City boss Peter Grant said it had come down to a straight choice between Darren Huckerby and Jamie Cureton for a place in his side at Charlton last night.

City boss Peter Grant said it had come down to a straight choice between Darren Huckerby and Jamie Cureton for a place in his side at Charlton last night.

Cureton was a surprise absentee, left on the bench, with Chris Brown the lone striker and Huckerby operating in three different roles over the course of 90 minutes.

David Strihavka, matchwinning substitute against Crystal Palace, was on the bench again but suffered a “slight strain” on Saturday, said Grant.

“Jamie's one of these guys that can come in at any time in the game and get you a goal,” said Grant. “Darren needs to be playing in the game to be involved. After watching them in training yesterday, I just felt I needed him in the side.

“When you've got somebody like Huckerby in the team, he's always capable of doing something.”

Cureton appeared as a last-minute substitute for Julien Brellier but by then City were 2-0 down to two penalties by Andy Reid.

“I always felt we were in the game,” said Grant. “We were defending the box well. To lose the goal the way we did, just a kick up the pitch, first time we let it bounce and all of a sudden it's a penalty kick. You lose that little bit of discipline and it costs you the game.

“It's a tough, tough place to come. We showed our resilience, especially the two centre-backs because we were under the cosh for periods of the game.

“Dublin and Doherty defended their box very well. I didn't think they gave the front two a kick. The first time we let the ball bounce, it cost us. It was probably the first mistake the two of them made all evening.”