Birmingham City 1 (Zigic 90+3) Charlton 1 (Cort 82)

Kevin Nolan reports from St. Andrews.

A desperately late equaliser, lashed home by beanpole Serbian Nikola Zigic in the the third of four added minutes, denied Charlton deserved victory at sunsplashed St. Andrews. Their crisp, assured football seemed to have been capped by the perfect result until the 6'7" substitute struck. Disappointment was inevitable but more sober reflection will bring with it the consolation that an away point at one of the Championship's more grudging venues amounts to a more than useful result.

It's encouraging to report that the Addicks adapted seamlessly to life at a higher level. Only their inability to convert at least one of several clearcut first half chances let them down. It's part of football's folklore that if you fail to turn superiority into the hard currency of goals, you pay for your carelessness. And not for the first time, so it proved.

City were hardly slouches themselves. They began brightly, with Marlon King's teasing cross headed clear by a straining Leon Cort, then Peter Lovenkrands' low snapshot stretching Ben Hamer. But the confident visitors promptly responded through Johnnie Jackson, who glanced Dale Stephens' inswinging corner narrowly wide, then headed Rhoys Wiggins' precise centre inches too high. The skipper's own delicious cross eluded Bradley Wright-Phillips but was awkwardly bundled over the bar by Yann Kermorgant at the far post. Though hardly rampant, Charlton gradually silenced this most raucous and one-eyed of crowds.

A scintillating game between fancied sides continued to entertain as Lovenkrands wriggled in from the left touchline, eluded Chris Solly, but chipped tamely into Hamer's hands. His poised midfield colleague, Ravel Morrison - one of Alex Ferguson's rare admissions of man-management failure at Old Trafford - caught the solo mood and shot dangerously wide after positive running created space to try his luck. The last word before the break belonged to Kermorgant, who picked up Wright-Phillips' pass only to shoot straight at Blues' debutant goalkeeper Jack Butland.

There was further good news for Charlton in a competitive second half. By now settled to their task, they had the better of a side hotly tipped to be among the division's front runners. With Dale Stephens providing foot-on-the-ball calmness as the midfield fulcrum, brilliant full backs Solly and Wiggins picking up precisely where they left off last May and Leon Cort outshining even the excellent Michael Morrison inside them, the Addicks had enough about them to suggest that the upcoming campaign is nothing to be feared.

A great block by Morrison was needed to stop King but the momentum was with the Addicks. Clever combination featuring Kermorgant's incisive and Bradley Pritchard's accurate delivery from the right touchline set up yet another headed chance for Jackson, which was again bulleted off target.

That the Blues were far from finished was proved by King, who rolled Cort before driving harmlessly at Hamer. Jackson provided an immediate riposte with a low drive, saved smartly by the precocious Butland, before highly regarded substitute Nathan Redmond wasted an opening luckily created by King, snatching at a shot into the near sidenet.

Abruptly, the Championship new boys broke through. A long throw from Danny Hollands forced City captain Steven Caldwell to concede a right wing corner, which was swung in at the second attempt by Jackson; alert substitute Jordan Cook and Kermorgant engaged in a spot of head tennis at opposite posts, leaving Cort to nod downward past Butland from no more than a yard. The celebrations were mighty but Charlton were not yet home and dry.

With nothing to lose, new Birmingham boss Lee Clark rushed the lanky Zigic into the fray. Powell instantly countered with Matt Taylor replacing Jackson, in anticipation of an aerial bombardment. It was not without irony, therefore, that the sickening body blow was delivered by Zigic's left foot. With the home side turning Charlton's penalty area into a disorderly mob scene, Butland's huge, hopeful Hail Mary punt was the last throw -or kick- of the dice. A lucky bounce favoured the massive sub but his 15-yard finish low into the bottom left corner was cool and clinical. There's nothing quite like the last-kick goal. It's the cause of wild celebration among its recipients, accompanied by the sound of the bottom dropping out of the world of its victims.

Arch-pragmatist Powell won't be fooled. Whatever the late dramatics, the scoreline was 1-1, an eminently satisfactory result in a difficult opening game, one he might have accepted if offered it before kick-off. Pity about the unexpected setback but there you go. It happens to all of us at one time or another. Charlton played well. Very well. They're off and running. See how they go.

Birmingham: Butland, Packwood (Spector 64), Caldwell, Davies, Murphy, Burke, Mullins, Morrison (Redmond 64), Ambrose, King, Lovenkrands (Zigic 86). Not used: Doyle, Ibanez, Elliott, Rooney.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Cort, Wiggins, Pritchard, Hollands, Stephens, Jackson (Taylor 89), Wright-Phillips (Cook 77), Kermorgant. Not used: Sullivan. Green, Kerkar, Wilson, Smith.

Referee: Gary Sutton.  Att: 18,210 (1,637 Charlton).

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Newly sponsored by some absolutely spiffing chaps, I didn't get off to the best of starts last Tuesday. Somehow I mixed up Shrewsbury with Chesterfield and ended up describing Shrewsbury as the "Spireites." Nobody picked up on it, which only goes to show that there's never a pedant around when you need one. This is not my first brush with sponsorship. I did a sponsored silence once and was left speechless by the enthusiastic response I received.

Charlton 1 (Wagstaff 28) Leyton Orient 1 (Baudry 45) a.e.t. Leyton Orient won 4-3 on penalties.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

A tortuously uphill Capital One Cup struggle with local rivals Leyton Orient, ending in penalty shoot-out defeat after extra time, was hardly the morale-boosting start to the season visualised by Charlton boss Chris Powell.

Cutting an increasingly frustrated figure as his side struggled to cope with their fired-up visitors, the Addicks' normally ice-cool boss blew his top after disputing referee Gavin Ward's decision that Cedric Evina had fouled substitute Michael Symes and was deported to the stands midway through the second half of normal time. When his penalty banker, skipper Johnnie Jackson, placed the first shoot-out spotkick too close to young goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, an incandescent Powell must surely have known that Charlton wouldn't be featuring in the second round draw. New boy Lawrie Wilson was even more wasteful with his effort and although Ben Chorley provided brief hope by missing the East Londoners' fourth penalty, teenager Ryan Brunt showed admirable composure to confirm Orient's place in Round Two.

