Lee Bowyer travelled independently to Milton Keynes on Tuesday, and watched the Carabao Cup match from the stands.

Johnnie Jackson and Under-23 coach, Jason Euell, oversaw the match which saw the Charlton eliminated 3-0.

At the post match press conference Jackson hinted that‎ the Addicks could have a new arrival through the doors before Saturday’s trip to Accrington:

‎”We have got targets and we are working hard every day on them, believe me. The (permanent) window closing hasn’t made much of a difference to us and we are still grafting away to bring people in.

“We have got players in mind – we know who we want – and hopefully we can get a few more bodies in before that loan window closes.

“It’s not out of the question (that someone could come in before Saturday). Obviously, it would have to get done tomorrow or Thursday for that to be a possibility.

“There are things in motion that hopefully we can get before the weekend but I wouldn’t want to make any promises on that front,”‎ said Jackson.

The visitors had Dillon‎ Phillips in goal, Mark Marshall at right wing-back, and Nicky Ajose upfront with Reeco Hackett-Fairchild. Otherwise, the team was made up entirely of Under-23 players.

The current injury crisis dictated that it would have been a risk to play the senior team. Even George Lapslie was rested.

Charlton’s inexperience was exposed early on, and two goals in the first 16 minutes effectively killed the tie.

The Addicks came more into the game after the break, and should have had a penalty when Ajose was sent tumbling in the box.

But it was the home side who scored the only goal of the half, when a shot was deflected in off Jo Cummings.

Jackson gave his thoughts after the game:

‎”The young lads worked really hard but ultimately the inexperience has undone them.

“They gave too much respect to MK Dons to start – maybe had a bit of stage fright – and we found ourselves 2-0 down within 15 minutes.

“They were poor goals and we gave ourselves too much to do. They took on board what we said at half time, which were a few harsh words, and came out in the second half and put that into practice.

“We dominated for large parts but it’s a big learning curve for them. This is senior football and, for a lot of them, it was their first taste.

“You dominate the ball for all that time but then concede a third goal with MK’s first attack of the second half.

“It’s a tough one for them, we’ve given them a pat on the back for their efforts, but we’re out of the cup and some of them might not get another opportunity for a little while.

“They have a lot to learn from it,there’s no hiding place at this level of football and our young lads have got to strive towards that.

“MK Dons play in the league below us and these boys want to get into our first team so they have a lot to prove.

“The manager wants to see if some of them are ready to step in if needed. They have to pass these tests and some of them have come out of it alright but some have a lot to do still.”

Charlton: Phillips; Dijksteel (Yao, 68), Cummings, Blumberg; Marshall (Doughty, 68), Morgan (Sampong-Wiredu, 68), Maloney, Dempsey, Mascoll; Ajose, Hackett-Fairchild

Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Stevenson.‎

Booked: Cummings 22 (foul).‎

MK Dons: : Nicholls; Brittain (Muirhead 77), Williams, Walsh, Cargill (Jackson 65), Hancox; Houghton (Moore-Taylor 45); Watson, Kasumu; Cisse; Asonganyi.

Subs (not used):‎ Sietsma, Nesbitt, Sole, Agard.

Goals: Asonganyi 9, Watson 16, Cummings 70 (own goal).

Referee: John Busby (Oxford).

Attn: 3,052.‎