The Addicks played in-form Burnley at a warm and sunny Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon.

Chris Powell opted for a 4-4-1-1 line up with Dale Stephens playing just behind Simon Church.

Injured skipper, Johnnie Jackson, missed out as did Joe Pigott – who did not even make the bench – and Richard Wood.

Bradley Pritchard switched to the right, Mark Gower and Jordan Cousins returned in the centre and there was a first start for Cameron Stewart on the left.

Charlton were to lose Pritchard to injury at the interval.

The shape may have been different but Chris Powell persevered with his policy of early containment. The problem is, the Addicks can not keep a clean sheet. They have now gone twelve games since they last kept a clean sheet at Cardiff in April.

Burnley took the lead eight minutes before the interval when Kieran Trippier whipped in a hard, low cross from the right for Danny Ings to steer home to Hamer’s left.

Midway through the second period
Powell decided to switch to 4-4-2 but before he could get Marvin Sordell on, the Clarets increased their lead.

Dean Marney freed Sam Vokes on the left and Vokes dinked the ball over Hamer to give the hosts a two goal advantage.

With the game seemingly lost, Powell somewhat surprisingly brought Yann Kermorgant on for the final eight minutes. Fortunately,  Kermorgant escaped without aggravating his troublesome ankle.

Charlton’s miserable afternoon was completed three minutes from the end when Vokes added his second.

Burnley were aggrieved when they were given a corner rather than a penalty but their disappointment was short lived. Junior Stanislas’ right-wing corner was powerfully met by Vokes.

Full credit to the 313 travelling fans who backed their team until the end but these are dark days for the Addicks. Just one point from the last twelve with a string of difficult games to come does not make pleasant reading.

The fear is that things may get worse before they get better but Powell needs to turn his side’s fortunes around rapidly.

The gaffer has much to ponder before Nottingham Forest pitch up at The Valley on Tuesday.

Charlton: Hamer; Wilson, Morrison, Dervite, Wiggins; Pritchard (Harriott 46), Cousins, Gower (Sordell 67),  Stewart; (Kermorgant 83); Stephens; Church.

Subs (not used): Alnwick, Evina, Wood, Hughes.

Booked: Wilson 51 (foul).

Burnley: Heaton; Trippier,  Shackell, Duff, Mee; Arfield (Treacy 85), Jones (Edgar 90), Marney, Kightly (Stanislas 60);  Vokes, Ings.

Subs (not used): Cisak, Lafferty, Stock, O’Neill.

Goals: Ings 37, Vokes 67, 87.

Booked: Marney 73 (foul).

Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire).

Att: 10,645 (313 Charlton).