Karel Fraeye endured a baptism of fire at the Riverside on Saturday. Charlton slumped to a third successive 3-0 defeat.
Fraeye opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation, with El-Hadji Ba sitting in front of the back four, and Simon Makienok as the lone striker.
The ploy was clearly to frustrate, keep the score line at 0-0 for as long as possible, and hope to nick a goal on the break.
It worked for an hour, but once the Addicks’ defence was breached, it was merely a question of how many it would be.
David Nugent flicked home the opener from a left wing cross after 60 minutes. Albert Adomah cut in from the right and fired beyond Henderson, to add the second after 66 minutes.
Daniel Ayala added the third on 78 minutes when he had a free header from a corner.
Boro also hit the inside of the post from long range, while Charlton’s best effort was a shot from the edge of the area by Reza Ghoochannejhad.
Results elsewhere went in the Addicks’ favour, but Tuesday’s game at Milton Keynes is now a vital fixture. Fraeye needs to end the ten match winless run.
Charlton: Henderson; Solly, Bauer, Diarra, Fox; Ba (Ghoochannejhad 69); Ahearne-Grant (Moussa 79), Cousins, Jackson, Gudmundsson; Makienok (Watt 61).
Subs (not used): Pope, Sarr, McAleny, Bergdich.
Booked: Ba 53 (foul), Diarra 64 (foul), Bauer 76 (foul), Solly 88 (foul), Ghoochannejhad 89 (foul).
Middlesbrough:
Subs (not used): Mejias, Friend, Leadbitter, Kalas.
Booked: De Pena 87 (foul).
Goals: Nugent 60, Adomah 66, Ayala 78
Booked: De Pena 87 (foul).
Referee: Andy Madley (West Yorkshire)
Attn: 20,943 (244 from Charlton).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic