'There is a growing sense of crisis at Charlton'

Coventry City condemned Charlton Athletic to a fourth straight Championship defeat, running out 3-1 winners in a result that only deepens the Addicks' growing sense of crisis.

A month removed from play-off dreams, Nathan Jones' side now find themselves glancing nervously over their shoulders at the drop zone.

There was cautious hope pre-match with news of Jerome Roussillon's arrival, the experienced Guadeloupe international adding much-needed depth on the left.

The return of Amari'i Bell gave Charlton a rare sense of balance at the back and, buoyed by a sold-out away end, the Addicks started on the front foot.

Their pressing was precise, the intensity refreshing, and Harvey Knibbs made the early pressure count with a poacher's finish to put the visitors ahead.

Yet the optimism faded all too quickly. Bell's injury on the half-hour was a hammer blow, forcing Jones into a reshuffle that destabilised Charlton's makeshift backline.

Coventry seized their chance mercilessly, scoring twice in rapid succession before the break to flip the contest. Familiar defensive lapses and a lack of composure again cost the Addicks dear.

As the half-time whistle blew, the away end's boisterous mood had transformed into rueful unease.

Charlton rallied briefly after the interval, with flashes of resilience evident and Sonny Carey spurning a chance.

However, a third goal from Coventry made the points safe for the hosts, and the closing stages had the grim feel of a training drill.

As results elsewhere filtered through, the Charlton contingent began to contemplate an unwelcome relegation battle that is no longer just the stuff of nightmares.

This defeat, played on the first anniversary of revered Charlton reporter Kevin Nolan's passing, had an added poignancy.

Nolan chronicled the club's triumphs and traumas for nearly 40 years in the Mercury and beyond, often capturing the hopes and heartbreaks of afternoons just like this one - with honesty, wit, and a fan's unwavering eye for the truth.

On days such as these, his words and wisdom are missed more than ever.