Charlton were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Championship leaders Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. They are 11 points behind the leaders after this latest defeat.
Sebastian Berhalter opened the scoring for the hosts in the 12th minute, finishing off a move assisted by Amario Cozier-Duberry. Will Lankshear doubled the advantage just before half-time, converting a through ball from Berhalter. Lankshear then sealed the win with a left-footed strike in the 82nd minute, taking his league tally to 13 goals in as many appearances. Middlesbrough, unbeaten in ten league matches, were rarely troubled.
Key moments
Charlton's afternoon was difficult from the start. Tyler Bindon picked up an early yellow card in the ninth minute. Kayne Ramsay was forced off at half-time following a heavy challenge from Riley McGree, who was also booked. The visitors managed only sporadic chances, with a Miles Leaburn header from a throw-in missing the target and a Joe Rankin-Costello effort saved. Manager Nathan Jones made 11 substitutions during the match, including introducing Karlan Grant for Leaburn in the 66th minute, as he searched for a response that never came.
Where it leaves Charlton
The heavy defeat leaves Charlton in 19th place, just one point above the relegation zone. Their recent form shows three consecutive defeats, having also lost to Norwich and Watford. Their last five matches have yielded zero wins, two draws and three losses, with the sequence of results being a 3-0 loss to Middlesbrough on Saturday 31 October, a 1-3 home defeat to Norwich on Saturday 24 October, a 2-0 loss at Watford on Saturday 17 October, a 2-2 draw at Burnley on Tuesday 13 October, and a 1-1 home draw with Bristol City on Saturday 10 October. The team has scored 11 goals this season while conceding 18. Top scorer T. Campbell, with four goals this season in 12 appearances, was unable to make an impact against a dominant Boro defence. Attention now turns immediately to a key home match against Bolton at The Valley on Tuesday night. That fixture, against the 18th-placed side, takes place on Tuesday 3 November. It represents a direct opportunity to climb out of the bottom three and halt the current slide.
Manager Nathan Jones confirmed Charlton failed to register a single shot on target at the Riverside. The club's league standing is now 19th in the Championship, with 14 points from 12 games. Jones said, "We didn't lay a glove on them." The defeat extends their recent run to three consecutive losses.