Facing 46 league games in a far tougher division than the one they sailed through last season, Powell shouldn't experience too much difficulty in locating a silver lining to this particular cloud. In fact, his sleep will probably be dreamless. It's his priority to consolidate Charlton's place in the Championship and the distractions of a frequently re-branded Cup competition, with no tradition and less romance, won't be missed.

Not that Charlton were sent out to lose, of course. Perish the thought. It's just that they somehow find novel ways not to win every season. It's a delicate balancing act they perform with practised ease. Not too long ago, they found themselves 3-0 up at Shewsbury but pulled it back to 4-3. That showed those conniving Spireites. No way were they allowed to dodge the second round.

A reasonably entertaining game was launched by French Algerian newcomer Salim Kerkar shooting wide after a determined solo run, before Charlton old boy Kevin Lisbie spun sharply to force Ben Hamer into a tumbling save at his right post. Hamer was less impressive in attempting to find right back Wilson but instead rolling a short free kick against Matt Taylor's unwitting legs. Another Charlton alumnus, David Mooney, tried to find the empty net from 25 yards but missed the target.

An even encounter was rocking along when, after 28 minutes, the home side grabbed the lead. And though the goal was tinged with luck, it also featured the most sumptuous pass from promising left midfielder Jordan Cook, who used Cedric Evina's decoy run to play Scott Wagstaff into space outside left back Gary Sawyer. Shooting crisply on the run for the far corner, Wagstaff's effort would probably have been saved by Allsop but Sawyer's desperate sliding block diverted the ball away from the diving keeper into the bottom near corner.

The lead might have been instantly doubled but Danny Green's sidefooted drive sent Michael Smith's clever set-up curling wide of the right post. Orient replied through Jimmy Smith, whose cute volley returned Leon Cort's header inches off target, then went one better by equalising, not entirely unexpectedly, in first half added time.

As the Addicks came under steady pressure, Cort was hurried into conceding a right wing corner, which Sawyer swung in wickedly for French midfielder Mathieu Baudry to head unstoppably past a hesitant Hamer. It was no more than the visitors deserved.

Three minutes after the break, ironically as it turned out, Mooney was handed the chance to spare everyone the marathon which lay ahead. Needlessly tripped by Wilson near the left byline, the Irishman drove a penalty against Hamer's crossbar. You just can't help some people sometimes.

Green was proving an inconsistent handful and it was his left wing corner, following Allsop's brave block on Danny Hollands, which soared across goal to rebound off the far post. Green's luck was clearly out; his free kick, following Symes' careless handball, beat a poorly positioned Allsop but smacked harmlessly against the left post. At the other end, Hamer saved smartly from Dean Cox and again from Brunt, who exploited Green's lack of resolve to break clear but shot weakly, with Symes unmarked in space to his right.

Unwanted and unloved, extra-time wore relentlessly on, with Baudry chesting Cort's header, from Jackson's corner, off the line, then Evina doing the same to keep out Scott Cuthbert's point-blank effort. This one was clearly heading for penalties and with Jackson and Bradley Wright-Phillips introduced for the final 15 minutes, the Addicks seemed in good shape for the dramatic denouement. And, depending on your point of view, how right (or wrong) we were!

Charlton: Hamer, Wilson, Cort, Taylor, Evina, Green, Hollands, Kerkar (Pritchard 100), Cook (Jackson 105), Wagstaff, Smith (Wright-Phillips 105). Not used: Sullivan, Morrison, Solly, Hayes.

Referee: Gavin Ward. Att: 5,914.

Kevin Nolan's Match Report is brought to you in association with , 294 Burnt Ash Hill, London, SE12 0QD.

Charlton 3 (Hollands 71, Haynes 77, Kermorgant 81) Hartlepool United 2 (Hartley 31, Liddle 87).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Anxious to wrap up their barnstorming title-winning campaign in style, Charlton pulled out all the stops with an action-packed, all-singing, all-dancing warm-up show on Saturday. Prior to kick-off, a seam-busting crowd was treated to sopranos, a bearded lady, tightrope walkers, acrobats, tenors, trapeze artists, a bloke being shot out of a cannon, stilt-walkers and then almost as an afterthought, a football match against Hartlepool United.

OK, hands up, I made some of that up but you had to be there. The pitch was a hive of swarming activity and by the time the Red Red Robin had finally gone bob bob bobbing along and these parachute chaps arrived with the match ball, we were all convinced there was no business like show business. So it was irritating to be called to order by referee Iain Williamson, who reminded us why we were there.

Standing patiently by while the extravaganza unfolded, the visitors could be excused for losing focus. Mind you, their own contribution wasn't exactly a model of sobriety, what with over 150 Smurfs on duty in the away end. It was all peculiarly English, like those photos of a deadly serious candidate at important elections standing shoulder to shoulder with some lunatic in a gorilla suit, a top hat and napkin folded in his neck, representing the "Free Tuck for Public School Apes" party. I mean, you don't see that in America. They'd shoot the gorilla just to be on the safe side.

Sent out by Chris Powell to crown their campaign with a cockle-warming win, Charlton started brightly enough. A cross from Chris Solly was nodded down by Yann Kermorgant, driven against the lunging Jack Baldwin by Bradley Wright-Phillips and ballooned over the bar by Scott Wagstaff. Another chance fell quickly to Wright-Phillips but was topped wide, while at the other end, Neil Austin's corner was punched out by Ben Hamer and hooked narrowly over the bar by Gary Liddle. United had clearly not travelled merely to make up the numbers and it was only mildly surprising that they grabbed the lead just past the half hour.

One of those misunderstandings which have marred Charlton's rock-like defence from time to time saw Hamer and Michael Morrison, under modest pressure from Ryan Noble, concede a needless left wing corner. Their organisation was further disrupted by the simultaneous replacement of hamstring victim Johnnie Jackson by Danny Haynes and when Neil Austin finally delivered the flagkick, unmarked centre back Peter Hartley made easy work of turning the ball past Hamer.

The prospect of losing their last game after making such a fuss of it was spur enough for the Addicks. Wright-Phillips should have equalised, after another of Kermorgant's clever flicks, but dragged his shot across Scott Flinders and wide of the far post. Instead, they came within inches of falling further behind in added time, with Andy Monkhouse bending a drive dangerously close to the right corner.

Soon after the break, Charlton again diced with disaster. Following Morrison's foul on Noble on the edge of his penalty area, Austin's curling free kick was brilliantly saved by Hamer. Unstoppable in the air, meanwhile, Kermorgant carefully cushioned Rhoys Wiggins' accurate cross down to Wright-Phillips, who volleyed wildly into an increasingly exasperated crowd. What the visitors had they intended to hold, as Darren Holden's magnificent block to deny Kermorgant a close range chance demonstrated. But they were sensationally taken apart by an irresistible three-goal burst within ten minutes as Charlton reminded us why they are runaway champions of League One.

The quickfire salvo was launched by Danny Hollands, who met Rhoys Wiggins' waist-high corner with a whiplashed left-footed volley which scorched past Flinders. The suddenly besieged keeper stemmed the tide temporarily with a quite marvellous save to frustrate Kermorgant but the Addicks were not to be denied long. Another left wing corner from Wiggins was half cleared, returned by Matt Taylor and headed home emphatically by Haynes.
Four minutes later, man-of-the-match Kermorgant made it three with Charlton's last goal of the 2011-2012 season and what a corker it was. Meeting Bradley Pritchard's flighted cross beyond the far post, his replica of Marco Van Basten's fabled volley from an impossible angle flashed over Flinders and nestled inside the far corner of the net. Did he mean it? Of course he meant it. Would that question be asked if Wayne Rooney had struck such an exquisite volley? Did they doubt Van Basten? Trust me, he meant it.

Charlton being lovably Charlton, the luxury of coasting to victory was denied them by a late reply from Liddle, whose shot from 20 yards caught a helpful deflection and found the top right corner of Hamer's net. Ultimately it didn't matter because The Valley was ready to party and was in no mood for frustration. Who needed the Cup Final anyway? Not the FA, that's for sure. They'd kick it into touch, given half a chance. Still, we got home for the highlights.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Wagstaff (Pritchard 65), Hollands, Stephens, Jackson (Haynes 30), Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Euell 83). Not used: Sullivan, Cort.

Referee: Iain Williamson. Attendance: 26,749.

N.B. These reports have been a joy to write, even when I had most of Yorkshire on my case and all because I pointed out that Ray Charles refereed us at Huddersfield. It was either him or David Blunkett. Hard to tell. But we soldier on next season in the Championship. I stand ready to offer my services again in 2012-2013 and hope to see you all then. Barkis was willing. So is Nolan.

Preston North End 2 (Hunt 55, Alexander 90) Charlton 2 (Haynes 10, N,Guessan 34).

Kevin Nolan reports from Deepdale.

It took the most implausibly romantic conclusion to an otherwise routine encounter to keep Charlton waiting another week in their quest for a record-busting 100 points. If you saw this ending at the pictures, you'd be tempted to bunk out rather than in. Or if you'd paid to get in, at least ask for your money back. Even James Cameron or Julian Fellowes would disown this schmaltz.

The Addicks were hanging on to a 2-1 lead with six minutes remaining when locally unpopular Preston boss Graham Westley unexpectedly succumbed to a scrupulously concealed, sentimental side of his nature. Bowing to mounting pressure, he sent on 40-year old substitute Graham Alexander to bring down the curtain on a distinguished career, comprising 1023 first class games, 420 of them in Preston's famous white shirt. What happened next is the very stuff of legend.

Slotting in at right back, Alexander had managed only a couple of workmanlike touches when Carl Cort was ruled to have impeded Chris Holroyd, as the striker eluded him at the edge of Charlton's penalty area. A palpable air of pre-ordination accompanied the grizzled veteran's wonderful free kick, bent around a four-man wall and expertly inside the right post. As Deepdale erupted in unrestrained homage to one of their own, Alexander was pedantically booked for excessive celebration. He was, as you might imagine, visibly shaken by his draconian punishment.

Charlton's last gasp setback stirred up again the misgivings of many among a sizeable contingent of supporters, who had had confirmed their suspicions that Chris Powell was another manager in indulgent late-season mood. No fewer than eight changes had been made to the side which beat Wycombe Wanderers a week ago. The three survivors were Chris Solly, Cort and Bradley Pritchard but such is the affection for the boss that slack was willingly cut in his favour. His decisions are more often than not spot-on.

At half-time, Powell's adjustments hardly seemed to matter anyway. His replacement Addicks had toyed with their opposition, cruising into a two-goal lead that might have been doubled by better finishing. North End's resistance had been tissue-thin as deputy strikers Danny Haynes and Dan N'Guessan helped themselves to a goal apiece. There wasn't even a hint that fortunes were to change so dramatically after the break.

With his first goal for the club, Haynes had efficiently fired the visitors into an early lead. Put through by Danny Hollands' cleverly lofted pass, the pacy forward made light of his encirclement by a posse of defenders, among them advancing goalkeeper Andreas Arestidou, instead turning deliberately to plant a low drive into the bottom right corner.

Twenty minutes later, Preston self-imploded again, as Arestidou rolled out a routine ball to David Gray, but was left stranded by the right back's distractedly feeble return. Fastening on to the gift, N'Guessan stepped neatly around the stranded keeper, before tapping Charlton's second goal into his vacated net.

There hadn't been much to worry the champions, apart from John Sullivan's clumsy handling of Paul Coutts' awkward low drive and a farcically skewed attempt by Jamie Proctor to exploit an error by Hollands. At the other end, Danny Green's clever free kick rapped a post and Haynes' failure to chip Pritchard's weighted pass over Arestidou seemed no more than a minor irritation. But, imperceptibly, the balance of power had shifted.

It was another old-timer who put Preston back into contention with a rare goal ten minutes after the break. Switched to right back, following Gray's withdrawal at half-time, Nicky Hunt chanced his arm from 25 yards as Haynes' headed clearance of Danny Mayor's corner dropped at his feet. His well struck low volley unerringly found the left corner, a feat he instantly marked by picking up a booking for fouling Green. Hunt then capped an eventful few minutes by making a determined bid for football's roll-over record when Green retaliated, his thespian excellence ensuring that his assailant joined him in the book.

