Charlton lost 1-0 to Oxford at The Valley on Tuesday evening, and all but extinguished their flickering hopes of reaching the play-offs.
Stephy Mavididi was the Addicks’ best player, and he came close to scoring when he hit the post just before the hour mark.
Nathan Byrne also hit the woodwork, he rattled the bar early on following good work by Lewis Page down the left.
Charlton’s best effort came in the last minute of stoppage time, when Patrick Bauer’s towering header from a left-wing corner was headed off the line with keeper, Simon Eastwood, beaten.
The decisive goal came after 12 minutes. A speculative long range effort from former Addicks loanee, Conor McAleny, beat Declan Rudd at his near post.
The keeper may feel he should have done better.
Charlton’s miserable evening was compounded 20 minutes from time, when skipper, Chris Solly, was sent off.
Solly was shown a straight red for a reckless challenge. He was late, high and went in with his studs up on John Lundstram, giving Gavin Ward no option but to dismiss him.
The Addicks have taken just three points from their last five games and they are now ten points adrift of the last play-off place.
They will be pleased to see the back of this season.
Charlton: Rudd; Solly , Bauer, Teixeira, Page; Crofts (Botaka 81), Forster-Caskey (Watt 56), Byrne (Aribo 56), Holmes, Mavididi; Magennis.
Subs (not used): Phillips, Dasilva, Jackson, Novak.
Booked: Forster-Caskey 24 (persistent fouling), Crofts 45 (tussle), Bauer 69 (foul), Watt 80 (foul).
Sent off: Solly 71 (foul).
Oxford: Eastwood; Edwards, Dunkley, Nelson, Skarz; Sercombe (Hall 75), Lundstram, Ledson, Johnson; Matinez (Hemmings 60), McAleny (Maguire 88).
Subs (not used): Stevens, Ruffels, Rothwell, Raglan.
Goal: McAleny 12.
Booked: Lundstram 45 (tussle), McAleny 86 (kicking the ball away), Johnson 90 (kicking the ball away).
Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).
Attn: 9,101 (699 Oxford).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic