Charlton 0 Shrewsbury Town 2 (Rodman 52, Beckles 67).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

If only Charlton had capped their blistering start to this game with a goal, you might have been reading a different story; and you might be feeling more optimistic about their prospects of escaping this dreadful division. But "if ifs and ands were pots and pans there'd be no work for tinkers' hands". Charlton failed to score during their brief purple patch and, unless you're a usefully employed tinker, you might feel it's time to give up on promotion. If only... two words which begin every lament for losers.

Charlton's first mistake, apart from failing as usual to finish what, for ten irresistible minutes, they so skilfully started, was in making such a fuss of this fixture. Because when the chips (or bacon sandwiches) are down, whenever they provide free travel to "Operation this or Operation that", disappointment hitches a ride. It's written into the club's constitution, not that you ever get used to it. Well, yeah, you do get used to it, actually. What you don't do is learn any lessons from it.

All the necessary ingredients to make this game special were in place on a bitterly cold afternoon which announced winter's intention to go out like a lion. The latest football for a fiver offer had attracted a bumper crowd; Karl Robinson's men had expressed their determination to prove that last weekend's victory at MK Dons was no flash in the pan but the springboard for a determined promotion push; the opera singer was unavailable but the build-up otherwise readied us for another of those days to remember.

And this day will indeed be fondly remembered -but only by 1,254 sons and daughters of Shropshire, who hugged each other in delight as their favourites weathered, thanks to the excellence of goalkeeper Dean Henderson, a torrid 10-minute going over before recovering to put their hosts firmly in their place. A place which, in the wake of this chastening lesson, is now outside the top six - but, let's not forget, with two comforting games in hand. The second of those games is away to...er, Shrewsbury. So probably one game in hand.

The Addicks' opening salvo was resisted singlehandedly by Henderson. When Sullay Kaikai and Josh Magennis combined to set up a clear shooting chance for Jake Forster-Caskey, the midfielder's fierce low drive was saved at full length by the defiant keeper. While the visitors still struggled to find their feet, Kaikai found Jay Dasilva, whose accurate cross was headed firmly by Magennis but brilliantly blocked on the line by Henderson's outflung right leg. The rebound reached Joe Aribo but the on-fire keeper spectacularly tipped the in-form youngster's vicious blockbuster over the bar. We didn't know it then but Charlton's bolt had already been shot.

Organised by Jon Nolan, a copper-topped Scouse-Irish busybody, the Shrews composed themselves and exerted a grip they were never likely to relinquish. Henderson could, in fact, have knocked off early and not been missed. Charlton quickly unravelled and were exposed as a side without substance, a soft-centred collection of self-absorbed will-o' the-wisps with more wisp than will to them. Beaten to every second ball, pressed into panicky clearances, caught regularly in dawdling possession dangerously close to their goal, they somehow bumbled along until half-time, thanks mainly to Nolan's missed penalty. Bundled over by Ezri Konsa, the ginger dynamo's spotkick was bravely parried by Amos and his rebound header smacked against the bar.

Completely unruffled by Nolan's act of generosity, Town duly lowered the boom seven minutes into the second half. Wide man Alex Rodman had been torturing Chris Solly with a succession of weaving runs, the latest of which carried him inside the right back from the left flank to unleash a superbly curled shot off the far post and in behind Amos. The keeper was given no chance, which won't silence the whispers that "he could have done more." While on the subject of armchair snipers, those anonymous critics of Solly, the very heartbeat of Charlton for several seasons, are invited to "do one." This marvellous pro is struggling right now but gives nothing but his best. He is heavily in credit.

Midway through the half, the visitors took care of business with a second goal. The Addicks' six-yard cover parted almost biblically as Omar Beckles rose unchallenged to head Shaun Whalley's outswinging corner down past Amos.

The last word belongs to Robinson, who frankly admitted that "we weren't good enough. They were the better team. We got old-schooled today and I've told the players we need to drop our egos because we are a good team." He might have added that they need to toughen up, fight for the right to play and, in old-fashioned parlance, get stuck in. It ain't all about crooking your elbows and striking stylish poses on the ball. You can do that after scoring. As long as you do score, you can do it as often as you like.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Konsa, Pearce, DaSilva (Ajose 71), Kashi, Marshall (Fosu 87), Aribo, Kaikai (Zyro 90), Forster-Caskey, Magennis. Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Jackson, Bauer, Reeves. Booked: Kashi, Magennis, Forster-Caskey, Solly.

Referee: Christopher Sarginson. Att: 17,581 (1,254 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Magennis 24) Bradford City 1 (Robinson 80).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Still smarting from the calamitous surrender of five points from their two previous games, Charlton squared off with close rivals Bradford in a make-or-break clash for a place among the play-offs contenders. Even with a third of the season remaining, there's a distinct, psychological advantage to being among the top six teams.

By beating City, the Addicks would have leapfrogged the sixth-placed Bantams to lead them by a point with two useful games in hand. Throw in a superior goal difference and the prize for victory was huge. Simple arithmetic shows that defeat, on the other hand, would have represented a devastating body blow. So Charlton took the third option and, in painfully familiar circumstances, not to mention their patented 1-1 scoreline, marked time and continued to press their noses against the window to the holy grail.

Pegged back yet again by a late equaliser, this latest setback heaped more disappointment on Karl Robinson's men. Setting out with their usual elan, they were denied an early breakthrough when Colin Doyle brilliantly tipped Mark Marshall's bottom-corner bound shot against a post to safety. The keeper then kept out Sullay KaiKai's venomous volley with his legs before doing his resourceful best to prevent Josh Magennis from giving Charlton the lead midway through the first half.

