Another day, another game, another defeat, another injury for Charlton Athletic.
Charlton’s winless run stretched to seven games, as Wolves took all three points back to the Midlands following a 2-0 victory at The Valley on Monday afternoon.
Ademola Lookman had to be replaced on the stroke of half-time after pulling up with a hamstring problem. Playing the slightly built youngster for a second time in 48 hours was always going to be a risk, and it backfired on the Addicks.
Karel Fraeye made three changes from the team that started at Ashton Gate on Saturday, two of them enforced.
Naby Sarr and El-Hadji Ba came in for Alou Diarra and Jordan Cousins, who were unavailable due to injury and illness respectively. Karlan Ahearne-Grant replaced Simon Makienok as the lone front runner.
This was a poor performance from the Addicks against a Wolves side that were below par. The crowd vented its frustration at the board after the opening goal went in.
The opening period ended in bizarre circumstances. Makienok entered the fray as Lookman’s replacement, and as he moved upfield after defending a corner, he collided with referee, Keith Hill.
Hill lay prone for some minutes and had to be replaced at the end of an extended half-time break by fourth official, Matthew Buonassisi.
A piece of impudent skill from Benik Afobe led to the first goal after 52 minutes. The striker slipped past Harry Lennon on the right, and pulled the ball back. Stephen Henderson stopped Wolves’ first effort, but was helpless as Jordan Graham fired home the rebound from close range.
The visitors sealed victory seven minutes from time. A low corner was drilled in from the left and Lennon, under heavy pressure from Danny Batth, put through his own goal.
The head coach faces a difficult task in trying to lift his beleaguered and stretched squad ahead of Nottingham Forest’s visit to The Valley on Saturday.
Charlton: Henderson; Solly, Sarr, Lennon, Fox (Ceballos 80); Ba, Jackson; Ghoochannejhad (Holmes-Dennis 66) Vaz Te, Lookman (Makienok 45); Ahearne-Grant.
Subs (not used): Pope, Charles-Cook, Moussa, Muldoon.
Booked: Ba 77 (foul).
Wolves: Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth, Ebanks-Landell, Doherty; McDonald, Coady; Henry, (Byrne 71), Edwards, Graham (Ojo 89); Afobe.
Subs (not used): McCarey, Golbourne, Wallace, Sigurdarson, Le Fondre.
Goals: Graham 52, Lennon (og) 83.
Referee: Keith Hill (Matthew Buonassisi 46).
Attn: 18,059 (1,881 Wolves).