Always keen to explore the philosophical implications behind matters of great importance, Basil Fawlty knew a thing or two about the effects of losing to the last minute goal. He understood that it knocked what was left of your stuffing out of you. As he shrewdly observed, "it's so final!"

Okay, so Basil was actually talking about death at the time but it's not such a leap from one thing to the other. They both leave you breathless. And though Charlton didn't suffer last gasp heartbreak and it's true nobody died on Saturday, the mood aboard Betty Hutchins' supporters' coach on its way to Chesterfield shortly after 10 a.m. became abruptly blacker than Newgate's knocker. You could have blown us down with a feather when word filtered through that the game at BT Internet@hotmail.dot.com.uk Stadium was off. Kaput. Down the Swanee. Up the Pictures. A Diabolical Liberty.

We'd set off from Anchor and Hope Lane at 9.20 a.m in reasonably good shape and hoping for the best, ignorant of the fact that the overnight temperature in North Derbyshire had plummeted (temperatures either plummet or soar) to ten below and that there had never been a chance this game would go ahead and, in fact, should have been already postponed. But there are, of course, motions to be gone through and referee Colin Webster presumably thought he was doing everyone a favour by scheduling his pitch inspection for 10 o'clock. So by the time he drew the blindingly obvious conclusion that play had never been remotely possible, we were already on the M25, blissfully unaware that we were on a journey to nowhere. It hadn't occurred to Webster to swerve his hotel shower till later, bolt his breakfast and do his job at 9 a.m. instead. Then a quick call to Charlton might have had us back in bed by ten. Here's a word for Webster's Dictionary. Twerp. Here's three more. Waste of space.

The reaction through the coach was one of quiet resignation. Football fans are used to being mucked about. But a second successive Saturday in front of Ceefax was almost too much to bear. I don't know how they do it. At the game, after all, you can offer helpful advice and kid yourself anyone even hears it. At Tuesday's clash with Bury, I knew exactly what Dale Stephens needed not to do when the ball rolled out to him in the 93rd minute. I was still screaming "Don't shoot!" as his fearsome drive bulged the rigging. I'm no tactical titan, that's for sure but I do what I can. And I'm always ready to share my acumen with childlike generosity. "Get rid of it!", I cry, or "Anywhere'll do!" But I'm not all about negativity. When we're behind, I've been known to urge Charlton to "Keep it on the Island!" You won't find those pieces of sound advice in the modern coaching manuals. It did Harold Phipps no harm. Dear old Harold mastered the first two but found the third one tricky.

So I settled down to watch England in the rugby, promising myself I wouldn't keep checking the Sheffield clubs. And I stuck to my guns until half-time when my manly restraint was rewarded by two 0-0 scorelines. I couldn't stand it, though, and when I checked again, stone me, Jermaine Johnson had scored for Wednesday at Exeter, while United were 2-0 up at home to Wycombe.

Well, that's it, I told myself and returned to the rucking and mauling in Rome for consolation. At precisely 4.47 p.m I braced myself for disappointment and punched up 318 to confirm the worst. And, blimey, good old Exeter were only beating Wednesday 2-1 but it wasn't over. Back I went to the rugger, where the pack had collapsed or something, so I sensibly left them to it and , dreading the worst, tempted fate again at St. James Park. Still 2-1, ten to four but they're still at it. By now, I was hysterically willing the invisible Grecians to get rid of it and assuring them that anywhere will do when an unseen hand smoothly replaced that agonising "L" with what was, by then, the two most attractive letters in the alphabet. "FT" it announced and we had consolidated our advantage over Wednesday without even playing. United won 3-0 but you can't have everything.

Expecting to be home about 10.30, there was an unexpected Saturday evening to fill but we were too drained go out. A thoroughly satisfying menu of Dad's Army, Harry Hill and Desperate Midwives on our Eye pods did the trick before the football saw us off. But not before one more helping of "The Kipper and the Corpse" from Basil and the chaps. And then it really was final.

Charlton 1 (Stephens 90) Bury 1 (John-Lewis 43).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

An evening of screaming frustration for Charlton was relentlessly heading for a demoralising conclusion when, with three of five added minutes already played, a skidding rebound from visiting goalkeeper Cameron Belford's parry of Michael Morrison's close range effort reached midfielder Dale Stephens some 30 yards from Bury's goal.

Making his first start following a three-month injury absence, Stephens could have been excused for chipping the ball back into a heavily congested penalty area in search of an equally desperate colleague. Instead an all-or-nothing first time blockbuster ripped past Belford on its way into the top right corner and pandemonium gripped an almost disbelieving Valley. This was one of those instances when a draw felt as psychologically satisfying as a victory. And the irony of the last-gasp equaliser won't be lost on Belford, whose blatant time-wasting, as much as his inspired goalkeeping, had seemed certain to rob the Addicks of their unbeaten home record.

For Stephens, the moment was especially sweet. His return as a late substitute during last Saturday's narrow win over Exeter had brought with it the added class which this hard-grafting side had lacked in his absence. His ability to dictate the flow of movement and pace helps the side change defence into attack more fluently, a virtue clarified by his brief cameo at St. James Park.

Against determined Bury, whose irritating gamesmanship was balanced by spells of impressive football, Stephens started well as the fulcrum of a team showing slight signs of understandable staleness. The barnstorming momentum which carried all before it during the early season blitz on League One has stuttered since the New Year and spirit alone has sustained the promotion charge. On the playmaker's slim shoulders will be carried the responsibility of restoring flair to the industry. His recovery from injury seems particularly well timed.

Thrashed 3-0 by Rochdale, next Saturday's visitors to The Valley, in their last game, the Shakers clearly had no intention of providing cannon fodder for the runaway league leaders. Well organised and spirited, they gave as good as they got and, in Belford, had a last line of defence in defiant mood.

The chunky keeper cheerfully swapped insults with the North Stand, stood his ground and was well on his way to the last laugh until Stephens spectacularly intervened. His good work began with a smart save from Morrison and continued with a quite brilliant block of Leon Clarke's angled drive, after Johnnie Jackson capped a great run with a perfect pass. He was at it again to turn a downward header from Yann Kermorgant past his right post, again following Jackson's bright approach play.

Growing worryingly disjointed and laborious, Charlton's mission prior to the break became clearly to stay in the game and reach the interval unscathed. They had lived dangerously as early as the 3rd minute when Giles Coke cleverly chest chest trapped a cross before half-volleying wide but were comfortable, if uninspired, before falling behind shortly before a welcome break. A clever flick from wide man Ryan Doble provided lone wolf striker Lenell John-Lewis with the half-yard he needed to swivel sharply and beat Ben Hamer from 15 yards. An already discouraging task promptly doubled its degree of difficulty.

Struggling they might have been but there's no doubting the Addicks' fighting spirit. An otherwise disappointing Danny Green began the second period by bruising Belford's hands with a venomous drive, then the winger's inswinging corner was headed back from the far post by Morrison for Matt Taylor to nod a reasonable chance over the bar. The visitors weren't exactly hanging on but were grateful that a fierce shot from the irresistible Rhoys Wiggins deflected safely off Peter Sweeney and even more thankful that Wiggins' full back partner Chris Solly clipped the outside of the woodwork with an effort, which might (or might not) have flicked off a defensive hand.

Hope was making room for despair as the minutes ebbed away. But you don't count out Chris Powell's battlers until it's officially over. They kept battering at Bury's resistance and Stephens found his range with two well struck, though narrowly wide, snapshots. It looked all up when Jackson drove over the bar but Stephens had one last shot in his locker. And as it bulleted beyond the heroic Belford, the sheer joy of the uber-late goal carried all before it. It wears off, of course, but the euphoria makes the world a briefly better place. If society could tap into it, we'd really be on to something. Speaking personally, I'll spend much of Wednesday patting kids on the head and helping old ladies over busy roads with their shopping. It's the least I can do. And I always do the least I can do.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Green, Hollands (Pritchard 84), Stephens, Jackson, Kermorgant, Clarke (Haynes 73). Not used: Sullivan, Hayes, Cort. Booked: Green.

Bury: Belford, Picken, Hughes, Sodje, Skarz, Amoo, Sweeney, Schumacher, Coke (Carrington 86), Doble (Worrall 85), John-Lewis. Not used: Williams, Bishop, Eastham.

Referee: Andy D'Urso. Attendance: 13,264.

Exeter City 0 Charlton 1 (Green 55).

Kevin Nolan reports from St. James Park.

In football, if you can't be good, at least be lucky. It's good advice, which Charlton followed to the letter in South Devon. In squeezing past lowly Exeter City, the Addicks weren't all that good but just when they needed it most, they got lucky. And like the champions they expect to be in May, they rode that luck to three more vital points. So it turned out they were good enough.

A first half of so-so quality had drifted by almost unnoticed when, 10 minutes after the break, Danny Green moved along the right wing and crossed disappointingly into goalkeeper Artur Krysiak's catching orbit. Distracted by his near post, the big Pole succeeded only in fumbling the ball over his goalline, under modest pressure from Yann Kermorgant. Green duly claimed his third goal of the season and possession being 9/10ths of the law, may hang on to it.

Not that the visitors were undeserving of this important win. Their performance might have lacked sparkle but they had enough about them to prevail by other means. While the Grecians struggled in the defensive vice that has seen Charlton concede only 19 goals in 27 league games, a third consecutive 1-0 victory for the leaders was always likely. Organisation and discipline are part of playing well. Even Barcelona understand their tika-taka is underpinned by those frequently overlooked qualities.

So Charlton's 11th win on the road was unspectacular but soundly based on team spirit and watertight resistance. Any one of a magnificent back four could have been named man-of-the match. Behind them, Ben Hamer survived a couple of the potentially disastrous handling errors which have troubled him lately but contributed two fine second half saves as City sought an unlikely equaliser.

In midfield, the meteoric rise of Bradley Pritchard gathered pace. Owner of an enviable engine, the non-league graduate worked selflessly for the cause, snapping into tackles, stealing possession and passing sensibly. An occasional goal would round off the satisfying development of a player who, just last season, was doing his stuff in the Conference. Manager Chris Powell assures us that he has a few in his locker.

Powell might reserve his broadest smile, though, for the brief, but impressive substitute cameo provided by fit-again Dale Stephens. Recovered from injury after a three-month absence, the slim stylist showed sufficient class during a 10 minute-plus stint to remind the boss what he's been missing. Even in League One's frenetic hurly-burly, there's nothing quite like an innate ability to put a foot on the ball, pick the right pass and dictate the pace of a game. They used to call them "schemers" and no amount of trendy toffee about "operating in the hole" or "dropping in behind the strikers" devalues their importance to a team. Expect Stephens to be back in the starting line-up before very long. It'll be like having a new player.

