Charlton’s unbeaten streak came to an end in controversial circumstances at Oxford on Friday afternoon.
The Addicks failed to capitalise on an early lead, in a game which saw both sides end with ten men.
Team wise, Lee Bowyer made three changes from the side that ended Luton’s 28 match unbeaten run.
Anfernee Dijksteel, Jason Pearce and Ben Reeves came in for Ben Purrington (a late illness victim), Naby Sarr (bench) and Igor Vetokele (injured).
Karl Robinson lined Oxford up in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, and Bowyer matched up with Krystian Bielik and Josh Cullen as the holding duo, with Reeves, Jonny Williams and Joe Arbo pushed further forward.
The system did not suit the visitors, and Bowyer
replaced Reeves with Josh Parker at the interval, as he reverted to a 4-4-2 system.
Charlton went ahead after just five minutes. Joe Aribo was tripped in the area, and Lyle Taylor sent Simon Eastwood the wrong way from the spot.
But amazingly, by the midway stage of the half, Oxford were 2-1 ahead, a lead they never lost.
After 18 minutes, a Sam Long shot was deflected for a right-wing corner. Curtis Nelson was left completely unmarked to volley the flag-kick home.
Five minutes later, Luke Garbutt scored his first goal for Karl Robinson’s team, when he rifled home a 25-yard free-kick.
Nine minutes after the restart, Oxford keeper Eastwood was sent-off when he inexplicably handled outside the area.
Numerical equality was restored after 73 minutes when Chris Solly was sent-off for a late lunge on Oxford substitute, Jamie Mackie.
The Addicks came closest to restoring parity twelve minutes from time. A Bauer effort was somehow scrambled clear by the hosts.
There was no lack of effort, but on the day, Bowyer’s team did not show enough quality to turn the game round.
Solly’s red card was his second of the season – he received the other one at Barnsley in December – and he will be suspended for four games, meaning he will be unavailable for the first-leg of the play-off.
Charlton’s next match will be on Monday against Scunthorpe at The Valley.
Charlton: Phillips; Djiksteel (Lapslie 68), Bauer, Pearce, Solly; Cullen, Bielik, Reeves (Parker 46), Aribo, Williams; Taylor.
Subs (not used): Maxwell, Sarr, Pratley, Morgan.
Goal: Taylor 5 (pen) .
Booked: Bielik 66 (foul), Lapslie 87 (foul).
Sent off: Solly 73 (foul).
Oxford: Eastwood; Long, Nelson, Dickie, Garbutt; Brannagan, Ruffels, Kashi (Mackie 63), Henry (Hanson 80), Sykes (Stevens 55); Sinclair.
Subs (not used): Carruthers, Mousinho, Graham, Napa.
Goals: Nelson 18, Garbutt 23.
Booked: Kashi 24 (kicking ball away), Garbutt 81 (time-wasting), Brannagan 88 (foul).
Sent Off: Eastwood 54 (hanball outside area).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic