Charlton Athletic boss Chris Powell has insisted that he was pleased with his players despite their 3-2 defeat in the League Cup to Huddersfield Town on Tuesday.

The loss meant that the Championship outfit have won just once in all competitions this season – in the previous round against Oxford United – but Powell believes that the team are heading in the right direction.

"It was a real heart-warming performance and all that it lacked was the goals. We need to be more clinical and take chances when they come," he told PA.

"We could have been two or three up by half-time and at 2-1 we were pegged back by a deflected goal. It was a good cup tie that ebbed and flowed but the performance gives me a lot of pleasure and there is a lot to look forward to."

Dale Stephens and Marvin Sordell were among the goals for Charlton.