Forward discusses Charlton disappointment, and looks ahead to Fleetwood
Sam Smith's start against the Addicks saw the striker make his first appearance since rejoining the club, and marked a big step in building up his fitness ahead of a busy schedule.
It was not the outcome of his return he would wanted, but is glad he is now back and can help the side recover, starting on Tuesday night at home to Fleetwood Town.
Smith said: "It has been very tough, I was more disappointed than anyone.
"I’ve played a lot of football and then I come here and get injured straight away which is unfamiliar for me. Mentally it was tough to take.
"I have been working so hard behind the scenes to try and get back and help the lads because it has been a tough situation for the club.
"To play today, I could not be prouder to play for this football club, and to come back to a special place for me.
"It is never nice coming and being in this situation, but we are working harder than ever, and the turnout we get and the support despite everything going on, as players you could not ask for more than that.
"With no preseason, and the injury, every minute means a lot because it gets my fitness up, and even today I could feel it.
"The best way to get fit is playing games and the sooner I can get to 100% the better, it is just a disappointing result.
"We have to try and make our home a fortress.
"Hopefully the fans that came today are there on Tuesday at home, and we can get three points against a team who are also down there struggling.
"Points on the board at this point is vital, so on Tuesday that will be the aim."
Smith expressed his disappointment that the Royals could not offer the travelling fans a result, and was full of praise for the turnout in the away end on Saturday.
He continued: "It’s a real tough result to take. We started well and we were in the game for long period of time, but then their goal went in and it just went downhill from there.
"I just want to say thank you to the fans, the turnout today was unbelievable. It’s never nice leaving after not giving your fans anything.
"When you are playing away from home and you have got lots of the ball you need to score.
"If we get a goal first it changes the game, and we didn’t, and it went downhill from there.
"If you don’t take your chances you get punished, every game is a difficult game and the team has found that out the hard way.
"Everyone is gutted, the team works so hard day in day out. It is a good group of lads and we all just want to help the club in the situation we are in.
"If results aren’t going our way, it is not ideal but we are just trying to stick together, stick with the fans."