Goalkeeping blunders cost Charlton dear in East London on Saturday evening.
The pivotal moment came after just six minutes. Leon McSweeney released David Mooney to run in on goal with Michael Morrison in close attendance. Ben Hamer made a needless dash from his line and when Mooney flicked the ball up, it struck Hamer on the underside of his left arm. Hamer’s arms were raised and he was marginally outside his area, leaving referee, Dean Whitestone, with no option but to brandish the obligatory red card.
Scott Wagstaff’s return to the starting line-up came to a very premature end as he was sacrificed to allow John Sullivan to take over between the sticks. Eventually, the ten men Addicks adopted a 4-4-1 formation, with Wright-Phillips on the right side of midfield and Kermorgant the lone front man.
Skipper, Johnnie Jackson, also retuned after a six week absence in place of Hogan Ephraim who was ill. Despite the spectre of missing the Brentford game hanging over them, Wiggins, Russell and Hollands – the trio on four yellow cards – all started.
Orient included a quartet of former Addicks in Lee Cook, Matt Spring, Kevin Lisbie and David Mooney. Lisbie and Mooney troubled the Charlton defence with their pace but it was Spring who struck the only goal. Side-footing the ball from just inside the area, Spring’s effort was deflected upwards by Matt Taylor who desperately tried to make a block. Sullivan was poorly positioned and too far off his line to get anything on the ball. Nevertheless, it was a fortuitous goal.
Charlton had another couple of narrow escapes before the break. First, Kevin Lisbie went down in the area but play was waved on, then, when Orient put the ball in the net, the goal was flagged for offside.
Charlton created a number of decent chances late on with Chris Solly firing just over and Ben Chorley clearing a Rhoys Wiggins pile driver off the line.
Orient also had a number of chances with Mooney showing the profligacy that blighted his spell at The Valley. A second defeat of the season, on a day when both Sheffield clubs won, was not how Chris Powell would have wanted to end the year. The good news is that he has less than 48 hours to wait before getting the opportunity to remedy the defeat.
Charlton: Hamer; Solly, Taylor, Morrison, Wiggins; Wagstaff (Sullivan 7), Russell, Hollands, Jackson (Hayes 81); Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Pritchard 63).
Subs (not used): Cort, Hughes.
Booked: Morrison 61 (foul).
Sent off: Hamer 6 (handball).
Leyton Orient: Butcher; Forbes, Cuthbert, Chorley, McSweeney; Smith, Spring, Dawson, Cook (Cox 81); Lisbie, Mooney (Tehoue 72).
Subs (not used): Laird, Porter, Cureton.
Goal: Spring 26.
Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire).
Attn: 5,097 (1,994 Charlton).