Elsewhere, there was precious little action to describe. Commanding centre back Matt Taylor, a St. James Park alumnus, supplied the visitors' best first half effort with a nimbly executed overhead shot, which Richard Duffy alertly kicked off the line. Adventurous left back Rhoys Wiggins also got forward to force an alert save from Krysiak at his right post.
At the other end, John O'Flynn wastefully headed a Scott Golbourne cross into Hamer's hands before Danny Coles pounced on rare hesitation from Pritchard but fired left-footed over the bar.

Green's flukey goal had the effect of triggering a second half flurry of activity. Spurred into reprisal by the setback, Grecians gaffer Paul Tisdale went hell-for-leather with two attacking substitutes in Guillem Bauza and Danny Nardiello, whose knuckleheaded dismissal at The Valley in September torpedoed Exeter's chances in an eventual 2-0 defeat.

Tisdale's aggressive statement of intent almost paid instant dividends as Bauza turned sharply to draw an excellent save from Hamer. The Spaniard tried again with a glancing header but Hamer defied him for a second time; first to the rebound, Richard Logan blasted it wildly into the crowd and was probably relieved to discover that he'd been flagged offside.

A second goal was recommended but strikers Bradley Wright-Phillips (9 games) and Kermorgant (5 games) can't buy one between them at the moment. They did combine brilliantly, to be fair, with Wright-Phillips escaping down the left before delivering a peach of a centre which his French partner headed powerfully but inexplicably wide of the left post. Sums up their current plight in a way.

By now practised in the art of stretching a little a long way, the Addicks sensibly made do with what they had, efficiently mopping up City's spasmodic forays on their way to another deceptively narrow, yet relatively comfortable, victory. Their hapless victims were left to "suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune" inflicted by Green's errant right foot. Their fate was sort of like a Grecian tragedy.

What did you think of the match? Post your comments below!

Exeter: Krysiak, Tully, Golbourne, Duffy ( Bauza 56), Archibald-Henville, Coles, Dunne, Noble, Bennett, Taylor ( Nardiello 64), O'Flynn (Logan 56). Not used: Pidgeley, Jones.

Referee: Graham Salisbury. Attendance: 5,439.

Charlton 1 (Jackson 21) Sheffield United 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Victims of the same lethal weapon which destroyed their noisy neighbours Wednesday last week, Sheffield United were sent packing from an euphoric Valley as Charlton completed a magnificent back-to-back league double over their hot pursuers from the Steel City. Having resolutely turned back Wednesday's agricultural assault at Hillsborough, the Addicks blunted United's more cerebral tactics with equal ruthlessness. Not for the first time this season, they demonstrated their ability to cope as efficiently with the smooth as the rough.

This vital victory confirms Charlton as the best side in League One and was sealed by a goal with uncanny echoes of the strike which decided the bruising clash with the Owls. Just seven minutes earlier in this case, skipper Johnnie Jackson lined up a promising free kick from as near as dammit the same spot, from which he launched his match-winning howitzer into the top right corner seven days ago. This latest effort differed only in that it was instead angled for the top left corner and, following earnest consultations with fellow setpiece expert Yann Kermorgant, that is precisely where Jackson planted a fiendishly perfect delivery, with full-length goalkeeper Steve Simonsen helpless to intervene. Again, a goal worthy of winning any game, as surly United boss Danny Wilson grudgingly acknowledged after first making a fool of himself by disputing the award of the free kick.

According to Wilson, United had already been robbed of a rightful throw-in, when Danny Hollands escaped from Kevin McDonald in the centre circle and was clearly upended by the outmanouevred midfielder as he made tracks into Wednesday's half. Far from challenging referee Darren Deadman's obvious decision, United's frustrated gaffer, with the Hillsborough evidence still fresh in South Yorkshire minds, might have been better advised to query his player's judgement in conceding a free kick in the same vicinity. Privately, McDonald might be asked to explain himself.

Before Jackson made his decisive intervention, the Blades had edged the exchanges, with McDonald firing Lee Williamson's pass over the bar and Ben Hamer sent scurrying low to his left to shovel Williamson's free kick around a post. There wasn't much in it but the Addicks hadn't produced much until McDonald sinned, Jackson struck and Wilson seethed. Once again, Charlton were asked to defend their slender advantage for over an hour; once again, superbly anchored by outstanding centre backs Michael Morrison and Matt Taylor, they made sound, if occasionally anxious, work of it. For all their patient pressure, the visitors created few clearcut chances, admittedly not for want of trying.

Before the break, Kermorgant's acrobatic overhead effort, after Morrison returned Jackson's inswinging corner from the far post, skimmed the bar before Harry Maguire ended an absorbing half by heading Williamson's deep flagkick wastefully over the top.

Still struggling to turn his unmistakeable style into tangible effect, Danny Green opened the second half by escaping a booking for heavily bringing down Lesinel Jean-Francois, then pounced on a heading error by the possibly dazed left back but shot firmly into Simonsen's midriff. With the bit between his teeth, Green burst clear again to surprise Simonsen into beating his drive awkwardly away.

Contentious cautions issued to non-stop Bradley Pritchard and Hamer, both for questionable timewasting, presaged referee Deadman's total misreading of a far from dirty game. Before the last ten minutes dissolved into an ugly exchange of yellow and red cards, however, the Addicks escaped intact as Hamer, his handling anything but secure throughout, dropped Williamson's corner at Ched Evans feet. Perhaps startled by the chance, United's top scorer spooned his shot over the bar.

With less than a quarter hour remaining, substitutes Darrel Russell and James Beattie joined the action to make brief but dramatic impacts on this suddenly simmering match. Russell's first contribution was a fullblooded challenge on McDonald in the centre circle, deemed by Deadman to have been two-footed and deserving of dismissal. Kermorgant objected, Beattie took exception to his objection ("My chairman is a lawyer and reliably informs me that strangulation is against the law", was Chris Powell's deadpan comment) and United's veteran striker trailed Russell to the dressing rooms.

All Charlton's fault, concluded Wilson, as he leaped vainly to reach the grapes and points dangling so tantalisingly over his head. Must be a barrel of fun when he and Wednesday manager Gary Megson square off (4-4 mayhem the last time they tangled). The truth both of them are at pains to ignore is that the South East Londoners have proved too good for them this season. Throw in Huddersfield (and far more forgivably, Halifax) and, one way or another the Addicks have made soggy puddings of their Yorkshire rivals. Roasted 'em, in fact.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Green (Russell 76), Hollands, Pritchard, Jackson, Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Haynes 86). Not used: Sullivan, Cort, Clarke. Booked: Wiggins, Pritchard, Hamer, Kermorgant. Sent off: Russell.

Referee: Darren Deadman. Attendance: 20,992.

Sheffield Wednesday 0 Charlton 1 (Jackson 28).

Kevin Nolan reports from Hillsborough.

It might be stating the obvious but the first leg of Charlton's pair of back-to-back Sheffield fixtures worked out rather nicely. The cockle-warming performance which knocked the stuffing out of Sheffield Wednesday featured 14 red-shirted heroes, each of them ready to put his body painfully on the line. It was tense, hectic, sometimes violent and, as an added bonus, it was won by a truly marvellous goal, about which you'll want to hear without delay.

Midway through a bruising first half, the outstanding Bradley Pritchard knocked the ball between hulking defenders Rob Jones and Reda Johnson, before accelerating smoothly in pursuit of a possible shooting chance. Ruthlessly closing the gap, Wednesday's bouncers combined ruthlessly to nail the eager midfielder to the turf. The stonewall free kick, some 25 yards out and to the right of goal, briefly interested Yann Kermorgant, scorer of a setpiece beauty at Yeovil recently, but the angle clearly better suited the left-footed marksmanship of skipper Johnnie Jackson. A sumptuously curled drive duly left home keeper Nicky Weaver helpless on its unerring journey into the top right corner. There was no way of knowing at the time but this prickly, contentious game had already been settled by a flash of sheer quality.

His important contribution to the game's only goal was but one highlight in Pritchard's fine display. The non-stop newcomer consistently broke up the Owls' midfield approach play, setting up Charlton's slick counterattacking with economical passing and give-and-go movement. Since breaking into Chris Powell's side, the indefatigable non-league graduate has made himself at home, without awe of, or undue respect for, better known opponents. Afraid of nobody, he gets his foot in and will take some shifting from Charlton's central midfield. His enthusiasm is infectious.

Pritchard was surrounded by courageous colleagues. This determined Charlton side, light years removed from the collection of invisible ciphers who let down the club last season, simply refused to break under the direct area-to-area bombardment orchestrated by old school boss Gary Megson. Goalkeeper Ben Hamer stood up manfully to some borderline bump-and-bore tactics; centre backs Michael Morrison (as an ex-Owl on the end of some waspish comments from Megson) and Matt Taylor gave as good as they got physically; excellent full backs Chris Solly and Rhoys Wiggins didn't put a foot wrong between them.
Powell's midfield four scrapped for everything, with Pritchard's workrate matched by Danny Hollands while wide men Jackson and Danny Green provided skill along the flanks.

Up front, meanwhile, the goals which came so effortlessly for Bradley Wright-Phillips and Kermorgant earlier in the campaign have temporarily dried up but it's worth recording that Charlton's watertight defending (19 goals now conceded in 25 league games) has much to do with their wholehearted closing down of would-be ball carriers. You have to wade through layers of cover to get to Hamer.

The majority of the Addicks' chances at history-steeped Hillsborough fell to Wright-Phillips, now without a league goal in seven games since he scored the winner at Brentford on November 19th. The first, after just 4 minutes, was set up by Kermorgant and stung Weaver's hands from an acute angle. At the other end, the visitors lived dangerously themselves when tricky loanee Ben Marshall bamboozled Taylor along the left touchline to supply Chris Lines beyond the far post. Lines' low, angled shot was parried by Hamer, then hacked clear by Taylor. Hamer was grateful later that Johnson tamely headed an unchallenged chance into his hands.

Five minutes after the break, Wright-Phillips squandered a golden opportunity to spare his side an increasingly fraught ordeal. Too quick for Rob Jones as they disputed Hollands' cleverly flighted ball over the top, he shook off the struggling centre back but failed to beat the advancing Weaver in one-on-one confrontation. Weaver also won their third duel, sprawling full length to turn the goal-starved forward's low snapshot around his right post.

As the home bench, not to mention a poisonously hostile crowd, grew nasty, Wednesday's quest for an equaliser became desperate. They came closest in added time when substitute Clinton Morrison, whose goal earned them a point at The Valley in September, touched a deep cross from Miguel Llera past Hamer. Popping up on the line, Jackson booted the ball off the line.

Wednesday's children were full of woe by now, their hearts broken by the resilient toughness of a side they expected to bully into submission. The Steel City will try again on Saturday, when United come to town. These Addicks will be ready for them. Count on it.

