A dreadful performance by Charlton on Tuesday evening, saw them succumb 3-0 to Preston at The Valley.
Preston were in charge from start-to-finish, with skipper, Paul Gallagher, running the game.
The Addicks were without the suspended Patrick Bauer, Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who failed to recover from the knock he picked up at Reading, and Johnnie Jackson, Conor McAleny and Franck Moussa dropped to the bench.
Zak Bergdich switched to the right side of midfield, with Naby Sarr, Morgan Fox, El-Hadji Ba, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis and Tony Watt coming in.
Preston doubled the tally of away goals they had previously scored on the road in just over an hour.
Gallagher fired North End in front after two minutes. His free-kick, following a trip on Adam Reach by Ba, curled round the wall and past Nick Pope’s right hand.
Nine minutes before the break, Gallagher doubled the visitors’ advantage. His left-wing corner was punched back to him by Pope, and the Addicks’ defence was static as Gallagher lashed a shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle.
There was still time for Alan Browne to hit the bar before the break. Charlton’s chances were few and far between.
McAleny, Simon Makienok and Jackson were all introduced early in the second half, but the game was ended as a contest after 62 minutes, when Daniel Johnson rifled home from 25-yards. Such was the dominance of the visitors, the score could have been worse for Guy Luzon’s side.
The Addicks went off to a cacophony of booing and, “You’re getting sacked in the morning” being amongst the more printable chants.
Brentford visit The Valley on Saturday, then Charlton make the long trip to Middlesbrough.
Luzon has a major job on his hands to lift his shell shocked troops, who have now gone nine games without a win.
Charlton: Pope; Solly, Diarra, Sarr, Fox; Bergdich (McAleny 46), Ba (Jackson 61), Cousins, Holmes-Dennis; Watt, Ahearne-Grant (Makienok 61).
Subs (not used): Henderson, Moussa, Kennedy, Ghoochannejhad.
Booked: Fox 47 (scuffle).
Preston: Pickford; Vermijl (Huntington 70), Woods, Wright, Cunningham; Gallagher (Kilkenny 79), Browne, Johnson, Reach;;Hugill, Doyle (Keane 84).
Subs (not used): James, Davies, Welsh, May.
Goals: Gallagher 2, 36, Johnson 62.
Booked: Gallagher 26 (foul), Browne 47 (scuffle), Cunningham 55 (foul ).
Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).
Attn: 13,586 (481 Preston).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic