Charlton 1 Crawley Town 2
After two wins to finish last week the Addicks suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Crawley Town at The Valley.
While neither side created much, it was the visitors who were slightly more clinical in front of goal to take home three points.
Daniel Kanu gave the Charlton faithful when he netted a leveller 22 minutes from time, in his first gametime since returning from injury but it was Max Anderson’s late strike that proved crucial.
Nathan Jones made two changes from the team that beat Walsall at the weekend with Allan Campbell and Miles Leaburn replacing Karoy Anderson and the suspended Luke Berry. With the changes, the Addicks remained in a 4-diamond-2 formation with Matty Godden playing just behind Leaburn and Saturday’s two-goal hero Gassan Ahadme.
Godden dragged wide early on and then Leaburn’s shot from Ahadme’s knock down was comfortable for former Addick, Jojo Wollacott.
Crawley, had more of the possession in the first half but took the lead with their only shot of the period. Will Swan found Tola Showunmi, cutting in from the left, who curled a wonderful right-footed strike across goal and into the top corner from outside of the penalty area.
Minutes after the visitors’ 33rd minute-opener, a cleared corner fell to Allan Campbell, whose volley went just wide of goal.
The Addicks best chance of the half came from a glorious Josh Edwards cross from the left but Alex Mitchell wasn’t able to find the target with his glancing header from just inside the six-yard box.
Thierry Small replaced Leaburn at half time and the Addicks also changed shape moving to a 3-5-2 formation.
Crawley forced an early second-half double save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer who did well to keep out Ronan Darcy and then former Addick Panutche Camara.
Further substitutes followed and it was Kanu, who levelled the scoring seven minutes after arriving on the pitch. A long ball forward was met by the head of Ahadme, whose cushioned header bounced in the box and was delicately finished by Kanu, calmly looping over the onrushing Wollacott.
Crawley restored their lead in the 80th minute when Maynard-Brewer could only parry Rushain Hepburn-Murphy’s shot and it was Anderson who reacted quickest to find the net.
Next up for the Addicks is a trip to Lincoln City, who sit four points and three places above Nathan Jones’ side.
Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; Edmonds-Green (T.Campbell 62), A.Mitchell, Gillesphey (Jones 86), Edwards; Taylor, Coventry (Kanu 61), A.Campbell, Godden (c) (Laqeretabua 82); Leaburn (Small 46), Ahadme
Subs (not used): Reid, Edun
Goal: Kanu 68
Assist: Ahadme 68
Crawley Town: Wollacott, Barker, Anderson, Swan (Hepburn-Murphy 82), Darcy (c) (John-Jolus 74), Camara (Roles 82), Tanimu (Forster 73), Kelly, Mukena, Adeyemo, Showunmi (Ibrahim 69)
Subs (not used): Beach, Holohan
Goal: Showumni 33, Anderson 80
Assist: Swan 33
Booked: Mukena 58 (foul on Ahadme)
Referee: Jacob Miles
Attendance: 11,427 (700 from Crawley)