Charlton were on the receiving end of battering from Peterborough as they fell to a 4-1 defeat at the ABAX Stadium on Saturday.
Goals from Andrew Hughes, Marcus Maddison and a late brace from Jack Marriott were enough to ensure victory for the home side producing a winning debut for new Peterborough manager Steve Evans.
Karl Robinson had made three changes to his starting line-up going into the game, with Johnnie Jackson, Naby Sarr and Tariqe Fosu coming into the side to replace Ahmed Kashi, Jay DaSilva and Mark Marshall respectively.
It was the hosts who began the better of the two sides as a Jack Baldwin header towards goal narrowly missed the goal, after connecting well to Maddison’s freekick.
The visitors responded well with an attack of their own in the ninth minute when Josh Magennis produced a powerful effort on goal, cutting in from a left-wing, but the shot was saved by Peterborough keeper Jonathan Bond.
After a good spell in possession for the Addicks, Omar Bogle led a counter attack for the home side, finding space to shoot, only to hit the post, very nearly making it 1-0.
Breakthrough
As half time approached, it was Peterborough who struck first, a tap in for Hughes, as Joe Ward found his teammate with a fantastic cross into the box, making it 1-0 in the 44th minute.
Trailing at the interval, Charlton started the second half well and looked threatening in the final third which included a hopeful effort on goal from outside the box for Addicks attacking midfielder Fosu.
The visitors were handed a lifeline in the 54th minute when they were awarded a penalty, after the referee called a foul when forward Magennis was pushed in the back by Baldwin inside the box. The Irishman then took the penalty, only to fire wide, much to Robinson’s dismay.
Charlton’s wasted chances were then punished, as minutes later a penalty was awarded the other way, Sarr the guilty party this time. Maddison then stepped up to make it 2-0 in the 59th minute after converting a left footed shot into the centre of the goal.
Late Comeback?
A second half that proved to be very open, and with just under 20 minutes to go, the visitors pulled one back through second half substitute Michal Zyro as he headed home fellow substitute Ben Reeve’s cross from 10 yards out, making it 2-1 in the 73rd minute with still plenty to play for.
Just when it looked like Charlton had got themselves back in it, the home side made it 3-1 in the 81st minute, when Marriott’s shot beat Ben Amos from the left side of the six-yard box.
Game Over
Minutes later, Marriott completed his brace, with a tap-in at the back post following a long ball from Jermaine Anderson.
A result that means Charlton move down to 8th place, overtaken by their conquerors, Peterborough United. The defeat means the Addicks are now three points off the final play-off spot.