A second fumble by Sullivan, in dealing with another innocuous low shot, betrayed Charlton's growing nerves. He was indebted to Cort for kicking Craig Morgan's point-blank effort off the line but might- or, indeed, might not - have been poorly positioned to deal with Alexander's free kick. Hard to tell, really, such was the quality of the strike.

So this was a worthy old pro's day, one of those moving occasions when reality for once takes a back seat to fantasy. Twenty one years in first class football came down to one parting shot of inspiration. We were involuntary extras in one of those gloopy, feel-nauseous flicks, all full of portentous lectures about following your dream, climbing every mountain and searching for the hero inside yourself. The estimable Alexander did all that and more. But there won't be a sequel, because he's heading off into the sunset, probably to reach for some stars and be true to himself and and all that soul searching stuff. Charlton won't be sorry to see the back of him.

PNE: Arestidou, Gray (Hayhurst 46), Robertson (Aneke 70), Morgan, Wright, Coutts, Hunt, Ehmer (Alexander 84), Mayor, Proctor, Holroyd. Not used: Procter, Cummins.

Referee: Kevin Friend. Attendance: 12,029.

Charlton 2 (Kermorgant 14, Stephens 73) Wycombe Wanderers 1 (Beavon 45).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

After clinching promotion to the Championship at faraway Carlisle last week, just one outstanding item remained on Charlton's agenda for the 2011-12 season. It was necessary -vital even- to go up as champions. The best fans in S.E.London demanded no less from easily the best side in League One.

Yet again these remarkably resilient Addicks delivered the goods. At times, their performance levels dipped below par and it was relegation-threatened Wycombe who looked more like title winners. The visitors understandably departed with a chip on their shoulder because their bright, enterprising contribution to a rousing game could so easily have been rewarded with at least a precious point. Disappointment has been the unhappy lot, however, of many a side who deluded themselves they had Charlton backed on to the ropes only to find themselves suckered into overreaching their front foot and being picked off by counterpunching experts with many different ways of winning.

At the end of a fluctuating opening, during which Bradley Wright-Phillips' header was kicked off the line by Craig Eastmond, with shapshooter Stuart Beavon's low drive testing Ben Hamer and Matt Bloomfield shooting inches wide at the other end, Yann Kermorgant and Johnnie Jackson combined to create space for Wright-Phillips to let fly on the turn but Nikki Bull alertly parried.

With little to lose, Wanderers grew in confidence, a surprising development which made even more sickening the blow that knocked them sideways on the quarter hour. It seemed that centre back Danny Foster's foul on Kermorgant, over 30 yards from Bull's goal, had been committed with a keen eye on percentages. If so, the Chairboys hadn't done their homework because their hosts have claimed no fewer than four key goals this season, from directly netted free kicks. Kermorgant's right foot and Jackson's equally deadly left foot have shared the honours; this time the brick-built Breton stepped up to curl an unstoppable drive onto the bottom left corner. Magni-flaming-fique!

In reply, a low shot from Bloomfield deflected off Michael Morrison but luckily straight at Hamer before Wright-Phillips wasted the first of two excellent first half chances. A typically adroit header from Kermorgant sent him clear into one-on-one confrontation with Bull but the advancing keeper's left leg blocked the indecisive effort. Bull again saved marvellously, this time from find-of-the season Bradley Pritchard, who cleverly controlled a Chris Solly chip but was foiled by the defiant keeper's agile touch over the bar. Wright-Phillips' weak effort to convert another Solly pass slid wide and seemed to have concluded a busy, end-to-end half. But Wycombe and the elusive Beavon had other ideas.

Scorer of 23 goals in a side with only 61 goals to its credit, Beavon has arguably been League One's outstanding striker. One of his goals was scored in a 2-1 defeat by Charlton back in October and he victimised the Addicks again as one minute of added time commenced. Breaking through on the left, his fierce shot was turned aside by Hamer, with the loose ball returned instantly by right back Marvin McCoy and headed firmly home by Beavon. It was no more than the Chairboys, all grown up into Chairmen by now, deserved.

News that Sheffield United were trailing 1-0 to MK Dons, thanks to an Alan Smith goal of all things, supplied a silver lining to a threatening cloud, but it was the Buckinghamshire chaps who controlled much of the second period. Beavon continued to be a persistent pest and forced Hamer into another fine stop, before the busy keeper combined with Leon Cort to smother Bloomfield's fine solo run as he closed in on the near post. On the hour, Hamer distinguished himself with a brilliant save to deny Joel Grant, who seemed certain to convert Beavon's astute short pass from close range. Wanderers were comfortably on top but, once more, walked into a knockdown shot. And this one put them away for good.

An unusually unproductive Wright-Phillips had been replaced by Danny Haynes, whose pace brought instant rewards. Bursting into the inside left channel, his resourceful cross from the byline was nodded down by Kermorgant and struck first time by Dale Stephens through a crowded penalty area into the left corner. Bar the shouting - and there was plenty of that - the league title had been duly delivered.

Haynes had already justified his arrival but might have made The Valley's customary suffering unnecessary when sent away by still another of Kermorgant's wickedly perceptive passes. Out came Bull to prolong the agony.

For once, it didn't matter. There was no way these redoubtable Addicks, led by their cool captain Jackson, intended to falter. 10-men MK Dons were doing their bit back in Bucks and an invisible wall had been erected in front of Hamer in S.E.7. Following the closing formalities at both venues, the impeccably impartial tones of pitchside announcer Dave Lockwood modestly hinted that Charlton were champions and, with rancour toward none, the faithful wholeheartedly saluted a team that simply refused to consider failure. The worry was all ours. They never doubted themselves. Let that be their lesson to us.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Cort, Wiggins, Wagstaff, Stephens, Pritchard, Jackson, Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Haynes 71). Not used: Sullivan, Taylor, Cook, N'Guessan. Booked: Wright-Phillips.

Referee: D. Sheldrake. Attendance: 18,539.

Carlisle United 0 Charlton 1 (Wright-Phillips 76).

