Fortress Valley was breached for the first time since last October when Birmingham snatched a 1-0 win on Saturday, courtesy of a second-half goal from 16-year-old sensation, Jude Bellingham.
Charlton created enough chances to win the game, but without the injured Lyle Taylor they lacked a cutting edge.
Lee Bowyer made two chsnges to the team that won at Reading last time out; Erhun Oztumer came in for Jonny Williams – who dropped to the bench, and Tomer Hemed replaced Taylor.
Williams was rested due to his involvement with Wales in the week. Williams and Taylor are huge influences in the team and were sorely missed, albeit that Williams came on in the second-half.
Hemed clearly lacked match sharpness and will need time to get up to speed.
Hemed, Jonathan Leko, Conor Gallagher and Chris Solly all had decent chances but it was Bellingham who got the decisive goal.
He confidently swept the ball home following a move down the right shortly after the break.
The Addicks put their opponents under plenty of pressure but could not fashion an equaliser.
A disappointed Lee Bowyer – who was shown the red card for throwing the ball at the Birmingham dug out late on – had this to say after the final whistle:
”I thought we were slow to start. I told them what to expect and we knew what to expect from Birmingham. They were going to make it difficult and sit there.
“The first half we didn’t move the ball quickly enough and the second half I thought we were better, but we didn’t take our chances.
“We had enough chances to win the game I thought, certainly not to lose the game.
“It’s disappointing to lose our record in the manner of the way the game has ended. It’s just disappointing.
“The lads are disappointed, I’m disappointed, but, it is what it is we can’t change that now. We just have to dust ourselves down and go again next week.
“We have to bounce back. That’s the mentality that we have; we’re winners and we don’t like losing.
“This does hurt us and it’s how you react. I’ve just said to the players it’s how you react we go again next week, and we have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”With Taylor out long term, Bowyer will be looking to Hemed to produce his best form quickly.
Charlton: Phillips; Solly, Lockyer, Pearce, Purrington; Field (Aneke 71), Cullen, Gallagher, Oztumer (Williams 59); Hemed, Leko (Kayal 78).
Subs (not used): Amos, Pratley, Bonne, Sarr.
Booked: Pearce 35 (foul).
Sent off: Bowyer 90
Birmingham: Camp; Colin, Dean, Roberts, Pedersen; Sunjic, Davis, Mrbati (Maghoma61), Crowley (Gardner 87), Bellingham (Giminez 71); Jutkiewicz.
Subs (not used): Stockdale, Harding, Clarke-Salter, Bailey
Goal: Bellingham 52.
Booked: Davis 81 (foul), Dean 90 (foul), Clotet 90 (time wasting), Gimenez 90 (foul).
Referee: Matthew Donohue (Manchester).
Attendance: 18,752 (3,136 Birmingham).