A miserable afternoon for the Addicks saw them lose 1-0, as well as losing Patrick Bauer to a red card.

Guy Luzon line-up and tactics suggested he very much had Tuesday’s game with Preston at the forefront of his mind.

Charlton’s ploy was to keep possession and frustrate Reading. The plan was executed well but the Royals kept going and snatched the win fourteen minutes from time.

As expected, Johnnie Jackson, returned to the starting line-up and marshalled those around him. Stephen Henderson made his long awaited return to the bench, but he was on the bench on this occasion.

The Addicks showed little adventure going forward and when Johann Berg Gudmundsson managed to get a shot on target in the 41st minute, it was ironically greeted by the travelling fans chanting, “We’ve had a shot”, followed shortly after by, “Can we have another shot”.

Patrick Bauer received a second yellow card when he tripped Nick Blackman on the edge of the box midway through the second period.

Five minutes after Bauer’s dismissal, it was Blackman who was left with a free header to convert a left wing cross and win the game for Reading.

The Addicks are down to 20th in the table, just two points clear of bottom place.

Next week’s two games, against Preston on Tuesday and Brentford on Saturday, are vital. Luzon will be desperate to take maximum points from them, and end the winless streak that stretches back to August.

Charlton: Pope; Solly, Bauer, Diarra, Bergdic;, Gudmundsson (Fox 62), Cousins, Jackson (Ba 70) (c), McAleny; Moussa (Watt 57), Ahearne-Grant.

Subs (not used): Henderson, Sarr, Holmes-Dennis, Ba, Kennedy.

Booked: Gudmundsson 10 (foul), Bauer 51 (foul), Bergdich 66 (time-wasting)

Sent off: Bauer 70.

Reading: Al-Habsi, Gunter, Obita, McShane (c), Hector, Norwood, Tshibola (Williams 70), Piazon (Fernandez 87), Blackman, John (McCleary 70), Sa.

Subs(not used): Moore, Taylor, Cooper, Liburd.

Goals: Blackman 75.

Attendance: 17,614 (1,183 Charlton).

Referee: Rob Lewis (Shropshire).