The Addicks grabbed another three priceless points thanks to a Frederic Bulot brace at The Valley on Tuesday evening.
Guy Luzon had Chris Solly, Roger Johnson and the influential Johann Gudmundsson to add to his growing injury list.
Keeper, Stephen Henderson, was skipper and had a makeshift back four in front of him. Lawrie Wilson came in for Solly, rookie defender, Joe Gomez, had midfielder alou Diarra as his partner in the heart of the defence with Morgan Fox at left-back.
Callum Harriott replaced Gudmundsson on the right, in an otherwise unchanged midfield. Tony Watt and Igor Vetokele were again paired up front.
Mikhail Antonio caused problems down the Charlton right and Luzon shuffled his pack at half-time. Andre Bikey came on for Wilson, with Gomez switching to right-back.
The ineffective Harriott limped off at the break and was replaced by Chris Eagles.
The Addicks were in front after just seven minutes. Jamaal Lascelles picked up a yellow when he brought Watt down as he shimmied across the edge of the box.
Charlton made light of the absence of set-piece specialist Gudmundsson. Up stepped Bulot to rifle his kick past Karl Darlow’s right hand to give the hosts the lead.
Seven minutes later Forest were level when Antonio cut in from the left and fired across Henderson into the far corner.
Forest held the upper hand for a while but it was the Addicks who regained the lead six minutes before the break.
Good work by Watt and Wilson down the right allowed the full-back to pull the ball back for Bulot to swivel and score.
Though the game seemed destined to have more goals, that was the end of the scoring. Charlton saw out much of the three added minutes near the corner flag, denying Forest possession.
This was the Addicks’ fourth win in their last five games and cemented their position in the top half of the table.
They now have 45 points and are tantalisingly close to safety, who would have thought that was possible a few weeks ago?
Charlton: Henderson; Wilson (Bikey 46), Gomez, Diarra, Fox; Harriott (Eagles 46), Cousins, Buyens Bulot; Vetokele (Lepoint 88), Watt,
Subs (not used): Dmitrović, Church, Lennon, Ahearne-Grant.
Goals: Bulot 7, 38.
Nottingham Forest: Darlow; Lichaj, Lascelles, Collins, Fox; Burke, Gardner (Vaughan 66), Osborn, Lansbury (Veldwijk 79), Antonio; Fryatt (Blackstock 71).
Subs (not used): De Vries, Mancienne, Wilson, Paterson.
Goal: Antonio 14.
Booked: Lascelles 6 (foul), Lansbury 32 (foul), Lichaj 90 (foul ), Antonio 90 (foul).
Referee: Simon Hooper ( Wiltshire).
Attn: 14,937 (1,559 Forest).