Charlton Athletic extended their winless run to eight as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Gillingham at The Valley on Monday.
A wretched first-half performance was followed by a second period of almost total dominance. But the Addicks had given themselves too big a mountain to climb.
Jake Forster-Caskey returned to skipper the side, and Leon Best made his come back from the bench for Charlton, whilst Gillingham went with what looked like their strongest line up on paper.
Karl Robinson made two half-time changes ;Forster-Caskey was replaced by Joe Aribo after picking up a serious hamstring injury,and Best replaced the unimpressive Ben Reeves.
Best’s afternoon lasted less than ten minutes as he also suffered a bad hamstring injury.
Gillingham nearly took the lead after three minutes, when Tom Eaves was put clear with only Ben Amos to beat, but the keeper foiled him.
Eight minutes later Eaves turned provider. Somehow, the striker wriggled clear from three defenders, and drove the ball across goal for Josh Parker to steer home from close range.
The Gills doubled their advantage just past the half hour mark. Luke O’Neill broke down the right, drove the ball across goal, and Eaves applied the finish.
Charlton were much improved after the break, but could not find the goal to put them back in the match.
Josh Magennis hit the bar with a cushion header, and Mark Marshall, Karlan Ahearne-Grant and Joe Aribo all went close.
The breakthrough eventually came seven minutes from time. Ricky Holmes swung in a corner from the left, and Aribo connected with a deft header to halve the arrears.
Near the end, Aribo swapped passes with Magennis and came close to restoring parity.
The hosts threw everything at it late on, Amos even ventured forward on a couple of occasions, but they could not find the elusive goal.
In the end, Gillingham held firm for a well deserved three points and took the double against their local rivals this season.
After the match, Robinson said that a striker will sign in time to play in the Oldham game at the weekend:
”We need to sign a striker, it’s a simple as that. But we’ve said that for four months now and nothing has changed. We’ll hopefully have someone in within the next 48 hours, that’s the aim.”
The striker in question is believed to be Arsenal’s Stephy Mavididi, who will sign a loan deal until the end of the season.
The result sees The Gills climb to 15th place in League One, whilst the Addicks stay ninth. Steve Lovell’s side now have almost two weeks to prepare for their next game with Rochdale coming to Priestfield on Saturday 13th January.
Charlton: Amos; Konsa, Sarr, Lennon, Dasilva; Kashi, Forster-Caskey (Aribo 46), Marshall, Reeves (Best, 46, Ahearne-Grant, 53), Holmes; Magennis.
Subs (not used): Phillips, Jackson, Bauer, Dijksteel.
Goal: Aribo 83.
Booked: Forster-Caskey 28 (foul), Kashi 90 (foul), Lennon 90 (foul).
Gillingham: Holy; O’Neill, Ehmer, Zakuani, Garmston (Ogilvie 73); Byrne, Hessenthaler, Clare, Martin (Oldaker, 75); Eaves, Parker (Wilkinson, 73).
Subs (not used): Nelson, Lacey, Cundle, Nash.
Goals: Parker 11, Eaves 32.
Booked: O’Neill 45 (foul), Parker 52 (foul), Clare 90 (time wasting).
Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands).
Attn: 11,979 (1,424 Gillingham).