Kevin Nolan reports from Brunton Park.

For the third time in living memory - at least the living memory of supporters of a certain vintage - Charlton clinched promotion at distant Brunton Park, home of Carlisle United. To the celebrations of 1981 and 1986 can now be added the wild jubilation which saluted the end of four agonising added minutes. A short pause to confirm that Sheffield Wednesday had indeed been held to a draw by Colchester United preceded joy unconfined. They're used to playing second fiddle to it in these parts.

A single, 76th minute goal bundled in by Bradley Wright-Phillips added the crucial touch to a performance which fell far short of perfection but had just enough about it to edge them past play-off hopefuls Carlisle. And, frankly, after 43 exhausting tests of spirit and stamina, not one of their 903 ecstatic followers wasted breath in pining for quality. This magnificently defiant side was entitled to their thanks, gratitude and wholehearted commitment. The feeling was entirely mutual.

Wright-Phillips' historic goal was simplicity itself and came as no surprise that it was scored from one of the setpieces which have proved so productive for the Addicks this season. Practice makes perfect and the left wing corner swung out by Johnnie Jackson was headed goalward by Yann Kermorgant but saved athletically by keeper Adam Collin. Trotting over to the right flank, where earlier he had been clearly irritated that Dale Stephens had been assigned flagkick duties, the skipper's inswinging delivery was deliberately nodded back from the far post by Stephens, before being forced past Collin at close range by the predatory Wright-Phillips.

Pragmatic and ruthless, this solid display of teamwork nutshelled the the all-for-one, one-for all virtues of a truly remarkable outfit. Inevitable injuries and suspensions have been covered with seamless effiicency, no better example of which has been the outstanding contribution of Bradly Pritchard, as deputy for banned midfield workaholic Danny Hollands.

Busy, skilful, competitive, Pritchard didn't put a foot wrong at the heart of Charlton's engine room. Not a player to instantly catch the eye, his selfless, all-round effort, however, wouldn't have gone unnoticed by a watchful management team. He set impossible standards for tackles successfully made, passes alertly intercepted and passes of his own accurately completed. His decision making was spot on and having secured a virtual unknown from Hayes & Yeading and watched him rapidly develop into an accomplished professional, Chris Powell positively purred with pleasure.

Pritchard's excellence was hardly isolated. There isn't room in this Charlton side for any player not prepared to do his bit for the cause. Unbeaten from open play in some 630 minutes since March 10th, underrated Ben Hamer continued his steady improvement while, in front of him, League One's best back four registered their 20th clean sheet of a parsimonious season. A fluid midfield, which has weighed in with its fair share of goals, ensured a steady supply line from back to front, while three separate strikers have scored in three consecutive 1-0 wins.

It wouldn't be Charlton, of course, if they didn't subject their fervent fans here and huddled over their wirelesses back home, to almost ritual torture. Their failure to score until only a quarter hour from the end left them vulnerable to a mistake or unexpected moment of brilliance from their hosts. Their goals have dried up recently but they remain capable of ekeing out one when they need it most. But this promotion-clinching victory was based on the usual rock-solid, no-nonsense defending.

Unlucky to lose their top scorer Lee Miller last week, United had their moments, none more threatening than the subtle 18-yard shot curled past a transfixed Hamer by Lee Noble, which rebounded off a post in the 56th minute. Their escape concentrated the Addicks' minds wonderfully and United were barely allowed a sniff of a further chance as the league leaders proceeded to dominate the second half. Jordan Cook did turn in the penalty area to fire over the bar but the home side's threat gradually faded.

Put through by Kermorgant's defence-splitting pass, after Pritchard's ball-winning intervention, Wright-Phillips should have put the visitors in front but shot against the advancing Collin's legs. Biding his time, though, the prolific sharpshooter wasn't kept waiting long for the chance which he converted gleefully before heading over to the corner where his exuberant public awaited him. Kermorgant might have eliminated any late nerves when he stepped inside on to Stephens' pass but saw his cleverly curled effort brilliantly saved by Collin. One goal proved enough, however, as it has done on eight occasions in 2011-12.

Wright-Phillips' strike, meanwhile, meant that the most important item on Charlton's agenda had been dealt with but until they deliver the League title, their race has not been run. England might not expect but many thousands of success-hungry acolytes certainly do. We will re-convene next Saturday in hope, not to mention expectation. Until, then, rejoice.

Carlisle: Collin, Simek, Livesey, Michalik, Murphy, Taiwo (Beck 82), Noble, McGovern (Welsh 82), Berrett, Cook (Madden 74), Zoko. Not used: Robson, Thirlwell.

Referee: D. Webb. Attendance: 6,625.

Charlton 1 (N'Guessan 35) Walsall 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Forty eight hours after limping away from a pitched battle in Oldham on a soggy old pitch which practically guaranteed a battle, Charlton were up to their necks in pressure from relegation haunted Walsall. And whaddya know, they dug in again, manned the trenches and emerged with a second 1-0 win of vital importance. Call it defiance, bloodymindedness, guts, call it anything you like but I go for "gumption". It's a lovely, old-fashioned word, ain't it? Gumption, otherwise known as commonsense. Roll it around your tongue. Savour it. But only use it when it fits the bill.

The Addicks were up against it at The Valley on Easter Monday. Without midfield workhorse Danny Hollands and 100 percenter Scott Wagstaff, both sent off at Boundary Park by Pa Kettle, that hanging judge of a referee, demands were made on Chris Powell's resourcefulness. The return of skipper Johnnie Jackson from injury was timely and he replaced Lee Cook on the left. Dany N'Guessan moved over to fill in for Wagstaff on the right flank, where he proved to be a roving revelation, while eager rookie Bradley Pritchard brought non-stop endeavour with him in covering Hollands' absence in central midfield. Show Powell a gap and he plugs it. He's a clever plugger.

Perched above the relegation trapdoor though they were, the Saddlers were hugely impressive. Keeping their shape admirably, they trusted their ability to play along the ground and enjoyed at least as much possession as their league leading hosts. Their Achilles heel, unfortunately, was an obvious lack of cutting edge up front. After Florent Cuvelier bounced an early shot wide and tricky customer Alex Nicholls blistered Ben Hamer's hands with a ferociously angled drive before ten minutes had elapsed, their neat approach play achieved little end product. Not that Charlton could ever relax. That luxury was denied them by their persistent visitors. Every game takes more out of both players and fans. You should see my fingernails.

