This was the first time the Addicks had conceded four goals at home under Powell’s tenure. Ironically, they were on the end of a 2-4 reversal against Swindon last January, a result that ended Phil Parkinson’s time at The Valley.

Danny Green’s injured shoulder kept him out and meant that Danny Haynes started on the right with Scott Wagstaff taking Haynes’ place on the bench. Haynes was to last just 13 minutes before injury forced his withdrawal, he had barely touched the ball.

The busy period of matches has clearly taken its toll on the Addicks, they looked mentally exhausted, perhaps Powell could have made better use of his squad during this period. Ben Hamer is a case in point. After passing a late fitness test on his injured ankle at The Valley on Tuesday, he gifted Colchester their decisive second goal and he had a shocker against County.

Before the scoring started, Hamer was indecisive with a ball played in from the left and had to scramble it away to foil Joanathan Forte. In the second-half, Hamer was left rooted to the spot as a free-kick was played in, fortunately Michael Morrison was on hand to head off the line and into the keeper’s arms. Has Hamer really recovered from his knock?

The first goal was a well struck effort from the edge of the box by Alan Judge. The ball appeared to go through Hamer’s hands to beat him at the near post.

Judge turned provider for the second, crossing from the left for Forte to prod home from close range. The third was a defensive mix up between the keeper and Matt Taylor. Taylor was shepherding the ball back to his keeper but Forte somehow got between the duo to steer it home.

Forte completed his hat-trick five minutes before the break with the simplest of headers from a right-wing cross.

Keith Curle has had a magnificent start to his stint at Meadow Lane, only a stoppage time equaliser by Tranmere on Tuesday preventing a fifth successive win. That fifth win seemed assured by the break against the League leaders.

After the interval, Charlton continued with the narrower shape they had adopted during the first period, with Wagstaff pushed in closer to the strikers and Jackson forming a central three with Stephens and Hollands. Unfortunately for Charlton, neither Solly nor Wiggins had one of their better afternoons.

Normally in these circimstances a manager will tell his team to play for pride and win the second half. Charlton did that and were given a glimmer of hope six minutes after the restart. A cross from Wagstaff was pushed out to Wright-Phillips who found the net with a spectacular overhead effort. Four minutes later the home fans began to dream a little when a superb right-wing cross from the resurgent Wright-Phillips was turned in by the deftest of headers from Wagstaff.

Things could have got really intersting if a penalty had been given when Wright-Phillips was sent tumbling shortly after. There was a more contentious appeal for a spot-kick when the ball appeared to strike an arm after an overhead attenpt from Kermorgant.

The early effort had taken its toll and Charlton’s momentum ran out of steam. Strangely, after Haynes’ early withdrawal, Powell made no further substitutions during the course of the afternoon.

The Addicks started the week needing 20 points to clinch promotion and 24 to win the title. It’s unlikely that they will need to accrue that many of course but, from 12 games it looked a relatively simple ask, now it looks a bit tougher.

Prior to the match, I asked a member of the Charlton hierarchy if the club intended to bring any new faces in, “Maybe, we’ll decide after today,” was the response.

It was all too apparent that the side needs freshening up a bit. A new face or two may well arrive before Saturday’s trip to Scunthorpe but that’s only half the battle. The manager then has to integrate the players and use them for the benefit of the team. Another situation for Chris Powell to deal with on his learning curve.

Charlton: Hamer; Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins; Haynes (Wagstaff 13), Stephens, Hollands, Jackson; Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips.

Subs (not used): Sullivan, Cort, Russell, Clarke.

Goals: Wright-Phillips 51, Wagstaff 55.

Notts County: Nelson: Freeman, Chilvers, Stewart, Sheehan; Hughes, Bishop, Mahon, Judge (Burgess 82), Harley (Bencherif 60); Forte (Demontagnac 82).

Subs (not used): Burch, Edwards.

Goals: Judge 16, Forte 18, 35, 40.

Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire).

Attn: 17,033 (504 Notts County).