The spadework was provided by Marshall, whose jinking run made space on the right to deliver a cleverly dinked cross aimed for Magennis. Climbing above two defenders, the back in-form striker generated just enough power in his downward header to squeeze the ball inside the left post, despite Doyle's frantic efforts to scrape it back in play. Referee Nicholas Kinseley, whose laissez-faire attitude to City's uncompromising physicality hardly endeared him to an openly mutinous Robinson, was ideally positioned to rule in Charlton's favour.

And this was where we came in. For having played the visitors off the park with a beguiling but all-too-brief blend of pace, power and skill, the Addicks began to falter as usual. While contributing little beyond the searing drive from Adam Chicksen which skimmed the bar shortly before the break, City retired with a toehold in a game which had threatened to run away from them. And as they improved, so their opponents' self-belief evaporated.

With only a single goal to protect, Charlton began the second half in frankly unconvincing quest of a second. Tariqe Fosu went close with a right-footed drive narrowly too high, then briefly troubled the Yorkshiremen with a corner which was awkwardly cleared at the near post.

But the pendulum had swung and it required a fine save from Ben Amos to keep out the volley with which Chicksen met Tony McMahon's inswinging corner from the right. Interval substitute Paul Taylor beat Amos on the rebound but Magennis, a tower of strength to his side in both penalty areas, cleared his effort off the goalline.

On 67 minutes, the Addicks survived a scare which suggested that sheer luck might, on this occasion, come to their rescue. Setpiece specialist McMahon stepped up to a free kick, awarded for Fosu's earnest attempt to decapitate Chicksen 20 yards out, and left Amos helpless as he sent it crashing against the bar.
Shortly after the escape, Fosu made a final effort to finish off the resurgent Bantams. A regular target, along with Kaikai, for City's cynical litany of fouls (Charlton were no angels themselves), he hauled himself up after being decked by McMahon to curl the free kick towards the far top corner. Backpedalling urgently, Doyle pawed the fast-dropping ball to safety, his vital save setting the stage for an increasingly inevitable equaliser.

Banished to the stands as the exchanges grew tetchier, Simon Grayson probably masterminded the 76th minute replacement of the embattled Chicksen by Tyrell Robinson from his new vantage point. If so, City's new boss was handsomely vindicated by the newcomer's first significant contribution. Stealing a yard on Chris Solly as he moved to meet Charlie Wyke's faintly deflected centre, Robinson firmly headed City's point-saver inside the right post. And there it was again - a delirious Jimmy Seed stand celebrating late salvation while the home tribunes looked on in sullen resentment. So is there a solution to the problem? Well, we could try kicking the other bloody way for a change. If it's broke, fix it!

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Konsa, Bauer, DaSilva (Lennon 90), Kashi, Marshall (Zyro 84), Forster-Caskey, Kaikai (Ajose 87), Fosu, Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Reeves, Aribo. Booked: Fosu, Solly, Forster-Caskey.

Referee: Nicholas Kinseley. Att: 10,650 (830 visiting).

Charlton 2 (Kashi 63, Magennis 78) Oxford United 3 (Henry 76, Kane 88, Ledson 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

It's no surprise that Charlton are not among those clubs who refer to their ground -often on the thinnest of evidence - as a fortress. If they did stoop to such posturing, the building codes bureaucrats would split their sides laughing.

They don't go in for any of that "This is Anfield" or "Run for your Lives, you're at Millwall" intimidation at The Valley. It's a cuddly, cosy place where visiting teams are encouraged to think they're in with a chance. So as mildly shocked Oxford United made off gleefully with all three points on Saturday, they departed to the cheery Cockney strains of "Call round any old time, make yourself at home, put your feet on the mantelshelf, open the cupboard and help yourself." Or less lyrically, the door's unlocked so spit on the floor and use the last of the milk because our casa is your casa. Thanks for coming, we'll clean up after you.

Charlton fans know the sickening drill all too well. They've grown wearily used to scenes of wild rejoicing in the Jimmy Seed stand as the travelling fans celebrate late equalisers or winners scored conveniently in front of them thanks to Charlton's set-in-stone, presumably pre-arranged habit of attacking the covered end in the second half. It might be time to switch that around because it's no secret that the worst disasters occur at the away end. When you're in a rut, it makes sense to step out of it.

This latest collapse almost defies description but we'll give it a shot. With two minutes of normal time remaining, the Addicks were still pouring forward in undisciplined search of a clinching goal to make it 3-1. Caught on the break as John Mousinho got behind them on the left, they were wrongfooted by the Oxford skipper's precise cutback and helpless to prevent United debutant Todd Kane from ramming a second equaliser past Ben Amos.

The announcement of five added minutes brought a roar of local anticipation but instead served as a clarion call for the buoyant visitors. A disorderly rabble by now, Charlton were rabbits mesmerised by headlights as Isaac Buckley-Ricketts eluded Jay DaSilva on the right and set up Ryan Ledson to crash home an increasingly inevitable winner inside the right hand post. In retrospect, the low shot directed by Buckley-Ricketts against the woodwork shortly before Kane scored, seems less like a lucky escape than an unheeded warning.

Nothing in an orderly, routine first half hinted at the mayhem in store. Charlton began brightly and had marginally the better of things, with Tarique Fosu's rasper stinging Simon Eastwood's hands and Mark Marshall directing a free header wastefully wide. For the visitors, Jon Obika, a pre-kick-off replacement for Wes Thomas, turned brilliantly to smash a looping volley harmlessly off the right-hand post. The near thing was Obika's last, meaningful contribution as he limped off later to make way for Malachi Napa. To be fair, Oxford coped manfully with the disruption.

A persistent, skilful thorn in United's side, Josh Magennis opened the second period by moving on to Fosu's pass and shooting ferociously on the run. Eastwood saved smartly, as did Amos from Napa's accurate low drive. But just past the hour mark, Karl Robinson's newly gung-ho side broke through. Fosu made the initial breach, through which Magennis and Ahmed Kashi poured. Magennis' effort was blocked but Kashi picked up the pieces, moved away from the goalmouth carnage and shot home off Eastwood's right hand.