Allowing for the bitterness of defeat, Walsall boss Dean Smith was possibly a little carried away in claiming that his side had bossed virtually the whole game. His frustration also led him to label the free kick, from which N'Guessan headed the 35th minute winner as "soft", a dopey footballing euphemism understood to mean "unjustified." Let's have a glance at the old notes here and see if we can clear it up for him. No, sorry, Smudger, it says here that your left back Mat Sadler blatantly fouled N'Guessan on the right touchline, some 60 yards, remember, from your technical area, and it was just your wretched luck that Mr. Phillips was better placed than you to catch him at it. The quality of Jackson's wickedly inswinging free kick and the no-nonsense header from N'Guessan were, of course, beyond dispute, as no doubt you'll concede. It's without rancour that we remind you that games of football are decided by goals, not the promise of goals. It's a sod sometimes but that's just the way it is.

It helps enormously, of course, if you can also stop the other side scoring, something the Addicks have achieved on 19 occasions this season. In fact they have conceded only 31 goals in 42 games, which works out at, er, .75 per game or, put it another way, let's see, 3/4 of a goal per 90 minutes. Do your own maths, I can take you only so far. Just don't forget to carry the one.

The touchingly blinkered Smith probably doesn't have a lot to worry about, based on the West Midlanders' spirited display. We wish him well but here on this website, you're naturally more interested in Charlton's prospects. Well, very briefly, they're looking up with four games to go. For the second time over Easter, Sheffield Wednesday were given the obvious advantage of kicking off before the league leaders. And for the second time, Powell's wounded warriors held them at bay. Now nine points behind, Sheffield United play at Rochdale on Tuesday evening, which looks like a gimme but might not turn out to be. Catch these Addicks if you can.

Back to Easter Monday. It might be invidious to pick out individuals from an outstanding team display so we'll firmly resist the temptation? Except to say that N'Guessan was terrific, as were the elegantly understated Dale Stephens and the wily coyote that is Chris Solly. Left back Rhoys Wiggins attacked as well as he defended, while centre backs Leon Cort and Michael Morrison were impregnable. Pritchard ably made up for Hollands' absence, Jackson's smooth influence was pervasive, strikers Yann Kermorgant and Bradley Wright-Phillips not quite at their impressive best but still a handful.

Substitutes Matt Taylor, Danny Haynes and Lee Cook did what was asked of them, with Haynes and Cook particularly adept at running down the clock, a practice which Smith cheerfully cited as proof of Charlton's inferiority. But like I say, it wouldn't do to pick out individuals, except to point out that Ben Hamer was mentioned in his manager's post-game dispatches for a couple of key saves and generally sound handling. The ball boys all did well. Not to mention Erol Umit, whose expert gumption regularly pieced together Yann Kermorgant's battered body. Jolly well done, all of you!

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Wiggins, N'Guessan (Cook 86), Pritchard, Stephens, Jackson (Taylor 90), Kemorgant, Wright-Phillips (Haynes 78). Not used: Sullivan, Hughes.

Attendance: 15,253.

Oldham Athletic 0 Charlton 1 (Kermorgant 49).

Kevin Nolan reports from Boundary Park.

The first of three gruelling cross-Pennines treks which complete Charlton's peregrinations up and down the green sward that is England, brought them to unlovely but loveable Oldham on Easter Saturday. The old town looked the same as they stepped down from the train, a battered relic of the palmy days when cotton was king, the mills were satanic and the exploited natives occasionally mutinous. They fought for their rights around these parts - Luddites, suffragettes and trade unionists among other turbulent protesters. Their legacy is everywhere.

On the face of it, Charlton's assignment at dogeared Boundary Park didn't seem too daunting. Out of touch with the play-offs but safe from relegation, the Latics suggested precisely the kind of obliging mid-table opposition promotion candidates dream about. The Addicks simply needed to slip into town, pick up the points and prepare for a much tougher Easter Monday task at home to relegation-haunted Walsall.

So much for expectations. The reality pitched Charlton into a riotous, titanic battle which featured three red cards and eleven yellow cards, besides raging fiercely until the last seconds of five added minutes ran out. And when this exercise in suffocating intensity finally ended, the nine-man visitors had clung to an uphill victory of inestimable value. Midway through a deceptively routine first half, to understate the case, that seemed unlikely.

The opening exchanges had been innocuous enough, with only an early chance missed by Scott Wagstaff and a caution issued to Jean Yves M'Voto for hacking down Yann Kermorgant, worthy of mention. Both Wagstaff and M'Voto were to feature heavily in later events.

A spirited but far from vicious encounter was beginning to settle down when deputy skipper Danny Hollands needlessly piled into Kieran Lee on the left touchline. Intent was irrelevant and a red card possibly justified. Deserved or not, the loss of their dynamic midfielder took the wind out of Charlton's gathering sails in a game they simply had to win, with the hot breath of their relentless Sheffield pursuers singeing their neck. As they briefly wilted, M'Voto made it his business to generously even the odds no more than ten minutes later.

Apparently oblivious to his earlier yellow card, M'Voto again clattered into Kermorgant's back, for the second time in the no-man's land of the centre circle. His exagerrated disbelief when given his marching orders was comical - but hollow. The pendulum duly shifted in the league leaders' favour.

Four minutes into the second half, M'Voto's self-imposed absence in central defence returned to haunt the Lancastrians as Charlton grabbed the game's only goal - and what a goal it was. Never reluctant to steam down the touchline, freewheeling left back Rhoys Wiggins was sent on his way by Dany N'Guessan's astute pass and before running out of space at the corner flag, whipped over a juicy cross to the far post. Free from M'Voto's attentions, Kermorgant stooped to guide a precise header beyond Dean Bouzanis' left hand and give Oldham a lesson in devastating counter attacking.

