A profligate Reds were punished at The Valley this afternoon, losing 2-0 in Sky Bet League One.

The New Year barren run continues for Michael Duff's men as a combination of missed chances and poor defending consigned them to a third consecutive defeat to nil.

A first half Tyreece Campbell strike against the run of play and a second half Jes Rak-Sakyi tap-in helped Charlton Athletic to a third straight league victory.

It was the Reds who had dominated the vast majority of the opening 45, but as has been the case before this season, the goals to show for such supremacy were once again, sadly lacking.

With just two minutes on the clock, Adam Phillips tried his luck from range after a neatly-worked free-kick. But the midfielder's venomous strike was blasted a yard wide from 30 yards.

Continuing to press their hosts high up the field, Barnsley forced a succession of corners with the final delivery proving pinpoint but the unmarked Liam Kitching headed well wide unmarked, six yards from goal.

Next to test the home side was Jordan Williams who had worked an intricate one-two with the recalled Jack Aitchison around the box and the defender's strike had to be palmed over his crossbar by Addicks goalkeeper, Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

The London club had their first opportunity of the game when George Dobson played a nothing ball towards the far post which somehow wasn't dealt with allowing Jes Rak-Sakyi to bring the ball down but Brad Collins raced to block the eventual shot on goal. 

A sumptuous Luca Connell volley stung the hands of Maynard-Brewer as the Reds looked to break the deadlock, before the hosts took the lead against the run of play.

Barnsley coughed up possession in midfield allowing Tyreece Campbell to skip towards goal and fire low to Collins' right, beating the Reds' stopper at his near post. 

Again, the Reds kept coming, looking to respond in a game they should never have fallen behind in, and Josh Benson cracked an effort against the woodwork before once more submitting to injury, replaced by Ziyad Larkeche on 38 minutes.

The first period ended with another Barnsley effort, when substitute Larkeche found Nicky Cadden with a far post cross, but the Scotsman's header came back off the bar to see us into the interval a goal down.

HALF-TIME: Charlton 1-0 Barnsley

Duff's side came out for the second half again on top, looking to find the equaliser their performance merited. An early free-kick was swung in perfectly by Connell, but Kitching failed to get the requisite connection inside the six yard box. 

Devante Cole landed on a loose ball soon afterwards, just outside the Addicks' penalty area, but the striker's powerful effort flew inches over the bar. 

The size of the task increased on the hour-mark when after again giving up possession in the opponent's half, a switch of play saw Charlton in down the right flank. An initial cross wasn't dealt with and when Macauley Bonne's strike came back off the foot of the post, it fell invitingly for Rak-Sakyi - who looked offside - to side-foot into the gaping net for 2-0.

Duff threw on three subs in an attempt to shake things up, including debutant Max Watters up front. But the hosts were the only ones creating chances by now and Ryan Inniss - twice - should have added a third Addicks goal. 

There was nothing pretty about Barnsley at this point, with every man and his dog camped in the home side's half but whenever a shooting chance presented itself, each strike was either high, wide or not at all handsome. 

All of Connell, Watters and Cadden saw efforts fly into the stand occupied by over a thousand Reds supporters who watched their side fall to defeat on a frustrating afternoon in the nation's capital. 

FULL-TIME: Charlton 2-0 Barnsley

Collins, Williams, Kitching, Andersen (c), Cadden, Kane (Martin), Benson (Larkeche), Aitchison (Watters), Phillips, Cole (Norwood), Connell (Wolfe).

Unused: Walton, B Thomas.