The breakthrough brought with it the usual nervousness both on and off the field. Chronically uncertain when protecting a lead, the Addicks faltered and it was less than surprising when substitute James Henry fastened on to Napa's pass before, with cool detachment, driving precisely into the lower left corner.
It was then Oxford's turn to be rudely jolted when their hosts reclaimed the lead two minutes later. Caught dawdling near the left byline, Kane was neatly pickpocketed by Dasilva, who closed in and picked out Magennis' shrewdly timed charge into the six-yard area. From two yards, the Northern Irishman's sixth goal of the season was mere formality.

Making sense of this debacle is down to Robinson, who levelled charges of selfishness at his side and confessed he had drawn no positives from the miserable experience "We beat ourselves through our lack of discipline", he declared, "it became I want to score rather than we need to score."

The manager might need to justify the puzzling benching of in-form Joe Aribo and his reluctance to start an apparently fit Patrick Bauer at centre back. Ezri Konsa is a stylish but weak link in that position though it was Harry Lennon, the current "fans" scapegoat, who came in for the lion's share of badmouthing. While less than outstanding, Lennon won his fair share in the air and delivered a succession of raking passes on which Magennis fed. He was part of Charlton's total collapse, but far from the sole cause of it. If heads are to roll his might deserve to be spared. Meanwhile, Bauer must play at Doncaster. So must Aribo.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Konsa, Lennon, Dasilva, Kashi, Marshall (Zyro 70), Forster-Caskey, Mavididi (Kaikai 70), Fosu (Aribo 87), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Bauer, Reeves. Booked: Lennon.

Referee: Keith Stroud. Att: 11,747 (1,381 visiting).

Charlton 3 (Aribo 31, Kory Roberts 73 o.g, Mavididi 89) Walsall 1 (Oztumer 41).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Very few of a chilled crowd slightly north of 10,000 who braved the miserable elements to attend this unpromising fixture expected a footballing classic. No offence intended to either club but an encounter between Charlton and Walsall is rarely one to race the pulse or curdle the blood.

As so it turned out again on Saturday. This keenly disputed duel fell short of classical, with its catalogue of errors, missed chances and pratfalls. What it did provide though was a riproaring, roistering, old-fashioned thriller, crammed with near things and superb goals; a cracker, in other words, disputed by hell-for-leather sides without an ounce of malice between them. Pity there had to be a loser but that's how it goes. Walsall wouldn't want our crocodile tears.

The opening half hour, to be honest, didn't amount to much and the first mutterings of discontent were growing in volume by the time Joe Aribo adroitly fired the home side into the lead. For the Addicks, Josh Magennis had forced Liam Roberts into a smart, sprawling save, while Ahmed Kashi's fine diving clearance and follow-up block on George Dobson dealt with Walsall's best effort. Charlton's painstaking, slow-tempo progress from their own half was beginning to grate when the increasingly indispensable Aribo calmed a potentially mutinous Valley just past the half hour.

Trying his luck on the left flank, Mark Marshall stole a yard on marker Adam Chambers to make space for a soaring cross which eluded Magennis at the far post but was cushioned on the volley inside the right-hand post by Aribo. The addition of goals -this was his third of the season - completes the rapidly improving midfielder's cv and represents another triumph for the assembly line supervised by Steve Avery. Aribo was one of four academy graduates in the starting line-up on Saturday, with another four, among them late substitute Karlan Ahearne-Grant, warming the bench. If Charlton are imploding, as we're warned they are, they' ll be leaving a young, healthy footprint behind them.

Aribo's fine strike not only galvanised the Addicks but persuaded the Saddlers to throw off their defensive caution. Suddenly the joint was jumping.

Fine footwork by the on-fire Aribo set up Stephy Mavididi's brutal 25 -yard drive which all but splintered the crossbar but it was anything but one-way traffic, not while crafty, sawn-off playmaker Erhun Oztumer cleverly pulled the strings for the Blackcountrymen. His razor-sharp one-two with Tyler Roberts prised Charlton open but was let down by a sliced finish. Hard to discourage, the Greenwich-born former Addicks scholar equalised shortly before the break.

While struggling to contain the menace of 18 year-old WBA loanee Tyler Roberts, Chris Solly was sidetracked as left back Liam Leahy picked up Roberts' pass and dropped a precise cross on the penalty spot. Having timed his run perfectly, Oztumer had no need to jump as he neatly steered a header into the bottom right corner.

Two minutes into the second half, the visitors spurned a glittering opportunity to seize the initiative. After dispossessing a floundering Harry Lennon near the right touchline, Joe Edwards cut in and set up Amadou Bakayoko to finish from point-blank range. Appearing from seemingly nowhere, Ezri Konsa managed to block the certainty, with Bakayoko hammering the rebound against the bar. Despite remaining defiant, it was mainly downhill for the Saddlers following the glaring miss. Konsa, by the way, continues to work out his notice with professional commitment.

The final contribution of Ben Reeves, before he gave way to the rehabilitated Tarique Fosu, was a glorious through ball which sent Magennis through to shoot disappointingly against the advancing Liam Roberts. The arrival of an often unplayable Fosu, who joined Mavididi and consistently excellent Jay Dasilva in tormenting the Midlanders with their bewildering repertoire of adhesive touches, blistering pace and mesmerising close control, was the beginning of the end for the bewitched visitors. But a second goal was urgently required and Charlton left it uncomfortably late to find one.

Among the blizzard of chances they created, Fosu stung Liam Roberts' palms with a near post rasper before Mavididi overpowered Korey Roberts on the left byline but unwisely chose to shoot straight at the keeper from an impossible angle, with Aribo an imploring option to his right. With desperation growing, Magennis flicked Marshall's corner against a post before Walsall somehow survived a frantic goalmouth scramble, during which Korey Roberts cleared off the line from Aribo and Leahy repeated the feat to foil Lennon. The intense pressure eventually told on stubborn Walsall with nineteen minutes remaining.

Sent haring through by Dasilva's incisive pass, Mavididi kept his nose in front of Korey Roberts and was preparing to shoot on the run when the panicky defender's lunged to intervene but sent the ball rolling into his own goal.

There was still time for Marshall to spoon Fosu's precise cutback high over the bar before Mavididi removed the tension from five added minutes by soloing through again to seal the issue at close range. Attack, attack, attack, it's a novel way to defend but Karl Robinson's skill-saturated Charlton side should try it more often. Saves on chewed fingernails and shredded nerves.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Konsa, Lennon, Dasilva, Kashi, Marshall (Ahearne-Grant 87), Aribo, Reeves (Fosu 52), Mavididi (Jackson 90), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Forster-Caskey, Hanlan, Dijksteel.

Referee: Scott Oldham. Att: 10,140 (295 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Ahearne-Grant 7) Oxford United 1 (Thomas 54).

(Oxford won penalty shoot-out 3-0).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

A frustrated Karl Robinson had two important statistics at hand to explain Charlton's exit from the Checkatrade Trophy, in arctic weather tolerable by human beings but ominous for the welfare of brass monkeys.

"We had over 60% of possession and 23 shots to one from them. You're writing the same article every week. Charlton were the better team but didn't take their chances", the beleaguered manager complained.

There's more than a grain of truth in Robinson's lament but it hardly tells the full story. Charlton were superior in the first half on Tuesday evening, withdrew at half-time in front but re-emerged following the break a totally different side. As did the outplayed visitors who, no doubt, drew encouragement from knowing that their hosts rarely score more than once and find it impossible to seal the issue with a second goal. The word is out on Charlton. They give suckers an even break. So it's worth hanging in there against them.

This 3rd round tie opened along familiar lines. The Addicks tore from the traps and were spectacularly fired ahead after just seven minutes by Karlan Ahearne-Grant. Enthusiastically chasing down Ricardhino's wayward pass before it crossed the left touchline for a throw-in, he retraced his steps, cruised inside Canice Carroll, then gave Scott Shearer no chance with an unstoppable right-footed drive into the far corner. Ahearne-Grant's premature withdrawal, hopefully for precautionary reasons just past the half hour, summed up the wretched luck of both this mercurial player and his injury-haunted manager.

Comfortably on top, Charlton pottered about in familiar, unconvincing pursuit of a second, reassuring goal. Ahmed Kashi stung Shearer's hand from 30 yards but it was the holding midfielder whose carelessness in possession gave United their first sliver of hope. Pouncing on Kashi's error, Ryan Ledson broke through but was foiled by Ezri Konsa's brilliant saving tackle. The visitors were sporadically dangerous, with Wes Thomas' cross from the left eluding everyone on its way across the six-yard line. Dillon Phillips' low save from Jack Payne, meanwhile, confounded Robinson's assertion that the visitors had managed but a single shot. Their shooting accuracy, in fact, was to serve them well in decisive circumstances later on.

Two apparently different sides resumed after the interval and within nine minutes Oxford were level. Ledson's optimistic punt forward was disputed by Anfernee Dijksteel and a stumbling Thomas, who shook off the youngster before prodding an opportunistic equaliser past Phillips. As the momentum shifted, Jon Obika's shot was smartly saved by Phillips, with Johnnie Jackson hacking Malachi Napa's point blank follow-up off the goalline.

The dubious prize of a place in the 4th round of this unloved competition was now up for grabs, with Charlton huffing and Oxford puffing in quest of a winner. Stephy Mavididi came closest to sparing us Charlton's subsequent humiliation but his low effort squeezed inches wide.

By then, it had become inevitable that this tie would be resolved by penalties and equally predictable that the Addicks would finish on the short end. In the process, they added three more shots to Robinson's figure of 23, each of them a hapless nail in their Checkatrade coffin. Thanks to the new Abba system, three misses were all that were needed before the shambles was over. For  small mercies, may the Checkatrade Trophy make us truly grateful.

Charlton: Phillips, Dijksteel, Konsa, Dasilva, Kashi (Lapslie 60), Marshall, Aribo, Reeves, Jackson, Ahearne-Grant (Hackett-Fairchild 34), Magennis (Mavididi 64). Not used: Amos, Holmes, Lennon, Mascoll.

Oxford: Shearer, Williamson, Martin, Ledson, Thomas (Mehmeti 75), Payne, Obika, Ricardhinho (Tiendalli 46), Mowatt, Carroll, Van Kessel (Napa 57). Not used: Stevens, Henry, Fernandez, Raglan. Booked: Carroll.

Referee: Andy Haines. Att 1,146 (122 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Aribo 83) Gillingham 2 (Parker 11, Eaves 32).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Brash, brawny and brave, Gillingham delighted over 1,400 raucous followers by winning at The Valley for the first time in their unremarkable history.  Rank outsiders at 7-2 before they arrived, they made nonsense of the odds and proved that, in football, if you want it badly enough, the impossible becomes merely improbable. It's an axiom well known to the generations of Charlton fans who have suffered at Millwall's hands despite, on many occasions, having the better team. For Millwall, recently read upstarts Gillingham, who completed a league double with this bitterly earned victory.

