Brian McDermott and Paul Dickov are two managers who began their careers as strikers with Arsenal.

They were back up players who only played when more established players were injured. Dickov was Ian Wright’s deputy and for a game or two he would be fine, but beyond that, he was found wanting.

There is an element of that at Charlton at the moment, playing players out of position is beginning to find them out.

Chris Powell started with the team that won at Blackpool with fit again skipper, Johnnie Jackson, replacing Scott Wagstaff on the bench.

Barnsley are a good passing side, adept at keeping possession but lacking a real cutting edge. It was a frustrating afternoon for the Addicks but few would deny the Tykes were worthy winners.

Charlton adopted the 4-5-1 shape that served them well at Blackpool with Stephens and Hollands as the holding players. Razak was flanked by Green and Kerkar and it was the Ivorian who played furthest forward. Powell made two changes at the break, introducing Jackson and Wright-Phillips for Hollands and Razak. Powell changed to a diamond midfield with Stephens at the base and Jackson at the tip.

The winning goal came after 64 minutes when Danny Green was beaten on the left by Tomasz Cywka who beat Ben Hamer from the acutest of angles. Hamer vented his anger at Green but perhaps the keeper should take a look at his part in the goal. He would have been anticipating a cross but left enough space for Cykwa to find the net.

Green was quickly replaced by Pritchard and the hosts finished with ten men when Ricardo Fuller limped off with a bad looking hamstring problem eleven minutes from time.

Ironically, Lawrie Wilson delivered a peach of a cross two minutes later which Fuller would have thrived on.

There was a scramble late on but Ben Alnwick grabbed the ball to thwart Charlton. With two tough away games at Leeds and Wolves next week, followed by home fixtures against Middlesbrough and Cardiff, the system, the tactics and the utilisation of the squad need looking at.

Charlton have taken just two points from the last 15 at The Valley. With nearly a quarter of the season gone, the Addicks have not scored more than twice in any game and have only kept two clean sheets. A dearth of goals, coupled with a lack of clean sheets, is a recipe for disaster.

Things need to change….and quickly.

Charlton: Hamer; Wilson, Cort, Morrison, Solly; Green (Pritchard 68), Stephens, Razak (Wright-Phillips 46), Hollands (Jackson 46), Kerkar; Fuller.

Subs (not used): Button, Dervite, Evina, Hulse.

Booked: Stephens 62 (foul), Solly 75 (scuffle), Wilson 90 (simulation).

Barnsley: Alnwick; Stones, Foster, Wiseman, Golbourne; Dawson, Perkins, Mellis (Etuhu 89), Cywka (Hassell 90); Dagnall, Davies (Harewood 90).

Subs (not used): Steele, Rose, Kennedy, Done.

Goal: Cywka 64.

Booked: Golbourne 44 (dissent), Dawson 75 (scuffle).

Referee: M Russell

Att: 26,185 (1,227 Barnsley).