Charlton floundered badly at Southend on Tuesday, and were beaten 3-1.
A brace from Simon Cox, and a header from Addicks old boy, Michael Turner, did the damage. Ben Reeves scored the visitors’ goal.
Karl Robinson made three changes to the team that drew with Blackpool on Saturday; Karlan Ahearne-Grant, Ahmed Kashi and Ricky Holmes replacing Leon Best, Johnnie Jackson and Mark Marshall. The manager only named six substitutes.
Charlton were poor in the first-half, though they did improve after the break. But by then the damage had been done, two goals in the first eleven minutes left the Addicks with a mountain to climb.
The opening exchanges exposed the frailties of the visitors’ defence. Southend targeted makeshift right-back, Anfernee Dijksteel, who had a torrid afternoon against Stephen McLauighlin.
The Shrimpers took the lead inside the first two minutes. Charlton failed to clear a ball pumped into the box, allowing Simon Cox to tuck it home from close range.
Nine minutes later, the Addicks’ hopes pf winning the game were effectively extinguished.
An Anthony Wordsworth free-kick from the right was headed just inside the far post by Michael Turner. Ben Amos may feel he could have done better.
Ahmed Kashi – who had a difficult afternoon – was replaced by Harry Lennon at the interval, with Ezri Konsa switched to Kashi’s holding midfield role. Kashi did not appear to have am injury.
Midway through the half, Charlton were given a lifeline. Holmes made progress down the left, and passed the ball to Magennis.
The Irishman laid it back to Ben Reeves, who applied a clinical finish.
But Robinson’s side were unable to find an equaliser. Southend sealed the win eleven minutes from time.
Once again, the Addicks were unable to deal with a cross into their penalty area, and Simon Cox grabbed his second goal of the afternoon.
It has not been a good Christmas for Charlton, and they face a huge test on Friday. They travel to Wigan…..
Charlton: Amos, Dijksteel, Konsa, Sarr, Dasilva, Kashi (Lennon 46), Aribo, Reeves, Ahearne-Grant (Hackett-Fairchild 87), Holmes, Magennis.
Subs (not used): Phillips, Jackson, Lapslie, Dodoo.
Goal: Reeves 66.
Booked: Lennon 81 (foul), Konsa 90 (foul).
Southend: Oxley, Demetriou, Turner, Ferdinand, Coker; Wright (White 80), Leonard, Wordsworth, McLaughlin (McGlashan 74); Cox, Ranger (Fortune 85).
Subs (not used): Bishop, Hendrie, Kyprianou, Robinson.
Goals: Cox 2, 79, Turner 11.
Booked: Leonard 38 (foul), Coker 63 (handball), Ranger 77 (foul), Oxley 86 (timewasting)
Goals: Cox 2, Turner 11, Cox 79
Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire).
Attn: 9,588 (1,384 Charlton).