Wednesday: Weaver, Mike Jones (Lowe 64), Batth, Rob Jones, Johnson, Otsemobor, Lines, Semedo, Marshall (Morrison 74), Madine (Llera 64), O'Grady. Not used: Bywater, Prutton. Booked: Madine, Mike Jones, Semedo, Lowe, Rob Jones.
Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Green (Russell 72), Hollands, Pritchard (Cort 90), Jackson, Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Clarke 74). Not used: Sullivan, Stephens. Booked: Kermorgant.
Referee: Neil Swarbrick. Attendance: 26,759.

Fulham 4 (Dempsey 8,62 pen,80, Duff 86) Charlton 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from Craven Cottage.

Beaten but far from disgraced, Charlton made a spirited, though possibly unlamented, exit from the FA Cup at the hands of Fulham - or, more accurately, the feet of Clint Dempsey, the Cottagers' teak-tough Texan. Dempsey's hat-trick fired the Premier League side into the Fourth Round draw, leaving the Addicks free to concentrate on more pressing concerns - namely finding the right exit from League One. The decks have been neatly cleared for next Saturday's crucial clash with hot pursuers Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

There was, of course, no suggestion that Chris Powell approached this Third Round tie with anything but total commitment. His strongest available side distinguished itself against Fulham, whose manager Martin Jol took the visitors seriously enough to respond in kind. In Dempsey, Jol had that extra edge in class, which tipped the balance in the West Londoners' favour. There was precious little else between them.

Roared on by over 7,000 travelling fans, doing their bit to swell an otherwise threadbare home crowd, the Addicks began brightly, with Danny Hollands meeting Johnnie Jackson's inswinging corner and forcing John Arne Riise to clear his header off the line. Fulham responded immediately by snatching an important early lead.

Orchestrator of much of his side's approach play, veteran schemer Danny Murphy was coming in for the usual, ill-advised abuse from the visiting terraces, his every cultured touch jeered, any semblance of a mistake celebrated. There was plenty of the former, all but none of the latter. The midfield maestro hardly misplaced a pass, though the 8th minute delivery he threaded through to Dempsey enjoyed a fortunate deflection which played the American clear of a wrongfooted defence. As John Sullivan valiantly spread himself to block, Dempsey coolly steered the ball inside the right post.

If they were demoralised by the setback, the visitors manfully disguised their disappointment. Clever combination between Bradley Wright-Phillips and Yann Kermorgant provided space for the big Breton to chip skilfully for the far corner. At full stretch, David Stockdale made the first of several fine saves in clawing the shot aside, with Jackson drilling the rebound into the sidenet from an acute angle. Stockdale was tested again as Wright-Phillips anticipated Brede Hangeland's weak backheader, catching up with the ball near the left byline before cutting in to shoot fiercely with his right foot. Stockdale's legs blocked the shot at his near post. A rousing Cup tie was underway.

Enjoying himself immensely in central midfield, meanwhile, fearless Bradley Pritchard was taking on Murphy and winning his share of personal battles. Behind him, the indomitable Chris Solly initially found winger Kerim Frei a tricky handful but gradually subdued the highly rated youngster; Frei's withdrawal on 56 minutes, proved, however, to be a Pyrrhic victory for Solly which had the unhappy effect of paving the way for substitute Damien Duff to run the Addicks ragged on the right flank. But before that, Charlton were to scare their hosts witless.

Sullivan had already saved marvellously from Murphy's deflected sidefoot drive before the Addicks hit back. A quickfire exchange of passes involving Wright-Phillips and Kermorgant ripped Fulham's defensive cover to ribbons but Stockdale left his line alertly to smother Wright-Phillips close range effort. Proving to be a first class deputy for Mark Schwarzer, Stockdale then took off spectacularly to touch Danny Green's 30-yard piledriver over the bar.

Duff introduced himself by passing in to Bobby Zamora's feet, then accurately curling the return ball towards the left corner, where Sullivan's straining right hand turned the shot aside. A minute later, Dempsey's second goal more or less sealed Fulham's passage into Round Four. Linking up with Bryan Ruiz, he took the Costa Rican's pass and chipped deftly into the right corner. This hardbitten Yank can cope with the rough stuff and produce the most delicate of touches where the occasion demands. He completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Sullivan brought down the flying Ruiz before, four minutes from time, Duff added insult to Charlton's injured pride by benefitting from another outrageous deflection in beating Sullivan from 15 yards.

Charlton's third Cup elimination of the season won't cause undue gloom at The Valley. Unlike Fulham, they entertained no expectation of winning the Cup. Their sights are trained on the Championship where a continuation of their excellent League One form will see them compete next season. That's the be-all, the end-all, a free-for-all. It's tough getting to the top. And it's even tougher staying there.

Fulham: Stockdale, Kelly, Senderos, Hangeland, Riise, Dembele (Kasami 85), Murphy (Sidwell 81), Ruiz, Frei (Duff 59), Dempsey, Zamora. Not used: Etheridge, Sa, Gecov, Aaron Hughes.

Attendance: 20,317.

Charlton 2 (Morrison 31, Green 90) Brentford 0

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

They call it "winning ugly" and Charlton have duly obliged once or twice this season when things weren't exactly going their way. They deserved to beat Brentford despite Bees' manager Uwe Rosler's sour grapes complaint that they had "got away with it" and his even more mystifying claim that the visitors had "dominated the game."

Rosler is hardly a barrel of laughs at the best of times but he had the sliver of a point. Just 48 hours after suffering their second league loss, the Addicks were far from on-song but they also say that "if you can win when you don't play well", you've got the makings of a title-winning side. And being able to bounce back from adversity is another encouraging quality.

Charlton boss Chris Powell allowed himself a rueful grin when apprised of Rosler's comments and dismissed them with the mischievous aside that "I thought we won." He would be more than happy, he allowed, to display panache and flair every week but football just doesn't work that way. Sometimes you have to wade into muck and nettles to find treasure. You do what's necessary.

Buoyed by their remarkable achievement in clawing back a 3-goal deficit to snatch an added time point from promotion chasing MK Dons on New Years Eve, Brentford began brightly, forcing four corners in the opening exchanges. Significantly, however, despite their territorial superiority, Ben Hamer was underworked in the home goal. The same claim could be made at the final whistle and that's an issue Rosler might profitably address, in more retrospective moments after his spleen has been vented on the opposition.

For half an hour, Charlton struggled to find their feet. Full debutant Bradley Pritchard was important in maintaining order, while Carl Cort filled in responsibly for minor injury victim Matt Taylor but it was uphill most of the way. Then the Addicks scored.

Green's long throw instigated the chaos that descended on Brentford's penalty area, Danny Hollands added his physical presence and Michael Morrison headed goalwards. With the West Londoners seeking salvation from an un-coperative linesman, Morrison reached the bouncing ball as keeper Richard Lee dithered and nodded it neatly into his unguarded net. Defensive commitment was non-existent.

Bucked up by their success, Charlton almost undid the good work when Cort's poor header fell to Niall McGinn, who volleyed sharply over the bar. At the other end, Cort should have done better than glance another of Green's long throws wide of a post.

A forgettable game improved after the break. The second half kicked off with a comical mix-up between Lee and Marcel Eger, which the keeper resolved with an emergency fly-kick; it continued with Lee alertly leaving his line to foil Bradley Wright-Phillips and riding his luck as Green failed to bundle in the rebound from an acute angle.

Talismanic skipper Johnnie Jackson was welcomed back on New Years Eve, his understated influence having been missed during his absence. He came within inches of adding to his seven league goals but headed against the right post, following Green's inswinging corner.

Brentford's supposed "domination" was in tatters by now and the Addicks took it to them. The hardworking Yann Kermorgant ran through a ballwatching defence but headed Hamer's long free kick wide, then Morrison wasted a better chance by heading Green's corner off target.

A needless foul by Cort on substitute Gary Alexander gave the Bees their best chance of equality. Sam Saunders blasted the 25-yard free kick into Charlton's wall, with Rosler leading his men in impassioned pleas that a red-clad arm had effected the block. Saunders tried his luck again, this time from the 18-yard line, where over-eager debutant Leon Clarke had chopped down dangerous playmaker Jonathan Douglas, but shot tamely over the bar.

Under no particular pressure but keenly aware that a one-goal lead left them vulnerable, the league leaders sensibly administered a last minute coup-de-grace through the mercurial Green. Having broken his Charlton duck in his previous appearance, the stylish winger doubled his tally by fastening on to a long ball, using Kermorgant as a decoy before cleverly sidestepping Lee and quietly rolling the ball over the line. Charlton had confirmed their first league double of the campaign, subject to Rosler's re-count, of course.

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Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Cort, Wiggins, Green (Hughes 90), Hollands, Pritchard, Jackson (Wagstaff 76), Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Clarke 76). Not used: Sullivan, Taylor.

Brentford: Lee, Diagouraga, Eger, Legge, Woodman, McGinn, Douglas, Bean (Alexander 62), Weston (Saunders 71), Bennett (Dean 62), Donaldson. Not used: Moore, Forrester.

Referee: G. Scott. Attendance: 17,506.

Leyton Orient 1 (Spring 26) Charlton 0.

Dispiriting defeat at the hands of modest Leyton Orient punched holes through 10-man Charlton's deceptively wide lead at the top of League One. With chilling suddenness, the gap seems manageable for both hotly pursuing Sheffield clubs.

A second setback in an otherwise barnstorming season - and this to a similarly deflected goal - is hardly cause for despair though, certainly not when the Addicks' reaction to the first loss is recalled. After losing 1-0 to Stevenage on October 15th, Charlton reeled off six successive league victories. They hope to start the process at home to awkward customers Brentford tomorrow afternoon. It won't be easy.

There was no lack of fight at Brisbane Road on New Years Eve, where the visitors laboured ten-manfully for 83 minutes, following the mildly controversial dismissal of goalkeeper Ben Hamer. Let off the hook by Orient's dreadful finishing, Chris Powell's re-deployed troops gamely stayed in contention until Yann Kermorgant's effort skidded wide in added time and the jig was finally up.

Hamer's judgement in charging out of his penalty area to confront David Mooney, as the Irishman chased down an artfully channelled pass from Lee Cook, is open to serious question. Whether or not he actually handled the ball is also mired in uncertainty (a ricochet off his chest appeared to touch his hand) but, in any case, Michael Morrison seemed ideally placed to deal with Mooney's dubious threat. The keeper's brainstorm made nonsense of Powell's tactics, though the boss's decision to substitute John Sullivan for the wretchedly unlucky Scott Wagstaff might be one he regretted later. Leaving two up front was a bold statement of intent but possibly not suited to a subdued Bradley Wright-Phillips. Wagstaff's indefatigability seemed more the ticket.

From the long-delayed free kick, the Os launched their litany of missed chances, Jimmy Smith's header glancing Cook's free kick wide from close range. Elsewhere, though, Orient made intelligent use of their numerical advantage, with neat one-touch passing and movement designed to keep their depleted opponents working feverishly to cope. At the heart of a fluent midfield, Matthew Spring comfortably switched play from flank to flank; it was the former Addick who claimed the all-important goal before the half hour.

Picked out in space by Terrell Forbes from the right touchline, Spring feinted deftly to wrongfoot Charlton's defence before prodding a hastily contrived shot goalward. Diving in bravely to block, Matt Taylor was desperately unfortunate to divert the ball up and over the helpless Sullivan.

This was clearly an evening where anything that could possibly go wrong was at pains to do so.

Shaken by the twin twists of fate, the Addicks were in danger of subsiding completely. The profligate Smith again spared them by heading Stephen Dawson's perfect cross wide at the far post. Chris Solly's clearance off the line from Scott Cuthbert and a key block by Morrison on Forbes' follow-up kept their side in touch, before Smith was victimised by a linesman's premature flag when, from a flagrantly onside position, he emphatically volleyed Spring's glorious centre past Sullivan.

With virtually nothing coming back at them, the East Londoners continued their assault after the break. The much-persecuted Smith headed Cook's outswinging corner beyond Sullivan but Rhoys Wiggins hacked his effort off the line. Charlton's marauding left back then moved upfield to drive Kermorgant's pass over the bar, in a rare moment of aggression.

On 65 minutes, Orient's almost comical finishing prolonged the agony. Left with only Sullivan to beat following an uncharacteristic mistake by Solly, Mooney dribbled a feeble effort yards wide. He did better moments later but Sullivan turned aside his low left-footed drive.

The overdue replacement by Bradley Pritchard of Bradley Wright-Phillips (to fight another day against Brentford, perhaps) briefly galvanised the ten-men. The newcomer set up Solly for a low, driven cross which was safely gathered by Lee Butcher, with Johnnie Jackson possibly tugged back as he tried to touch in at the near post. Solly then blasted Paul Hayes' over the bar but it was Wiggins who came closest to rescuing a vital point. His low drive was sneaking inside the right post before Ben Chorley booted it to safety. It was a gallant last stand but fated, like Custer's, to end in tears. Unlike Custer, though, they have tomorrow. At The Valley. 3p.m.

Orient: Butcher, Cuthbert, Chorley, Forbes, McSweeney, Smith, Spring, Dawson, Cook (Cox 81), Lisbie, Mooney (Tehoue 72). Not used: Cureton, Porter, Laird.

Referee: Dean Whitestone. Attendance: 5,097.

Yeovil Town 2 (Obika 8, Huntington 50) Charlton 3 (Hollands 16, Kermorgant 60, Green 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from Huish Park.

It was a tediously long time coming but Danny Green's first ever goal for Charlton, when it finally arrived, was not only worth the wait but had the extra virtue of exquisite timing. For it was in the first of four added minutes that the winger struck a low drive across goalkeeper Rene Gilmartin, which found the net off the far post. His exuberant celebrations in front of over 900 Boxing Day pilgrims from South East London were just a little rueful because an earlier booking - his fifth of the season - means he will miss the short New Years Eve trip to Leyton Orient due to suspension. He won't be striking again while the iron is hot.

Charlton's delight at Green's late winner was promptly enhanced as news filtered through that their nearest pursuers Sheffield Wednesday had themselves succumbed to two added time goals at Walsall. The combination of results sent shock waves reverberating through League One and left the Addicks eight points clear at the top.

When the dust settles over this eventful game, however, Chris Powell might have mixed feelings about its fluctuating nature. His side made hard work of beating lowly Yeovil, falling behind twice before their superior pedigree asserted itself; the successful outcome will be rightly savoured but the overall performance will come under more critical scrutiny.

Though never completely satisfied, the manager was no doubt impressed by his side's confident start, during which Green's positive run deserved better than an off-target shot into the sidenet. Having settled down quickly, the visitors were shocked out of their complacency by the Glovers' opening goal.

A needless foul by Matt Taylor on Gavin Williams gave setpiece specialist Max Ehmer the ideal angle for a dangerously swerving free kick, which Yann Kermorgant inadvertently diverted behind sharp striker Jon Obika, who improvised a clever overhead effort. Undecided whether to leave his line, Ben Hamer was caught in no-mans land as the speculative shot sailed over his head.

As if affronted by the setback, Charlton wasted little time in equalising. A left wing corner, earned by Danny Hollands' long throw, was swung in by Green to leave Hollands the simple task of heading in at the far post. They should have forged in front shortly thereafter but Michael Morrison headed Green's delicious cross well wide. At the other end, Morrison misjudged Paul Wotton's lofted pass to allow Obika through but the advancing Hamer did enough to distract the forward, who flicked wide of the right post.

An untidy first half stint had done nothing for Powell's peace of mind but worse was to follow five minutes after resumption as Town forged ahead again. The goal was simplicity itself as centre back Paul Huntington was completely unhindered in heading Edward Upson's corner past Hamer. It seemed that Charlton were going out of their way to lose but, gamely, they rallied again.

While Bradley Wright-Phillips has encountered a hopefully brief scoring slump, his strike partner Yann Kermorgant has admirably picked up the slack in recent games. The Breton was chopped down by Bondz N'Gala and fitted the big centre back's punishment to his crime by bending a superb 25-yard free kick into the top left corner.