Stung into reprisal, the Latics almost equalised immediately. A sweet exchange of passes between Robbie Simpson and Tom Adeyemi created room for the latter to shoot from 15 yards before the outstanding Leon Cort hurled himself into a key block. The big, commanding centre back repeated the feat in the closing stages to foil Adeyemi again.

A rousing game was rocketing along at breakneck speed when Wagstaff, already booked for tripping Harry Bunn, received a draconian yellow card from disciplinarian Trevor Kettle for a patently accidental foul on Dean Furman. Charlton's hardworking wide man clearly slipped in challenging Furman, with a free kick no more than the Latics had coming. Once again, the pressure was on the visitors.

With the protection of Kermorgant's priceless goal now the pressing priority, Matt Taylor was rushed in to complete a defiant back five as blocks, tackles and interceptions defied the desperate Latics. The thin red line wavered but held. They were magnificent.

Suspensions for Hollands (three games) and Wagstaff (one game) will hopefully be offset by the timely recovery from injury of captain Johnnie Jackson and the welcome return to fine form of Dale Stephens. Jackson's leadership has been missed, while Stephens added genuine non-stop effort to his subtle skills. Chris Solly and Wiggins were again impeccable full backs, Cort overshadowed even the formidable Michael Morrison, whose last minute booking for a foul on substitute Oumare Tounkara was the act of a bone-weary player. Behind the best defence in League One, Ben Hamer put neither foot nor hand wrong. And no doubt, Bradley Wright-Phillips, an unused substitute at Boundary Park, will return refreshed to torment Walsall at The Valley on Monday. A little sleight-of-hand might be required but the gaps will be shored up by a squad whose watchword is never-say-die resilience. Depleted as they were, they had no right to win at Oldham. But win they did for a record-setting 14th time away from home. They're quite a side.

Oldham: Bouzanis, Lee, Brown, M'Voto, Diallo (Tounkara 78), Morais (Hughes 84), Adeyemi, Furman, Simpson, Bunn (Tarkowski 42), Kuqi. Not used: Gerrard, M'Changama.

Referee: Trevor Kettle.
Attendance: 3,641 (601 Charlton fans).

Charlton 2 (Wagstaff 7, N'Guessan 82) Leyton Orient 0

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Strong, committed and defiant, Leyton Orient ticked most of the boxes on the list of demands made of them by Charlton's promotion rivals. Harbouring ambitions of becoming the first- and only - team to pull off a league double over the league leaders, they played some neat stuff, gave their hosts a few nervous moments and weren't above putting it about, as five cautions for physical fouls testified.

The most important box, though, was ticked by Charlton, who bookended a solid, if sometimes nervy, performance, with goals seven minutes from the start and eight minutes from the end of a massively important game. Their victory held off their frustrated Sheffield pursuers by six (United) and eight points (Wednesday) respectively. If they can keep it together now, they will be crowned League One champions. But ifs, like ands, are about as much use as pots and pans as my Mum used to say.

Springing from the starting blocks, the Addicks clearly meant business and visiting goalkeeper Paul Rachubka's heart was probably in his mouth when he clipped Bradley Wright-Philips as the fleetfooted striker rounded him in pursuit of Yann Kermorgant's clever flick. Well up with the play, referee Mark Brown decided against a spotkick but was again ideally positioned to spot Ben Chorley's crude foul on Kermorgant four minutes later.

This time the O's were appropriately punished for their wrongdoing. Kermorgant regained his feet instantly to send left back Rhoys Wiggins careering down the left wing with a quickly taken free kick. Accelerating away from defender Scott Cuthbert, Wiggins fired over a low cross which Scott Wagstaff met crisply at the near post to celebrate his 22nd birthday with his fifth league goal of a start-stop-start again season. A more perfect launch pad was hard to imagine and Charlton appeared to have promptly punched home their advantage but Leon Cort was correctly adjudged to have handled Dale Stephens' corner into the net, with Orient reasonably but vainly suggesting that a booking, not merely a lecture, should have been his reward.

With stylish ex-Addick Matt Spring pulling the constructive strings in midfield, the East Londoners gradually found their feet and it was from Spring's free kick that Kermorgant conceded a left wing corner, swung in dangerously by Adam Reed to cause havoc in Charlton's penalty area. Chorley's ferocious shot was blocked on the line by a human wall formed by Wiggins and goalkeeper Ben Hamer and somehow the rebound was smuggled clear. Spring's blistering 30-yard drive, saved magnificently at the second attempt, by Hamer, confirmed that Orient had recovered from their nightmare start and were firmly in contention.

A roistering first half continued with Cort glancing another of Stephens' inswinging corner narrowly wide of the right post and concluded with David Mooney, one of four former Addicks starting for Orient, somehow escaping a booking for poleaxing Wagstaff with a hopelessly timed challenge on the right touchline. Eccentric Mr. Brown had seen enough by now, with substitute Syam Ben Youssef and Jimmy Smith earning bookings for reckless fouls on Lee Cook and the embattled Kermorgant respectively before the break.

An amazing point-blank double save by Rachubka from Wright-Phillips and Cook, following Danny Hollands' long throw, kept Charlton at bay early in the second period, while their failure to add a second goal transmitted their on-field nerves to the ever-twitchy stands, where a molten mass of tension was already beginning to form. Their peace of mind was hardly helped by the sight of Kevin Lisbie popping up to nod Reed's 68th minute corner narrowly wide or by the desperation with which Hollands hurled himself at Terrell Forbes' cross to clear from Spring at the expense of a corner. Orient were hardly potent but an equaliser was still far from unlikely.

With a quarter hour left, Chris Powell's introduction of loanee Dany N'Guessan for Wright-Phillips caused raised eyebrows, two of them not a million miles north of your reporter's nose. Not for the first time in a hugely impressive first full season, however, the rookie manager trusted his instincts and routed his would-be critics. N' Guessan had hardly touched the ball during some seven fruitless minutes when Cook, who had contributed some neat touches but nothing earth-shattering, picked up a throw from Wiggins, took two steps into space and delivered the kind of cross, for which the description "sumptuous" was intended. Rising above the stricken Forbes, N'Guessan did it complete justice with an emphatic header into the roof of Rachubka's net.

