It is becoming increasingly hard to do anything other than have great admiration for Charlton Athletic and Lee Bowyer.

The Addicks were promoted to the Championship last season via the play-offs last season despite a myriad of off-field issues threatening to hamper their progress and have made a fast-start to life in the second-tier as well, making the rest of the division sit up and take notice.

After six matches, they sat unbeaten in second place with wins against the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Brentford to their name.

They were finally undone at the weekend, however, with Pep Clotet's Birmingham City getting the better of them at The Valley with Jude Bellingham's 52nd minute strike enough to take all three points and dump The Addicks down to the depths of third place.

But it is nothing to be too concerned about. It would be absolutely ridiculous for Charlton fans to start worrying after just one defeat in a season where many will have expected to be battling relegation.

However, a reason to be concerned did emerge on Saturday that showed the fight against the drop could still very-much be on in the final months of the campaign.

With star striker Lyle Taylor sidelined with an injury and Jonathan Williams benched with a slight knock of his own, it was always going to be a test for Bowyer and the rest of the XI.

And it is the lack of alternative options available to Bowyer in the final third that should be of real concern to The Valley faithful.

In Taylor's place came summer signing Tomer Hemed, someone who has plenty of experience in the second-tier, but will struggle badly to come close to his teammate's record and his lacklustre showing against the Blues showed that.

Erhun Oztumer looked like a shrewd signing in the summer after he was released by Bolton, and he may well still prove to be, but on Saturday he clearly lacked the nous possessed by Williams in that hole behind the two strikers, so it was no surprise to see the Welshman introduced in his place just before the hour mark.

The lack of bite without the duo is worrying and leaves them playing a risky game.

It may still be a very successful season for Charlton and, in many ways, you really hope it is. There is so much to admire about them, particularly in the dug-out, and it would be good to see those characters succeed.

However, unless adequate back-up players emerge, or are brought in, for those attacking stars, a rapid descent down the table could well be on the cards.