Kanu and Anderson score first senior goals but Addicks coach left ruing first-half defensive display

Scott Marshall felt Charlton Athletic were unlucky not to at least take last night’s EFL Trophy tie to penalties.

The Addicks fielded a youthful side in Devon and lost 3-2 to Plymouth Argyle to exit the competition.

Striker Daniel Kanu scored his first senior goal for the club to give them an eighth-minute lead. But shaky defending in the opening 45 minutes proved costly as Sam Cosgrove and Niall Enniss quickly turned the tie around.

Caleb Roberts made it 3-1 almost instantly after the restart after dispossessing Aaron Henry on the edge of the box.

Karoy Anderson, another Addicks prospect, came off the bench to mark his debut with a goal in the second minute of stoppage time.

Nathan Asiimwe made his debut at left-back with the backline comprising all academy graduates – Deji Elerewe, Zach Mitchell and Richard Chin in front of goalkeeper Nathan Harness

Charlton first-team assistant coach Marshall said: “The lads are disappointed, but I’ve just said to them that we’ve done extremely well in large parts of the game. Disappointed with the goals that we lost. You give away three goals and it is always going to be a challenge.

“But throughout the 90 minutes, if we get that second goal a little bit earlier in the game then we probably get a third. There were so many good performances and a good number of our U18 players on the pitch at the end there – which was fantastic to see.

“We more than matched Plymouth. It was a little bit open in the first half and there were chances at both ends which didn’t need a whole lot of good play. Second half there was a lot more control and probably the senior lads helped out some of the young ones, took some positions on the pitch and understood the game – what was happening. We had a strong base to go and attack from. We created some really good moments.

“Anybody who gets their first senior goal, it’s a big moment for Daniel. Karoy has come on and scored as well. These are pleasing moments and they will never forget their time down at Plymouth, playing on a Tuesday night. It will always be tinged with a little bit of frustration that we’ve not won the game. We want to win games, of course we do, but a number of the lads have done themselves no harm and shown good progress in their careers – a good first step in senior football.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD