Despite getting off to the best possible start, the Addicks endured another frustrating evening at The Valley, as rock bottom Bolton clawed back a two goal deficit to take a point.
With results elsewhere going against them, and a trip to Burnley coming up on Saturday, Christmas cheer looks like being in short supply in SE7.
Karel Fraeye named an unchanged team from Saturday, but Zakaraya Bergdich replaced Regan Charles-Cook on the bench.
The Charlton players wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Steve Adams, who was tragically killed in a car accident at the weekend. Steve coached both the Under-11s and Under-12s during his time at The Valley.
The game got off to a sensational start, when Ademola Lookman scored one of the quickest goals ever seen at The Valley.
Played in by Ricardo Vaz Te, Lookman slotted the ball through Ben Amos’s legs, to open the scoring after just 26 seconds.
After 26 minutes, the youngster doubled the Addicks’ advantage. A clever back heel by Reza Ghoochannejhad sent Vaz Te clear. The striker’s pull back eventually found its way to Lookman, who kept his composure to slot home.
If the home fans thought they were going to witness a comfortable win, they were quickly brought down to earth.
Just past the half-hour mark, Charlton’s defensive frailties came back to haunt them. A right wing cross was played behind a static back line, leaving Emile Heskey with the simple job of jabbing the ball past Stephen Henderson from close range.
Three minutes before the interval, the Trotters restored parity. Josh Vela’s speculative 30-yarder took a deflection and beat Henderson.
Fraeye was serenaded with chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing’ when he replaced teenage prodigy, Lookman, with Simon Makienok after an hour.
Harry Lennon hit the bar from a corner after 76 minutes, and Vaz Te went desperately close with a scissor kick, but the evening ended in frustration for the Addicks.
Charlton: Henderson; Solly, Bauer, Lennon, Holmes-Dennis; Cousins, Jackson (Ahearne-Grant 80); Gudmundsson (Ba 70), Ghoochannejhad, Lookman (Makienok 60); Vaz Te.
Subs (not used): Pope, Sarr, Bergdich, Fox.
Goals: Lookman 1, 26.
Booked: Lennon 36 (foul), Ghoochannejhad 45 (foul), Ba 90 (foul).
Bolton: Amos; Holding, Gouano, Wheater, Moxey; Feeney, Spearing, Vela (Danns 76), Davies; Heskey (Madine 66), Clough (Dobbie 90).
Subs (not used): Rachubka, Casado, Twardzik, Walker.
Goals: Heskey 32, Vela 42.
Booked: Spearing 70 (foul).
Attn: 12,294 (415 Bolton).
Referee: Graham Horwood (Bedfordshire).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic