it and in the manner that we did, I feel sick to my stomach, I really do,” says Jones.

“I thought we were fantastic for long periods of the game, causing serious problems, especially in the first half. We would have won if the final third had been of higher quality.”

Jones focused on crucial moments rather than systemic failure.

“In the second half, we came out and had some great opportunities. Their goalkeepers performed some spectacular saves. We conceded a terrible goal off a corner, something we never do – but we did.

“Then we push, we keep on, we see flashes, we’re pushing – then we finally get what we think is the minimum we deserve and then to switch off like we did late on is crazy.”

Much of his frustration stemmed from a sense of self-inflicted injury.

“I’m really devastated because, first and first, they should never score from there, and second, we need to improve our defence and get second balls. “It’s a sickening defeat.”

Regardless of the outcome, Jones was determined to separate performance from outcome.

“The level of performance I’m happy with, apart from two moments of a real lack of concentration, where we went to sleep on a set play and then later on, it’s so, so bad not to see out the game,” said the quarterback.

“We’ll have to make sure we don’t do those, or we’ll get punished.”

He also addressed a recurrent issue this season: “The disappointment is not having the clinical edge, because if others get opportunities like that against us, we lose the game easily, because teams have the talent.

“But we’ve created enough to have won that game tonight.”

“Our fans were wonderful. They stood out more than the average Pompey audience.

“We’re getting folks back, so we’ll be a different animal every week. But the championship is wild.”

Charlton Athletic fans respond to Nathan Jones’ interview that divided opinion.

Jones’ conviction that Charlton were “excellent” sparked debate among fans online, with opinions split between patience and mounting alarm.

Some advised perspective, citing Charlton’s quick return to the Championship. One fan commented, “Very upsetting, but NJ has gotten us to the championship ahead of schedule. We were always going to have tough days like this – a long way to go.”

Another echoed similar sentiment: “Never get too high or too low. We trust Jones. Big January and the remainder of the season. “Keep supporting them.”

Others were much less convinced. Concerns regarding a lack of cutting edge were raised repeatedly. “No point having good performances if we’re not putting chances away which has been an issue all season,” a fan said.

More critical voices challenged Jones’ framing completely. “If that was us being ‘excellent’… we might be in trouble,” read one remark, while another added, “If the performances carry on like that, we’re finished.”

Addicks fans will also ensure Jones sticks to his word: “He keeps talking about being a different animal with bodies back… PROVE IT!”

Jones is correct in arguing that performance has improved in patches and that injuries have hindered continuity. The underlying metrics and chance creation indicate a team capable of contending at this level.

However, football seasons are rarely decided based solely on theory. Charlton’s inability to translate control into goals, compounded with costly errors in concentration, has converted promising times into crushing defeats.

At this point in the campaign, recurring defects, regardless of performance level, become a pattern rather than poor luck.

With leaders Coventry City visiting The Valley on New Year’s Day, Charlton will face another tough test.

Jones is certain that his team will soon become “a different animal”. The following weeks will reveal whether that turnaround is genuine, or if belief continues to outpace results in a Championship that rarely waits for anyone.