Carl Dickinson admits he is devastated after suffering defeat for the first time in almost twelve weeks against Charlton on Tuesday night.

Lloyd Sam's late header secured maximum points for the Addicks in the top of the table Championship clash.

And the City defender says it was a horrible feeling going home empty handed.

"For me the defeat was a disaster, I hate losing," Carl told Stoke City World.

"The whole team does though, and that's why we are doing so well. Even in training we hate losing.

"Luckily some other results went quite well for us so like I said we'll bounce back from it and make sure we give Cardiff a good beating."

City defended gallantly throughout the match at the Valley, and it took a disputed goal to settle the encounter.

A goal which Dickinson insists was clearly offside, "For their goal I think for the first ball when Varney mis kicked it he was definitely offside.

"We're obviously disappointed with the goal we've conceded and it being given, but I thought we had the chances to take the game to them. I thought we had the most clear cut opportunities to be honest.

"I thought we should have had a penalty in the first half, but the linesman seemed to bottle it for me.

"I thought we did some good stuff, at times we were stretched a little bit but that's the way it goes.

"It's just one defeat though, and we have got to make sure we flush that straight out of the system and get the three points against Cardiff on Saturday."