Charlton’s winless run stretched to three games after a disappointing home draw with League One strugglers Bury on Saturday.
Jermaine Beckford gave the visitors an early lead with a sublime curling effort before Josh Magennis headed in the Addicks’ equaliser in the 39th minute.
Charlton pushed for a winner in the second-half but Jake Forster-Caskey and Magennis were denied by Bury goalkeeper Joe Murphy’s heroics.
Here are five things we learned…
Charlton need Ben Reeves and Marshall fit
In his post-match press conference, Robinson was unhappy with the lack of firepower on his bench. Joe Dodoo was his only senior attacking option.
It highlighted the need for offensive midfielders Reeves and Marshall to regain full fitness sooner rather than later. They are experienced League One pros who would give the Addicks’ frontline some much-needed depth.
Magennis will easily beat last season’s goal tally
He’s scored four goals in seven league games and is terrorising defenders. A lot was said about Charlton’s need to bring in a prolific striker over the summer, however, Robinson has put his faith in Magennis, and the big striker is delivering for the Valley boss.
He was unlucky not to net an injury-time winner when his powerful header was parried by Murphy.
Magennis notched 10 goals for the Addicks in the 2016/17 campaign, and looks set to surpass that total this year. The service behind him is notably better than it was in his debut season in SE7.
The winless run goes on - but there is no need to panic
Defeats to Wigan and Gillingham were followed up with a draw to a very poor Bury side, and it has seen Charlton drop out of the top six.
But the Addicks are only four points behind second-placed Peterborough and seven behind leaders Shrewsbury, whose blistering start to the new season is likely to end soon.
And as mentioned above, Charlton still have Reeves and Marshall to return, and also Ricky Holmes, who served his one-match suspension against Bury.
Recent results haven't been great, but Robinson’s men are still in the promotion picture.
Ahmed Kashi needs a rest
Serious achilles problems have affected Kashi’s Charlton career. He has barely featured for the club since joining in 2015.
However, the defensive midfielder has started every league game this season and has played three times in a week. That is a massive feat for a player who has been on the sidelines for such a long time.
But to prevent another long-term injury or burnout, Robinson should rest him for the midweek trip to Walsall, and bring in Ezri Konsa to play alongside Forster-Caskey.
There is more to come from Karlan Ahearne-Grant
The 20-year-old only started against Bury because of Ricky Holmes’ suspension - everyone knows that.
And operating on the right wing, and then the left a little bit later, the Charlton academy graduate failed to impress and was hooked off just after the hour mark.
It was a performance where Ahearne-Grant was so eager to make an impact that he tried to do too much. He did show glimpses of potential, but he needs to start performing if he wants to be an ever-present at the Valley. And that is not inconceivable with an attack-minded manager in Robinson.
Don’t write off Ahearne-Grant just yet.
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