Clearly more motivated than their sleepwalking hosts, the Kent side tore into them during the early going, moved 2-0 in front just past the half hour, then defended as though their very lives depended on it as the opening storm inevitably abated. The Addicks, on the other hand, put in their familiar Jekyll and Hyde performance. Mr. Hyde spread irreponsible chaos during a disastrous first half; Dr. Jekyll emerged after the break and tried desperately but vainly to repair the destruction wreaked by his alter ego.

Those opening 45 minutes rivalled the first half horror show at Southend on Boxing Day in their sheer incompetence. Showing an embarrassing lack of New Year resolution, Charlton resembled a hastily cobbled-together Sunday park side. Centre backs Naby Sarr and Harry Lennon seemed never to have met before, with Sarr, in particular, currently miscast as a central defender. Unreliable in the air despite his impressive physique, Sarr's inability to control Gillingham's find-of-the-season Tom Eaves became painful to watch. At Sarr's side, Lennon lurched from one positional crisis to the next as Eaves and his burly sidekick Josh Parker backed into them and did as they liked.

Still an unknown quantity, Eaves, whose goal beat Charlton at Gillingham in September, was a muscular, surprisingly mobile handful. He began badly by shooting straight at Ben Amos after playmaker Lee Martin's superbly lofted delivery left him with only the goalkeeper to beat but didn't allow the miss to dent his confidence. With just eleven minutes played, he outmuscled Sarr under an innocuous high ball, shook off the floundering defender on the turn and sprinted clear. His hard low ball across the six-yard line left Parker with the simple task of tapping home at the far post.

The first signs of muttered mutiny swelled into a resentful rumpus when the irreverent visitors doubled their advantage. Caught on the break while right back Luke O'Neill turned defence into attack with an aggressive burst into yawning space vacated by Jay Dasilva, the Addicks were ball watching onlookers as Eaves, at full stretch, studded the cross past Amos. Eaves' suspiciously offside position hardly excused either Lennon's fatal hesitation or a corporate failure to close ranks against danger.

An awkward effort, screwed wide by Ben Reeves from Ricky Holmes' right wing cross, was Charlton's only contribution to a nightmare first half. Their build-up was stodgy with three ponderous passes used when only two were necessary; movement was leaden, inspiration an absentee, recovery unlikely. The home side were shapeless putty in Gillingham's hands until the half-time replacements, of disappointing Reeves by eager beaver Joe Aribo and the injured Jake Forster-Caskey by physical threat Leon Best, changed the dynamic. The second half began encouragingly but almost immediately hit a roadblock.

It was ironic and typical of Karl Robinson's luck that Best, after a briefly promising eight-minute cameo, succumbed again to injury and was substituted by Karlan Ahearne-Grant - not that the latter, it should be said, let him down.

Aribo laid claim, meanwhile, to a starting role with an energetic, productive display, which introduced urgency and increased tempo. His clever one-two with Best set up his fellow substitute to test Tomas Holy's reflexes, an effort which launched a blizzard of chances during a non-stop siege of Holy's goal.

Holmes' volleyed cross was met by Josh Magennis, whose header scraped the bar; Ahearne-Grant skinned Bradley Garmston before whipping over a centre on the run, to which Mark Marshall failed by inches to apply a decisive touch; Garmston typified his side's courage by beating Magennis to Holmes' teasing delivery and crashing painfully against a post as he cleared it to safety; Ezri Konsa's close range shot from Marshall's cutback was brilliantly blocked by Holy, who again distinguished himself by charging down Magennis' point blank header, which firmly met Marshall's cross.

The battling visitors were out on their feet by the time Aribo reduced the arrears with seven minutes left. His subtle, glancing header re-directed Holmes' inswinging corner from the left neatly inside the far post. Almost immediately, the scorer came agonisingly close to equalising as he swivelled on a loose ball created by Magennis' goalmouth challenge but could only toe wide. Charlton's bolt was shot and six comfortably negotiated added minutes later, the field -and three priceless points - belonged to Gillingham and their crowing camp followers. It's become a familiar sight, not to mention a recurring theme at The Valley, where quiet resignation and deepening despair have become accepted as normal. And where disappointment goes with the territory.

Charlton: Amos, Konsa, Sarr, Lennon, Dasilva, Kashi, Holmes, Forster-Caskey (Aribo 46), Reeves (Best 46, Ahearne-Grant 53)), Marshall, Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Bauer, Dijksteel. Booked: Kashi, Forster-Caskey, Lennon.

Gillingham: Holy, O'Neill, Ehmer, Zakuani, Garmston (Ogilvie 73), Hessenthaler, Clarke, Martin (Oldaker 75), Byrne, Clare, Parker (Wilkinson 73). Not used: Nelson, Lacey, Cundle, Nash. Booked: O'Neill, Parker, Clare.

Referee: Oliver Langford. Att: 11,979 (1,424 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Aribo 15) Blackpool 1 (Gnanduillet 89).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

The number of vital points irresponsibly squandered by Charlton in the dying throes of eminently winnable games swelled by two as powderpuff Blackpool  bundled home an 89th minute equaliser. Armand Gnanduillet's goal came as no surprise to home fans accustomed to watching their heroes unconvincingly  defend an early lead until confronted by the finishing line, when panic sets in.

The Seasiders had clung to forlorn hope as their hosts predictably failed to add to Joe Aribo's excellent solo effort - his first serious goal for the club - and left themselves vulnerable to late disaster. Sure enough, Anfernee Dijksteel's foul on Gnanduillet conceded a free kick which was swung in from the left by Jimmy Ryan; Naby Sarr's clearing header was weak and Gnanduillet nodded in off teammate Clark Robertson.

Had the Addicks gone the distance, Karl Robinson would have been entitled to quiet pride in his injury-ravaged line-up which included only two survivors (Ben Amos and Jay Dasilva) of the side which faced Bristol Rovers on opening day. A frankly horrendous casualty list has torn the heart and soul from his squad and that these patched-up, papered-over remnants went so close to winning would usually earn respect. But close is no cigar and football is an unforgiving and unsentimental business. Near things don't count. Only winning matters.

