OFF the pitch, results of Charlton’s summer trip to China could include sponsorship deals and thousands of new supporters, but matters on the field of play were far from impressive.

The Premiership club’s first foray into the Far East market will undoubtedly be a success from a commercial point of view, but Alan Curbishley will surely be unhappy that his players failed to build on the 8-0 win at Welling United on the eve of their departure.

A 3-2 defeat against Jianlibao was followed by Sunday’s penalty shoot-out loss to Ghuangzhou Sunray Cave, with the Addicks coming off second best in both games against their hosts.

The scorching conditions - up to 36 degrees, causing Graham Stuart to lose eight pounds in the first game - and effects of a gruelling 12-hour flight were a further handicap to a group of players still getting used to pre-season training.

But things started so well in the first game against Jianlibao when Radostin Kishishev and Shaun Bartlett put the Addicks two goals ahead within 15 minutes.

The Bulgarian’s opener made a mockery of his goalscoring record since joining Charlton four years ago. In that time he has played more than 100 league and cup games for the club but scored just twice.

He picked up possession from a clearance some 35 yards from goal, before planting a shot in the top-right corner of the net. Bartlett doubled the lead within seconds when he slotted home from close range after a Paul Konchesky corner, to register his first goal of pre-season.

But the home side - currently Chinese Super League leaders - showed their intent with a Xin Xin Zhang goal after a scramble in the penalty area.

The second period started well for the Addicks when substitute Jonatan Johansson was brought down for a penalty. But Jason Euell, who had started in midfield and scored twice against Welling, saw his poor effort easily saved by Chen.

Jianlibao made sure of their win with two goals in the final five minutes, as Yen Feng Huang and Chen Yang sealed a surprise victory.

Bartlett again made the scoresheet in the second game on Sunday, obviously aiming to match his six pre-season goals last summer. The half-time substitute hit the target with his first touch of the game - a cheeky backheel soon after the interval.

Manager Alan Curbishley made several changes to the team who played Jianlibao, as Matt Holland returned from a minor hamstring injury to replace Euell. New goalkeeper Stephan Andersen also came in for Dean Kiely.

The Dane was soon picking the ball out of the net when, in the 29th minute, Wu Weian scored from close range.

But after 90 minutes the score was still deadlocked and, after the penalties had reached 5-4 to the home side, Jonathan Fortune blasted over the bar.

Curbishley said: “Most people got the right result. The players have found it very difficult to train and play in the heat, but we knew this before we came and it’s not an excuse for the results.

“We tried our hardest and enjoyed both games. It’s been a worthwhile experience, not only for us but for the people that have come to watch us, and now we’re looking forward to the rest of the pre-season programme.”