Charlton dropped to ninth in League One after losing 3-1 to Southend on Boxing Day.

The Addicks conceded two goals in the opening 11 minutes after diabolical defending.

Here are five things we learned…

Injuries are costing the Addicks

It’s been plaguing the team throughout the season and it’s having a massive effect on results.

Ricky Holmes and Ahmed Kashi returned to the starting line-up yesterday, while Leon Best and Mark Marshall missed out with hamstring problems.

One player recovers from injury, another is ruled out… two players recover from injury, two are ruled out. It’s been like this since August.

It’s now six league games without a win for a depleted Charlton squad which travels to league leaders Wigan on Friday.

Ahmed Kashi can’t be rushed back

Kashi started his first game in nearly a month, but the midfielder was hooked off at half-time for tactical reasons.

The Algeria international was dispossessed too many times and his distribution was poor. He struggled with the pace of the game and Karl Robinson even said he looked off it.

And given his history of foot problems, Kashi has to be eased back into the team… even with the current injury crisis. Losing him again, for any period of time, would be a huge blow.

Harry Lennon looks sharp

Lennon replaced Kashi to make his first league appearance in 14 months.

And he was one of the Addicks’ best players against Southend.

Lennon won his headers, tackles and brought some leadership to a Charlton defence which was all over the place in the first-half.

Naby Sarr or Ezri Konsa could be rested at the DW Stadium, and Lennon would be a reliable replacement.

Play-offs must be the only focus

Robinson and players are not ruling out a top-two finish, but realistically, it’s going to be very tough now.

The Addicks are 12 points behind second-placed Shrewsbury at the half-way point of the season. With the amount of injuries to first-team players, Charlton do not seem strong enough to close the gap at the moment.

So the short-term aim must be to get back into the top six.

Six substitutes is quite telling

Robinson named six players on the bench with Rangers loanee Joe Dodoo the only senior attacking option.

Academy duo George Lapslie and Reeco Hackett-Fairchild joined Johnnie Jackson and Lennon.

It reminded everyone how short Charlton are, and they need to strengthen in January.