A lifeless Brentford crashed to a 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic at The Valley on Saturday.

Since the news broke on Tuesday that owner Matthew Benham was planning to replace manager Mark Warburton in the summer, the club has been engulfed in turmoil.

After defeat to Watford on Tuesday night, any hopes of an instant reaction were dashed as the Bees lacked the hunger and energy that has characterised what has to date been a highly successful season.

Charlton had the game's first real chance when Johann Gudmundsson curled in a low shot from the left, which David Button got down sharply to save.

Brentford's first chance came from a Jota shot from distance, which took deflection for a corner.

Gudmundsson fired the Addicks into the lead when poor defending from the Bees saw them fail to deal first with a break down the wing and then the cross into the box, leaving the midfielder in plenty of space to pick his spot and fire past Button.

Charlton were gifted another chance when Igor Vetokele burst beyond the defence, but his shot from a tight angle was blocked for a corner by Button.

The Bees came close again when Alex Pritchard's chip to the back post saw Andre Gray's shot deflected behind.

Charlton doubled their lead just ten minutes into the second half when a long ball from the half way line caught out Tony Craig.

When the ball fell to Tony Watt, his square pass found Vetokele and his composed finish beat Button.

Another incisive break from Charlton ended with Watt's low shot being well saved by Button's outstretched hand.

After Brentford made a triple substitution Tommy Smith set up Jon Toral, whose shot was deflected for a corner.

Fellow substitute Chris Long then broke down the left and his cross was turned back across the box by Gray, with Jonathan Douglas then seeing his shot saved by Stephen Henderson.

After Douglas won the ball in midfield, Pritchard pounced and raced clear, before seeing Henderson hold his shot from 30 yards.

The Bees came close to scoring when Pritchard's free kick looked destined for the top left corner, before Henderson turned it over.

Pritchard again came close to scoring when his low shot was turned behind by Henderson. From the resulting corner Toral ghosted across the edge of the box before firing over the bar.

The home side wrapped things up in added on time when Bulot fired past Button.

Brentford: Button; Odubajo, Dean, Craig, Yennaris; Pritchard, Douglas, Diagouraga (sub Smith 59), Jota (sub Toral 59), Dallas (sub Long 59); Gray.

Subs (not used): Bonham, McCormack, Saunders, Udumaga.

Attendance: 14,875