A frustrated Robinson won't be consoled by knowing that if his side had converted even one of several gilt-edged first half chances, Gnanduillet's goal would have been no more than consolation for Blackpool. That's a well-worn theme. Aribo's marvellous opener should have been enough anyway.

Accepting Sarr's incisive pass on the turn, the hardworking midfielder took on the heart of the visitors' rearguard, picking off three defensive statues during a weaving solo run before shooting across keeper Ben Williams into the far bottom corner from 12 yards.

The litany of missed chances began with the awkwardly volleyed mess made by Josh Magennis of converting Mark Marshall's pinpoint cross. With only Williams to beat, the burly forward's shot cleared the bar on one bounce.

A persistent threat down Charlton's left flank, Dasilva then delivered a textbook-perfect centre, met solidly by Leon Best's diving header which seemed netbound until Williams, launching himself low to his right, saved brilliantly. Best could be considered unlucky on that occasion. He had no such excuse when sweeping a first time shot well wide after Magennis's turn of speed and clever pull-back from the left set him up near the penalty spot. Despite his faulty finishing, Best posed problems for the visitors before joining the walking wounded just past the hour with what might be a loan-ending injury.

Coping comfortably with Blackpool's aenemic threat up front, meanwhile, the Addicks were briefly ruffled when Gnanduillet's persistence troubled Exri Konsa and forced Ben Amos to scramble his close range effort to safety off a post. The Frenchman also shot narrowly wide to close the first half.

That elusive second goal continued to haunt Charlton after the break. Marshall fired off target after Magennis stole possession off Robertson. There was almost a dream league debut for George Lapslie, who exchanged sharp passes with Aribo, shot on the run but was alertly blocked by Andy Taylor. But the issue remained unsettled and the Seasiders sensed an unlikely chance. Dijksteel's disputed foul exposed Charlton's chronic vulnerability to free kicks, with 6'5" Sarr's ballooned header betraying his surprising unreliability in the air and Gnanduillet making the most of the gift.  Both Sarr and Konsa boast enviable skill on the ball; both need reminding, however, that centre backs, even deputies, have no business being eccentric or entertaining. Their chief function is to protect their goal at all costs and it's no sin to clear your lines when the situation calls for matter over mind. It might have paid off on several occasions during this dog's breakfast of a season -doing whatever it takes to climb out of this wretched division in other words.

Charlton: Amos, Dijksteel, Konsa, Sarr, Dasilva, Jackson, Marshall (Kashi 83), Reeves (Lapslie 74), Aribo, Best (Ahearne-Grant 62), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Dodoo, Lennon, Hackett-Fairchild.

Blackpool: Williams, Mellor, Robertson, Tilt, Taylor (Quigley 81), D'Almeida, Ryan, Philliskirk (Solomon-Otabor 62), Daniel, Gnanduillet, Cooke (Longstaffe 62). Not used: Allsop, Anderton, Delfouneso, Spearing.

Referee: John Busby

Att: 10,172 (209 visiting).

This report is dedicated to John Bates, a good friend whose funeral and typically lively wake at Downham Tavern we attended last Wednesday. John was a salty, world weary Charlton fan who, despite the disappointments that came with the territory, never denied his allegiance. He came off the estate, where he was widely known and respected and will be impossible to forget. Goodbye, John, the pleasure was always ours. Kevin and Hazel

Charlton 0 Portsmouth 1 (Magennis o.g.)

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

History blew a golden opportunity to repeat itself at a refrigerated Valley on Saturday. It reproduced almost everything from the past but fell down on one crucial detail. We'll clarify that later.

The FA had done its bit by arranging that Portsmouth would again provide the opposition to mark the silver jubilee of Charlton being frogmarched back to their venerable old ground by fans who wouldn't take no for an answer. As expected, the marvellously loyal South Coasters sold out the away end and spilled over into the east stand.

Karl Robinson's men marked the historic occasion by wearing replicas of the shirts worn by the heroes of December 1992, some of whom were on hand to surf the wave of nostalgia. A spirited all-drum band quickened the pulses, note-perfect tenor Martin Toal reprised "Nessun Dorma" and Charlton's academy kids formed a guard of honour to welcome the teams on to their field of dreams. Everything was in place to celebrate one of the most iconic dates in the Addicks' 112-year old history. Everything, that is, except Pompey who got the score right but not necessarily in the right order.

Clearly unwilling to follow the obvious script, as their 1992 predecessors obediently did, Kenny Jackett's all-Blues were well-organised, determined and unsentimental. Fancying their chances of overhauling the Addicks in the race for a play-off berth, they spoiled, kibitzed and wasted time shamelessly. Their tactics were vindicated by the ludicrous addition of three measly minutes to a second half during which the visitors scored early, then improvised some novel tricks to kill this game stone dead. Odd how often their pain threshhold was crossed. Or their bootlaces became untied.

Not that Charlton deserved more or Portsmouth less from this generally lifeless encounter.  Robinson's side, admittedly depleted by injuries, most significantly to key centre backs Jason Pearce and Patrick Bauer, were dire. Without a recognised goalscorer in their ranks, it's no surprise that they have failed to score in each of their five league defeats. Despite testing keeper Luke McGee with occasional individual efforts, they were largely toothless and ineffectual. There were to be none of the late heroics which papered over cracks recently against Peterborough, although substitute Leon Best's subtle header from Chris Solly's cross briefly promised an equaliser until McGee's scrambling save at the foot of his right-hand post quashed their last hope.