The pressure on the stricken home side was immediate as the visitors sought an important winner. They almost managed it as Rhoys Wiggins' deep cross was expertly volleyed back from the far post by Green and Morrison's point blank effort was brilliantly clawed off the line by Gilmartin. The outstanding young keeper also distinguished himself with an impressively agile adjustment of his feet to fingertip a clever chip from Hogan Ephraim over the bar.

It was all Charlton in the closing stages although Wiggins was reduced to blatantly hauling down Blizzard as Charlton's bete noire broke clear from his own half ( the Addicks have bitter memories of a dreadful foul by Blizzard, while a Bristol Rovers player two years ago, which had unpleasant repercussions on the unfortunate victim Grant Basey's subsequent career). In effect, Wiggins took a booking for his team which, while deplored by purists, is grist for the mill among pragmatists.

It was in the aftermath of Wiggins' self sacrifice that Green stepped forward to collar the plaudits. That's not to ignore the wonderful save later made by Hamer from Andrew Williams' delicately flighted chip but it was Green's day.

Yeovil (4-4-2): Gilmartin, Ayling, N'Gala, Huntington, Ehmer, Andrew Williams, Blizzard, Wotton, Upson, Gavin Williams, (O'Brien 76), Obika. Not used: MacLean, Massey, Stewart, Clifford.

Referee: Brendan Malone.

Charlton 1 (Russell 63) Oldham Athletic 1 (Morais 84)

With less than a minute played in this drab game, Charlton earned themselves a routine throw-in deep in the left corner. As Danny Green prepared to deliver one of his long throws, every member of Oldham's team crowded into their penalty area to defend it. As statements of intent go, this one was clarity itself. It warned us that they came here with a point and given the slightest chance, they intended to take it home with them. And who knows, with a break here or there, nick all three.

It's only fair to point out that there is nothing illegal about the Latics' methods. They hustle, harass and work feverishly for each other. They also stay just the right side of the law, except when they waste time. And, boy, do they know how to waste time! They've made it an art form. Every throw-in, goal kick, free kick or corner is a matter of painstaking preparation, involving changes of takers, re-positioning of the ball or any other niggling detail they can think up. All in all, Oldham Athletic were a nagging ache and are one good reason why Charlton must - simply must - make it out of League One this season. This division sucks you down to its colourless level and the danger is in becoming institutionalised.

Having acknowledged how irritating the negativity of Oldham and others can be, it must also be conceded that it's the responsibility of ambitious sides such as Charlton to break them down. Unfortunately, when the Addicks finally turned the trick midway through the second half, their breakthrough succeeded only in spurring their visitors into belated aggression, some impressive football and a cracking equaliser six minutes from time.

Intent as they were on turning the first half into a non-event, the Latics surprised nobody more than themseves by creating two fine chances.The first was fashioned by busy midfielder James Wesolowski, who broke away on the right flank to pull back the perfect pass for Tom Adeyemi. His colleague's air-shot was not only a huge embarrassment to Adeyemi but an equally huge relief to Charlton's outmanouevred defence. Minutes later, wide man Chris Taylor made himself space to unleash a right-footed rocket from 25 yards; twisting athletically in the air, Ben Hamer fingertipped the netbound drive over the bar.

At the other end, meanwhile, the league leaders made little impression. Lured into prolonged bouts of head tennis and exchanges of long ball by their uncomplicated visitors, they pottered away the first period with little or no incident. Green scuffed an effort wide, then Bradley Wright-Phillips, played in by Yann Kermorgant, produced a competent save from the underworked Alex Cisak. It wasn't much to show for their supposed superiority.

The second half promised more, beginning as it did with Wright-Phillips seizing on Danny Hollands' pass to whip a firm drive on the turn into the sidenet. Coming alive, Wright-Phillips was sent through by Green, momentarily rounded Cisak but was foiled by the young Polish keeper's fine recovery. The Addicks, though, were improving and their opener, when it arrived, was just about deserved.

Following play out to the right touchline, centre back Matt Taylor crossed accurately to the far post, where loanee Darrel Russell opened his Charlton account by leaping high to head conclusively into the top left corner.

Their goal should have settled the Addicks down but instead galvanised Oldham. With nothing to lose now, the Lancastrians came out of their shell to reveal a neat-passing, imaginative ensemble. They served notice that they were far from through when Matt Taylor almost involuntarily blocked a piledriver from Shefki Kuqi, then promptly equalised.

Chris Taylor had stood out among his workaday teammates, with positive running and perceptive link-play. Attacking Chris Solly on the left wing, he turned inside the full back to find substitute Filipe Morais in support inside the penalty area. Taking Taylor's pass in his stride, the ex-Chelsea trainee smashed a rising shot into the top right corner.

Charlton's slight dip in form was to be expected and there will be no panic at Sparrows Lane. There's enough about them to take a breather, then start winning again. They clearly miss the all-round talents of skipper Johnnie Jackson and, to a lesser extent, the playmaking of long-term absentee Dale Stephens but the replacements have coped. Jackson and Stephens will be back before long but the continuing good health of midfield dynamo Hollands holds the key. He's the glue that holds the side together at present. He must be discouraged from carving turkeys with super-sharp knives. Or any heavy lifting like horsing around as Santa for his triplets. Their dad's already carrying a heavy load right now. Straws on camels' backs, that sort of stuff. The girls will understand later in life. You just know they're good kids.

Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Morrison, Taylor, Wiggins, Green, Hollands, Russell, Ephraim (Wagstaff 85), Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips. Not used: Sullivan, Euell, Pritchard, Cort.

Referee: L. Collins. Att: 19,564.