A Moritz Volz own goal just before the hour gave Charlton a 2-1 victory over the Blues at the Valley. Nick Bailey put the home side in front in the sixth minute, Town, who later hit the bar twice, equalising via a Martin Crainie own goal.

Jim Magilton made three changes from the side which beat Barnsley on Tuesday. Moritz Volz returned at right-back in place of Alex Bruce, David Norris took over from Owen Garvan in midfield, while Tommy Miller came into the side for Pablo Couñago, the Blues starting with five in midfield. Miller and Norris started ahead of Campo sitting in front of the back four, with Quinn and Walters wide.

Hameur Boazza picked up an early yellow card for a cynical foul on Jon Walters as the Blues broke into the Charlton half.

Town forced the first penalty area action in the fifth minute, Quinn heading a Volz cross from the right back across goal but not close enough to a team-mate.

The home side went in front in the sixth minute from a freekick 25 yards out awarded by referee Grant Hegley for reasons which weren't entirely clear. Nick Bailey hit a low shot which squeezed through a gap between the end of the incorrectly set-up Town wall and the post, with Richard Wright unable reach it before it hit the net.

Matt Holland replaced goalscorer Bailey on 12, the former Southend man having picked up an injury. Fellow ex-Town midfielder Darren Ambrose was in the Addicks starting line-up.

Town had by now switched to 4-4-2 with Walters joining Stead up front and Norris moving to the right.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 14th minute when Luke Varney looped a ball to the far post and Ambrose hit the sidenetting.

Town weren't far from an equaliser in the 23rd minute when Campo found Norris wide on the right. The midfielder whipped in a cross but just ahead of Walters. At the other end, Bouazza struck a shot straight at Richard Wright.

Nicky Weaver was out quickly to claim ahead of Tommy Miller as the Blues started to take control of the game having been rather put on the back foot by the early goal.

Couñago took over from Miller in the 28th minute, the midfielder appearing to be suffering from a knock. The Spaniard joined Stead up front with Walters moving wide on the right and Norris moving inside.

Varney hit a shot which failed to test Wright after an error by Naylor, prior to Couñago calling for a penalty after being bundled over in the area by Linvoy Primus.

On 33 some Couñago magic helped get the Blues back on terms. The Spaniard, who memorably scored with a backheel in the corresponding fixture last season, this time used his heel to send Walters away into the area on the right. The former Chester man crossed towards Stead and Martin Crainie diverted the ball into his own net.

Bouazza sent a dangerous ball across the Town six-yard box on 38 but no Charlton player was on hand to add a final touch.

On 44 Couñago's cross from the right was deflected to Quinn, whose header was well saved by Weaver down to his right.

As the half came to an end, a Quinn corner led to a scramble in the Charlton area, a one-two between Norris and McAuley ending with the former Plymouth man being felled on the edge of the area. From the freekick, Campo curled the ball over the wall but off the top of the bar and over.

After a poor start, the Blues had gradually taken control of the game, the Charlton goal having forced an early change of plan and formation. Town had deserved their equaliser and a second goal wouldn't have flattered Jim Magilton's side.

Varney forced Wright into a save in the opening minute of the second period, the former Crewe man hitting a shot which the Town keeper pushed around his right-hand post.

After the danger of the corner was cleared, the Blues got back into their late first half form. On 49 Quinn struck a cross-shot which beat Weaver but hit the bar. Jon Stead's subsequent effort was too close to the former Manchester City keeper.

Charlton felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 51st minute when Varney caught Naylor in possession halfway inside the Town half and took the ball into the area. There was a fair amount of pushing and pulling on both parts and Varney eventually went to ground side the box. Referee Hegley blew for a foul and somewhat diplomatically, and surprisingly, gave a freekick a yard outside the area.

Couñago had the ball in the Charlton net in the 55th minute from a Quinn pass, but was adjudged offside, perhaps harshly.

Three minutes later, the home side went in front. A cross was whipped in from the right beyond Bouazza, the ball hitting Volz and beating Wright. It was an unfortunate goal against the run of play at that stage of the game.

The goal handed the impetus back to Charlton and Town were put under a period of pressure before, in the 71st minute, Jim Magilton replaced the tiring Campo with Owen Garvan and Stead with Kevin Lisbie.

Bouazza shot over from a tight angle on the left as the game entered the final 10 minutes while Volz was down injured, something which angered a number of Town players.

The changes had brought the Blues back into the game and on 82 Quinn's freekick from 25 yards out deflected over off the wall after Couñago had been fouled.

Jose Semedo shot across the face of the Town goal on 84 on the break, but in the main the latter stages consisted of Town pushing for an equaliser, albeit unconvincingly. Former Addick Lisbie failed to get a decent first touch on a ball into the area, then Quinn and Lisbie were beaten to a loose ball by Weaver.

Charlton sub Andy Gray was booked for a push on Norris as the game entered injury time. Richard Naylor was thrown forward as an additional striker but to no effect and the Blues fell to their second away defeat of the season.

During spells, Town had shown themselves to be a better side than Charlton but allowed the game to slip in the second half when there appeared to be only one winner, although the goal which won the game was somewhat unfortunate.

The Blues had begun slowly, the poor early goal having led to a rethink after starting with a five-man midfield. The switch and the addition of Couñago appeared to have swung the match Town's way, although the Blues backline again looked shaky throughout.

Even in the spells when Town were on top Nicky Weaver wasn't forced to make enough saves, although Campo and Quinn were unlucky to hit the woodwork with fine strikes.

Overall, a frustrating performance from Town. They showed they were well capable of beating the opposition, but not consistently enough throughout the game. There continues to be much to do before the Blues can be considered a side capable of challenging for the automatic places.

Town: R Wright, Volz, D Wright, Naylor, McAuley, Campo (Garvan 71), Miller (Couñago 28), Norris, Walters, Quinn, Stead. Unused: Supple, Bruce. Att: 20,643.

Photo: Action Images

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