Carried along by the pre-kickoff emotion, the Addicks actually opened brightly with bright spark Jay Dasilva prominent in their early attacks. The left back's cleverly chipped cross to the far post caused consternation but continued uninterrupted to safety, then his exchange of passes with Ricky Holmes set up the winger's quickly taken drive, which McGee touched over the bar. Shortly before the interval, Dasilva's left-footed curler again extended McGee but that was as dangerous as the home side were to get until Best's 90th minute effort came close to rescuing them again.

At the other end, Pompey were hardly more menacing. Ben Amos was required to match McGee's athleticism to keep out Gareth Evans' dipping drive, while Solly's fine block on Conor Chaplin's close range shot and Amos' alert reaction to Stuart O'Keefe's follow-up kept Charlton level until the interval. Two minutes after the break, however, they fell behind to a goal which loomed even that early as a matchwinner.

Taking a duel for possession with Jamal Lowe one step too far, Dasilva was ruled to have fouled the livewire midfielder. In ideal range for setpiece specialist Edwards, the 40-yard free kick was clipped over a forest of heads and turned inadvertently into his own net, under pressure from O'Keefe, by the straining Josh Magennis.

Portsmouth had found what they were looking for, a single goal which they committed themselves to defending doggedly and decisively. Midway through the second period, they were handed the chance to double their advantage when Solly inexplicably manhandled Brett Pitman inside the penalty area. Prolific scorer Pitman was the obvious choice to take the spotkick but was foiled by Amos' brilliant anticipation and full length save to his left.

With 20 minutes remaining, Amos' heroism might, under normal circumstances, have galvanised his side into unlikely recovery. And they tried, it's important to acknowledge that they tried. But their efforts were laboured, unimaginative and ultimately fruitless. Entirely predictable, as well.

Revenge, they say, is a dish best served cold. Pompey had been waiting for 25 years to taste it. On this chilly December afternoon, the score was effectively settled. Nothing to be seen here...we'll move on.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Konsa, Sarr, Dasilva, Aribo (Reeves 87), Forster-Caskey, Marshall (Best 82), Clarke (Ahearne-Grant 75), Holmes, Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Pearce, Lennon. Booked: Holmes.

Portsmouth: McGee, Thompson, Clarke, Burgess, Haunstrup, O'Keefe, Rose, Lowe, Chaplin (Bennett 46), Evans, Pitman. Not used: Bass, Kennedy, Main, Talbot, May, Casey. Booked: Thompson, Evans.

Referee: Andrew Madley. Att: 16,361 (3,870 visiting).

Wimbledon 3 (McDonald 10, Taylor70, 79), Charlton 1 (Ahearne-Grant 21).

Kevin Nolan reports from Kingston.

Karl Robinson was probably not the only one who winced when this second round Cup draw was announced. It wasn't exactly the tie from hell but it came close.

Robinson's long stint as manager of MK Dons has dragged Charlton unwillingly into the ongoing dispute between the original Dons of Wimbledon and those ersatz claim jumpers from Milton Keynes. It's become a classic ménage à trois in which the Addicks play the reluctant role of the "other club". And that always ends in tears.

With injuries beginning to bite into his squad, Robinson brought his survivors, his walking wounded but only six substitutes into the bearpit awaiting them in Kingston, where their hosts clearly fancied their chances.

Neal Ardley had targeted obvious weaknesses at the heart of the visiting defence, where Ezri Konsa and Naby Sarr are prone to error and self indulgent in possession. A steady diet of long balls, including those regularly launched by goalkeeper George Long, tested their resolve and exposed as defensive Russian Roulette their dedication to playing out from the back in favour of a more pragmatic policy. Konsa and Sarr are cultured ballplayers, admirable in their way, but not fully tuned in to what should be the pressing priorities of centre backs. It took Wimbledon just ten minutes to exploit their vulnerability.

Surging out of his own half, impressive Deji Oshilaja carried the fight into Charlton's penalty area, where he was confronted by an advancing Ben Amos and harassed by a retreating Konsa. The latter had an opportunity to clear the danger but hesitated; Amos was suitably nonplussed. Extricating the ball from an inelegant mix-up, Cody McDonald planted the gift into a gaping goal.

A minute after the disaster, Sarr's curious vulnerability in the air almost cost his side a second setback. At 6'5", he should be expected to dominate the relatively diminutive Lyle Taylor but lost out to the Dons' lively forward as they duelled under an innocuous high ball. Moving goalside of his floundering rival, Taylor drove into the sidenet from an awkward angle.

Robinson's mounting injuries have visited the centre back dilemma on him but have at least opened up possibilities elsewhere. He was well served at right back by promising Anfernee Diijksteel who, apart from conceding a dubious late penalty, was a tenacious, combative revelation.

Up front, meanwhile, Karlan Ahearne-Grant was pacy and mobile until a nasty looking mouth wound forced his premature, second half withdrawal. Having ended his goal drought with that dramatic added time equaliser against Peterborough, he made it two from two with another poacher's contribution on 21 minutes. Picking up possession as Josh Magennis flicked on Amos' long clearance, he fed Mark Marshall to his right before intelligently moving into position to turn the winger's hard, low cross past George Long from close range. It was precisely the kind of finishing that has been missing from the Addicks' armoury this season.

Left helpless by Ahearne-Grant's finish, Long distinguished himself early in the second session with fine saves from Magennis and Marshall. As the visitors piled on the pressure, the defiant keeper reacted brilliantly to fingertip Jay Dasilva's deflected drive on to the bar, with Magennis making a five-yard mess of firing the convenient rebound over the bar. Charlton had shot their bolt and it came as no surprise that the Dons removed any need of an unhelpful replay.