That sudden whoosh of air was easily explained as the collective expulsion of breath being held by another excellent Valley crowd. Like their team, they're standing their ground, paying their dues and praying unaplogetically that May 5th sees them bidding a less than fond farewell to this unforgiving division. We're all in this together, you, me, the chaps from the Bullingdon Club.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Cort, Morrison, Wiggins, Wagstaff, Hollands, Stephens, Cook (Green 87), Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (N'Guessan 75). Not used: Sullivan, Taylor, Pritchard.

Orient: Rachubka, Cuthbert (Ben Youssef 31), Chorley, Leacock, Forbes, Porter (Andrew 82), Spring, Smith, Reed, Lisbie, Mooney (Cox 70). Not used: Laird, Taiwo.

Referee: Mark Brown. Attendance: 17,425.

N.B. No supporters of Leyton Orient were injured in the making of this report. Their feelings were scrupulously protected. Greenwich.co.uk accepts that the same claim cannot be made, in respect of the supporters of Huddersfield Town, Charlton Athletic's opponents last week. Feathers were ruffled, angry words exchanged. We feel an apology is in order and proffer this one in a spirit of North-South rapprochement.

We are sorry you lost your temper and suggest you look for it in the same place as you last saw your sense of humour. We also share your embarrassment at Geoffrey Boycott's claim to be Yorkshire-born and that most of the characters in Emmerdale appear to be Cockneys. We also stand ready to relay to Lancashire your remorse that the unpleasantness between you in the 15th century was all your fault. There was certainly no need for it. We need to get along together so don't be strangers. Call us.

Huddersfield Town 1 (Rhodes 13,pen) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from the Galpharm Stadium.

An incendiary game of numerous flashpoints, most of which involved embattled midfielder Darrel Russell, sent Charlton crashing to a first away league defeat of 2012. They departed West Yorkshire embittered about the part played by an East Yorkshireman in their downfall. And they had a point.

By any system of judgement, Carl Boyeson's control of this vital promotion clash was appalling. It defies belief that the Hull born Tyke was even considered to referee a Yorkshire team with so much at stake. Unless, of course, we're meant to assume that antipathy between East and West Yorkshire rules out any possibility of bias. Only joking, m'lud, but it shouldn't be an issue, should it?

Mr. Boyeson's first key decision effectively sealed the issue and it must be conceded unreservedly that this time his decision was correct.

Chasing back to challenge Gary Roberts as Town attacked their visitors on the break, Russell hunted down the winger, fell for his trickery as he twisted into the penalty area and left enough leg carelessly dangling to make Roberts' fall dramatic. Prolific netbuster Jordan Rhodes calmly made it 32 league goal this season from the penalty spot.

As Charlton were beginning to recover from their nightmare start, Boyeson' second pivotal decision before the interval was much less impressive. His inexplicable reluctance to punish a dreadful, studs-up challenge by Antony Kay on Scott Wagstaff in the centre circle poisoned this tense game's atmosphere beyond recall. Backpedalling self-importantly from the scene of Kay's crime, the official's initial body language suggested that Kay was for the high jump. Surrounded by the perpetrator's colleagues, however, Boyeson softened his stance, showed Kay neither yellow nor red but instead re-started the game with a bounce-ball, though not before booking Ben Hamer for dissent, an insignificant offence alongside the violence that prompted his outburst.

Early in the second half, Russell, who had been performing adequately enough in central midfield was fouled by Kay but re-acted senselessly in kicking out at his opponent as they tangled on the ground. A red card was another of Boyeson's correct calls but Russell should have been accompanied off the field by Lee Novak, who used both hands to push him over again. "If you raise your hands you leave the referee with no option but to dismiss you", that's the mantra we're regularly fed. Well, Mr. Boyeson succeeded in finding an option, which entailed turning a judicial blind eye to Novak's offence. Be fair, though, he did book Kay for the original foul and, remarkably, awarded Charlton a free kick. So the Addicks emerged from the incident with at least a diluted dollop of justice.

Sandwiched between the sporadic mayhem, Charlton, even with ten men, were marginally the better team. Missing the ailing Yann Kermorgant's creativity and aerial threat, they coped comfortably with the Terriers' long ball tactics, while making few chances of their own.

In the early going, Hamer's magnificent save from Rhodes stood out in the general mediocrity. From point-blank range, League One's Player-of-the-Season was set up by Roberts, headed firmly but Hamer's instinctive block foiled him. Rhodes also stabbed wide at the near post after Ward's cross dropped amid flailing feet.

At the other end, Charlton were all too toothless. Michael Morrison glanced Danny Hollands' centre wide, then Holland himself shot over the bar. During a late rally, Hollands crossed, Morrison nodded back from the far post but Leon Cort, despite an heroic effort, could do no better than head down into the turf and harmlessly over the bar.

Defeat increases the pressure on the stuttering Addicks. It's essential that they climb out of the clutches of League One, which, for all the fancy spin, boils down to Division Three, before they become institutionalised in it. That's precisely what happened to the freewheeling side of 1957-58, which mounted a brave effort to climb directly back to Division One (think Premiership) the season after they were relegated in 1956-57. A tempestuous, wildly entertaining effort ended in crushing anti-climax in the season's last game on April 26th 1958, with 4-3 defeat by Blackburn Rovers, who leapfrogged the Addicks to join champions West Ham in the top flight. Over 56,000 hearts were broken on that fateful afternoon.

It's fair to say that Charlton Athletic were shattered by their heroic failure. They subsequently endured seemingly endless seasons of yo-yoing between Divisions Two and Three until Lennie Lawrence hauled them back into Division One in 1986.
If we don't learn from history, we're doomed to repeat its mistakes. And 1957-58 hands us down a warning from history.
Failure this season is unthinkable. There might not be another chance half as golden as this one and it musn't slip through Charlton's fingers. The repercussions would dwarf those of 54 years ago. And some of us don't have the time to wait it out again.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Hunt, Peter Clarke, Morrison, Tom Clarke, Roberts (Lee 69), Arismendi (Arfield 90), Kay (Gudjonsson 69), Ward, Rhodes, Novak. Not used: Bennett, Woods.

Referee: Carl Boyeson. Attendance: 15,735.

Edit: This post was amended at 20.04 on Sunday 25th March.