Tommy Smith’s header is the difference between the sides with the Blues 1-0 in front at Charlton at half-time.
Aaron Cresswell’s return at left-back in place of Tyrone Mings was the only change to the team which lost 2-1 at home to Leicester last week.
Mings dropped to be bench alongside new loan signing Jordan Graham, while Paul Taylor missed out due to the shoulder injury suffered during last week’s 2-1 defeat to Leicester and Luke Hyam was also absent with a stiff back.
Town should have been ahead after a minute when Paul Anderson played David McGoldrick in one-one-one with Addicks keeper Ben Alnwick. The Blues frontman seemed to scuff as he shot and the keeper saved down to his left.
From the resultant corner Smith saw a goalbound near-post header saved, then from the flagkick subsequent to that Daryl Murphy’s header was blocked on the line, Christophe Berra’s follow-up was superbly saved by Alnwick and Smith sent the loose ball over the bar.
Town continued their strong start and in the fifth minute they went in front. Cresswell whipped over a corner from the left and Smith nodded down and past the Charlton keeper to claim his second goal of the season.
Three minutes later, the home side threatened for the first time, the early stages having been all Town. After the Blues had failed to clear a corner, Yann Kermorgant sent the ball back in from the left and Dale Stephens flicked a header across the face of Dean Gerken’s goal and just past the post.
Jordan Cousins screwed a shot well wide on the quarter hour mark with the Addicks starting to have more of the game after taking an early battering from the Blues, who continued to look dangerous when in the final third.
On 23 Charlton right-back Lawrie Wilson, who had a trial with Town during Joe Royle’s time as boss, sent a dangerous low ball across the Blues area but no one was able to get a touch. For Town, McGoldrick’s 27th minute shot on the turn was blocked.
Cole Skuse prevented the home side from getting back on terms in the 29th minute when he got in ahead of Simon Church at the far post to nod Kermorgant’s cross from the right behind with the Welshman otherwise looking odds-on to head home.
Charlton were starting to look more threatening and on the half hour Rhoys Wiggins found space round the outside of Luke Chambers and hit a left-foot shot which Gerken palmed onto his right post. Berra reacted quickest to head the loose ball behind.
The Addicks dominated possession in the final quarter of an hour of the half, sending in one or two dangerous crosses but Gerken wasn’t seriously tested .
At the other end, the Blues continued to look threatening whenever they were in or around the area with the Charlton backline having had more than the odd moment of hesitation during the half.
Just before the whistle, Murphy cut in from the left and hit a low right-foot shot which Alnwick claimed with ease.
Town had started the half like a house on fire and could have been ahead before Smith’s fifth minute goal.
Having gone in front, the home side came more into it with the Blues largely content to sit back and repel Charlton’s attacks, something they have so far managed successfully.
Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Anderson, Skuse, Tunnicliffe, Tabb, McGoldrick, Murphy. Unused: Loach, Edwards, Hunt, Wordsworth, Mings, Graham, Nouble.
Charlton: Alnwick, Wilson, Wiggins, Morrison, Dervite, Stewart, Cousins, Stephens, Jackson, Kermorgant, Church. Unused: Pope, Wood, Evina, Hughes, Green, Sordell, Pigott. Referee: Scott Duncan (Northumberland).