Accepting Barry Fuller's throw-in, Macdonald evaded Sarr's clumsy attempts to haul him back on the right touchline and, as referee Linington alertly applied advantage, shook off the huge centre back like a dog shaking off water. The striker's unselfish delivery left Taylor with the simple task of shooting past Amos and Charlton's Cup run, such as it ever is, was over bar, of course the local shouting when Dijksteel was harshly ruled to have tripped Taylor on the edge of the penalty area. The victim competently sealed the issue from the penalty spot. Not that it was ever much of an issue in the first place.

Wimbledon: Long, Fuller, Oshilaja, Charles, Meades, Barcham (Kennedy 88), Trotter, Soares, Forrester (Francomb 75), McDonald (Abdou 82), Taylor. Not used: McDonnell, Nightingale, Robinson, Kaja.

Charlton: Amos, Dijksteel, Konsa, Sarr, Dasilva, Holmes, Aribo (Lennon 88), Forster-Caskey, Marshall (Hackett-Fairchild 85), Ahearne-Grant (Best 67), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Dodoo, Jackson. (Only six subs were named).

Referee: J. Linington. Att: 3,220 (723 visiting).

Charlton 2 (Forster-Caskey 35,61) Rochdale 1 (Gillam 13).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

It was scruffy. It was ugly at times. And it was undeniably blessed with one enormous stroke of luck. But this untidy game, littered with fouls committed by their unscrupulous visitors, provided the victory so urgently required by Charlton after the bitter disappointment they suffered three days previously. They will look back on this result, though not their untidy performance, with satisfaction.

Let's deal with the stroke of luck first. Nervous and disjointed, the Addicks were already trailing to full debutant Matthew Gillam's first goal for the Lancastrians when Calvin Andrew outmuscled Ezri Konsa under a high ball and flicked on for Matthew Done, isolated in a mismatch with Jay Dasilva. Shaking off the diminutive left back, Done made space for a low drive which beat Ben Amos, hit the inside of the left upright and made its way along the goalline, seeming certain to end up in the net until it improbably veered to safety. Victims themselves of a similarly bad break against MK Dons, Charlton were hardly likely to feel guilt for their good fortune. The thing was to make good use of it and, after much huffing and not a little puffing, that's exactly what they did.

Had Done's effort found the net, Charlton might have found their task beyond them. Their brittle defending was exposed as early as the 13th minute when young Gillam fired Dale into the lead. The combined efforts of Ben Reeves and Chris Solly were unable to prevent left back Joseph Bunney, sent away by Harrison McGahey's pass, from crossing low into the box. Moving intelligently to the near post, Gillam flicked a clever shot across Ben Amos, whose straining fingertips succeeded only in diverting the ball into the far corner.

Having operated on the right flank so far this season, Andrew had been switched to the middle by wily old codger Keith Hill in a bid to unsettle Konsa and Naby Sarr, Charlton's novice centre backs. Backing in artfully, while using methods both fair and foul to bother his youthful adversaries, Dale's experienced No. 9 was a a prickly handful. He should have scored when picked out by Donervon Daniels' inswinging corner but headed wastefully over the bar. Having drawn the short straw of marking him, Konsa stuck gamely to his job and, to his credit, gradually solved the problem. It was an education for the aspiring youngster.

The visitors, meanwhile, continued their policy of committing regular, niggling offences to break up the game. Which made their indignation when Oliver Rathbone was booked for clearly tripping Reeves just a little absurd. They paid for their cynicism as Ricky Holmes' short free kick freed Dasilva to centre from the left. Sarr's inadvertent touch helped the alert Jake Forster-Caskey to slot the equaliser past Joshua Lillis from four yards.

Relieved and slightly lucky to reach half-time on even terms, Charlton resumed in more determined mood. Five minutes after resumption, Ahmed Kashi's whiplash drive cannoned off the right-hand post at such pace that Holmes proved unable to control the rebound. The Addicks were poised to take over but were instead indebted to Amos for a pair of truly outstanding saves which kept Dale at bay.

Struggling to cope with Andrews' physicality, Dasilva's despairing foul on the bustling forward conceded a free kick which Callum Camps tapped to Daniels on the left. The midfielder's deep cross was met by Ian Henderson's head and, at point blank range, seemed destined for the net until Amos reacted instinctively to waft it over the bar. If his first save was unbelievable, then the pretzel-shaped contortions which the brilliant keeper produced to keep out substitute Bradden Inman's equally close range effort matched it. He's a polished diamond but could use a little help with his kicking.

By the time Amos performed his second miracle, Karl Robinson's men were in front, thanks to a second flash of opportunism from Forster-Caskey. Pouncing on the loose ball after Lillis had spilled Mark Marshall's crisp but scarcely lethal drive, the attacking midfielder swivelled and shovelled the winner past the stricken keeper.

Undignified and at times downright embarrassing in hanging on so grimly against such modest opposition, the Addicks might have been spared their inevitable nerves had Karlan Ahearne-Grant sandwiched an overdue goal between Amos' heroics. Rising to meet Josh Magennis' cross with the entire net at his mercy, the substitute headed lamely into Lillis' hands. His second half stint in relief of hamstring-tweaking Reeves had been hugely encouraging but, as Karl Robinson remarked, Ahearne-Grant really needs to score. As the Addicks begin to feel the strain and injuries multiply, further chances will come. He may yet turn out to be Charlton's ace-in-the-hole.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Konsa, Sarr, Dasilva (Bauer 83), Kashi, Holmes, Forster-Caskey, Reeves (Ahearne-Grant 46), Marshall (Aribo 90), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Dodoo, Hackett-Fairchild.

Rochdale: Lillis, McNulty, McGahey, Camps (Cannon 69), Rathbone, Done (Inman 74), Daniels, Gillam (Davies 54), Bunney, Henderson, Andrew. Not used: Moore, Ntlhe, Kitching. Booked: Andrew, Rathbone, Henderson.

Referee: Charles Breakspear.  Att: 8,801 (146 visiting).