Bob Peeters did not get the three points he wanted as a 41st birthday present on Saturday. A Rohan Ince header was enough to win the game for the visitors.

Rhoys Wiggins returned after nearly ten weeks out, allowing Peeters to pick his first choice back-four. Oguchi Onyewu was another who had recovered sufficiently to be involved and took his place on the bench.

As expected, new signings Marko Dmotrovic and Tony Watt, were also amongst the subs.

Lawrie Wilson replaced the suspended Yoni Buyens in midfield, with Johann Gudmundsson switching to the left and Jordan Cousins moved into the middle to partner Johnnie Jackson.

Peeters lost Jackson to injury at the interval and six minutes later, George Tucudean had to be replaced after picking up a knock.

Cue the first appearance of Tony Watt in English football. Watt looked sharp, is pacy, powerful and a feisty character. He berated Wiggins when he did not make the overlapping run he wanted.

After the game, the young Scot said all he wants to do is win. If only more of his colleagues had shown his desire.

Clearly Charlton is not a happy ship at the moment and action needs to be taken to sort it out.

The game was turned on its head just after the hour mark. First some trickery by Watt allowed the Scot to play the ball into the path of Chris Solly.

Solly’s thunderous shot from outside the box crashed down off the underside of the bar but unfortunately for the Addicks, did not cross the line.

A minute later, the Seagulls scored the decisive goal. Andre Bikey conceded a needless free-kick on the touchline in front of the West Stand.

Not for the first time, the frailty of Charlton’s zonal marking system was exposed.

Brighton had done their home work and floated the ball beyond the far post for Rohan Ince to rise majestically to head past Neil Etheridge at his near post. Etheridge may feel he should have done better.

It was a game where one goal always seemed likely enough to settle it.

The Addicks move on to Watford next week, looking to end their depressing run of just two wins from the last sixteen games. They will need to have more players on top of their game than they had in this one, if they are to get anything from the trip to Vicarage Road.

Charlton: Etheridge; Solly, Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins; Wilson (Church 66), Cousins, Jackson (Gomez 46), Gudmundsson; Tucudean (Watt 51), Vetokele.

Subs (not used): Dmitrovic, Onyewu, Fox, Muldoon.

Brighton: Stockdale; Bennett, Greer, Dunk, Calderon; Holla, March, Forster-Caskey (Halford 88), Ince (Bruno 71); Mackail-Smith (O’Grady 71), Baldock.

Subs (not used): Walton, Hughes, Teixeira, Colunga.

Goal: Ince 62.

Booked: Bruno 74 (foul).

Goal: Ince 62

Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire).

Attn: 17,865 (3,123 Brighton).