Stephen Henderson has confessed that Charlton Athletic must become more consistent if they are to avoid relegation into League One.

The Addicks led league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion by two goals on Saturday afternoon before eventually falling to a 3-2 defeat at The Amex.

It is not the first time this season that Athletic have failed to capitalise on a strong first-half showing, which Henderson admits must change if survival is to be achieved this term.

Speaking to the club's official website, he said: "We were excellent in the first half but we need to sustain a performance for 90 minutes. It's not an exaggeration - we could have been six up at half time. Their goalkeeper has made two really, really good saves.

"They still would have come at us, but at 3-0 you'd expect to take something. 2-0 was a bit edgy for me at Brighton away, and it proved that way. It's happened a few times now, like up at Middlesbrough, where we've done well in the first half and then struggled. We need a consistent 90 minutes and that needs to change.

"We'll pick ourselves up and we're going to have to because we've got two cup finals coming up. Two massive, massive games. No one really expected us to get anything from Brighton but at half time you're thinking it's there for the taking. It only took them five minutes into the second half to get their first and then you could just feel that the pressure was going to come."

Charlton, who play host to Leeds United and Bolton Wanderers in their next two outings, are currently inside the bottom three on goal difference.