Fulham 2 Charlton 1

CHARLTON’S plight at the foot of the Barclays Premier League worsened with a fifth consecutive defeat on Monday at Fulham.

The match was supposed to herald the Addicks’ renaissance following a tough start to the season. Instead the pressure piled on boss Iain Dowie as the club face the grim prospect of being cast adrift at the bottom.

He conceded: “The magnitude of the pressure increases the longer you go without a result. I’m under no illusion about that.

“I’m working for a very good club with very good people. The responsibility is mine because I pick the team. I’ve had good support from the board and I can’t ask for anything more.”

After dominating the first half, Charlton’s brittle confidence snapped in the second once Fulham took a 65th minute lead through Brian McBride.

Fulham substitute and former Addick Claus Jensen piled on the misery for his old club when he added a second two minutes later.

Leading scorer Darren Bent brought his tally for the season to six when he pulled back a goal in the 78th minute. But Charlton never looked capable of saving the game.