Patrick Bauer scored the eventual winner against his former club as Preston North End came back from a goal down to see off Charlton.

Andre Green, who spent the first half of this season on loan at Deepdale, grabbed his first goal for the Addicks after just five minutes.

But a stunning Josh Harrop equaliser tied things up before former Addicks defender Bauer powerfully headed home after half-time.

The defeat sees Charlton remain 19th in the Championship, five points above the relegation zone.

Here are five things we learned...

Getting back up to speed

Jonny Williams was handed his first start since returning from a two-month injury lay-off, while Andre Green started for only the second time in the league this season - both for Charlton.

Both are regaining their match fitness still and, although Lee Bowyer had both of them available for selection, they will take time to find their sharpness again. That was evident at Preston.

Despite that, Green, who prior to joining Charlton on loan had not played since late October, got his first goal for the club against the same team he was on loan to earlier in the campaign. A good contribution.

A lapse in concentration

Harrop's equaliser was one Bowyer seemed content in admitting was a "great strike", one his team could not do much about once hit. What frustrated him, however, was how the set-piece goal was conceded.

Replays are unclear as to who was directly responsible for Bauer at the corner but it appears a lapse in concentration was the culprit in him getting so free to head home.

It's not an isolated incident though and one that, again, has cost Charlton when they are in desperate need of stringing together a few wins to stave off the threat of relegation back to League One.

Recurring themes?

Preston's comeback win now means only fellow strugglers Stoke City and Wigan (five each) have lost more games after taking the lead than Charlton (four) in the Championship this season, says Transfermarkt.

In their past nine league games, the Addicks have also now conceded five times within the first 15 minutes of the second half: against Hull, Bristol City (twice), West Brom and now Preston.

And, finally, Charlton have now nearly let in as many set-pieces (nine) as they have scored (10), according to WhoScored. Bauer's eventual winner added to that tally.

No other choice

At the full-time whistle, Charlton had four players aged 20 and under on the field - Albie Morgan, Alfie Doughty, Ben Dempsey and Josh Davison - none of whom had played Championship football prior to this season.

The reality for Charlton is that, even with senior players coming back from injury, those players' need to rebuild match fitness means there is no quick fix.

Of course, you would rather have them than not but the Addicks must continue their fight for survival with the crop of young players that Bowyer says are "not ready" for this level yet.

An important run ahead

The visit of play-off chasing Fulham will hugely test Charlton but the two games which follow will be even more crucial.

Barnsley (22nd) visit The Valley before Charlton travel up to Stoke (21st). With one win in 17, now would be the time for the Addicks to end that poor run of form.

Defeats in both games could see the gap between safety and the drop shrink dramatically, and with or without senior players back, Charlton need three points from both games to remain somewhat comfortable.