Charlton utilised a strong squad for the visit of Southend on Saturday and came out winners.
The latest game in Charlton’s warm-up campaign was played behind-closed-doors at Sparrows Lane, in hot, humid conditions and, sensibly, there were drinks breaks during the game.
The Shrimpers included former Addicks youngster, Myles Weston, in their starting line-up.
Stephen Henderson made his first start in a Charlton shirt and seemed a little hesitant in coming for crosses early on. There was an early scare for the debutant keeper too, when Lee Barnard struck the post after four minutes.
The Addicks had the better of the first half with their best chance falling to Joe Pigott, but the young striker saw his effort rebound back into play off the underside of the bar, ten minutes before the interval.
George Tucudean replaced Pigott at the interval, with Southend also introducing a couple of new players.
The heat played its part during the second half and Bob Peeters was probably forced to make more changes than he would have liked.
The Addicks continued to dominate but had to wait until six minutes from the end before they made the breakthrough. Igor Vetokele played Johann Gudmubsson in and the Icelandic winger rifled home.
The game was a tough physical test, played in difficult conditions, and would have brought the players on. Charlton will next be in action at Peterborough on Wednesday evening.
Charlton: Henderson, Solly (Wilson 71), BenHaim, Bikey, Fox (Wiggins 66); Gudmundsson, Buyens (Nego 78), Jackson, Harriott (Cousins 71); Pigott (Tucudean 46), Vetokele (Church 85).
Subs (not used):Pope, Morrison, Gomez, Munns.
Goal: Gudmundsson 84.
Southend: Bentley; White (Williams 80), Prosser, Coker, Thompson; Hurst (Corr 46), Clifford (Payne 65), Leonard, Atkinson; Barnard (Chiedozie 60), Weston (Worrall 46).
