Chris Powell reverted to his favoured 4-4-2 formation, with fit again, Ricardo Fuller, partnering Bradley Wright-Phillips in attack.

Hamstring victim, Johnnie Jackson, was the player who missed out in an otherwise unchanged team. Newcomers, Abdul Razak and Rob Hulse had to be content with spots on the bench.

Once again it was an opposition goal that sparked the Addicks into action. A right-wing corner – with the ball looking suspiciously outside the quadrant – was fizzed across for Tommie Hoban to head home after 29 minutes.

Watfor’s joy was short lived. Six minutes later Chris Solly won the ball in midfield and passed it to Dale Stephens. The cultured midfielder played an inch perfect pass into the path of Ricardo Fuller who slipped the ball under Almunia.

The Hornets were reduced to ten men on the stroke of half-time when Fernando Forestieri received a second yellow card from Mike Dean for a blatant dive in the area.

The Hornets made light of their numerical disadvantage after the break. Though the Addicks had periods of sustained pressure, Almunia was not called upon to make more than routine saves.

Watford clinched the game twenty minutes from the end. Wilson was penalised for a foul and Almen Abdi curled a beauty into Hamer’s top right-hand corner.

There was a bizarre moment to follow when Hamer picked up a long back pass and referee Dean awarded an indirect free-kick in the area.

The Addicks piled bodies forward as they went in search of an equaliser but they huffed and puffed but could not quite force the ball home.

Saturday’s tough trip to Blackpool will give the manager plenty of food for thought over the next few days.

Charlton: Hamer; Wilson, Cort, Morrison, Solly; Green (Hulse 79), Stephens, Hollands (Pritchard 79), Kerkar; Fuller, Wright-Phillips.

Subs (not used): Button, Dervite, Evina, Razak, Wagstaff.

Goal: Fuller 35.

Booked: Morrison 42 (foul), Green 68 (foul).

Watford: Almunia; Neuton (Ekstrand 75), Hall, Pudil; Cassetti, Chalobah (Doyley 90), Hogg, Abdi, Hoban; Deeney (Iwelumo 90), Forestieri.

Subs (not used): Bond, Yeates, Murray, Vydra.

Goals: Hoban 29, Abdi 70.

Booked: Forestieri 16 (encroachment), Pudil 45 (dissent), Neuton 56 (foul), Abdi 83 (foul), Almunia 90 (time wasting).

Sent off: Forestieri 45 (diving, second booking).

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Attn: 15,585 (1,359 Watford).