Chris Powell made three changes from the team that lost to Sheffield Wednesday last week and opted for what looked like a defensive line-up.

Leon Cort replaced Matt Taylor at the heart of the defence, Dorian Dervite came in for Dale Stephens, to provide a shield in midfield and Ricardo Fuller was preferred to Yann Kermorgant for the lone striking role.

Defensive it may have looked but the Addicks spent most of the first half camped in Palace’s half. The visitors took the lead with a virtuoso goal from Fuller after 14 minutes. Expertly controlling a high ball from Chris Solly, the Jamaican hitman cut in from the right, jinked past a clutch of defenders and fired the ball through Speroni’s legs and into the far corner.

Charlton had chances to extend their lead. Speroni foiled Bradley Pritchard at the cost of a corner. Johnnie Jackson took the right-wing flag-kick and found Cort, who headed over from close range.

Seven minutes before the interval, the Addicks launched a sweeping move down the left. Scott Wagstaff sent Cedric Evina clear and the full-back’s deep cross to the far post was headed back by Lawrie Wilson, but Jackson’s header drifted wide.

Such was the visitors’ dominance, that the Eagles were booed off by their own fans at half-time. In contrast, the travelling 3,091 Charlton fans – who had kept up a barage of noise throughout the half – gave their heroes a rapturous ovation. The only concern was whether the visitors would live to rue those missed chances.

Ian Holloway introduced veteran striker, Kevin Phillips, at the start of the second period. Phillips proved to be instrumental in changing Palace’s fortunes. The hosts gradually got a foothold in the game and saw far more of the ball than they had in the opening period.

Charlton still had their moments though and another sublime effort from Fuller had Speroni scrambling to tip over.

Substitute, Stephen Dobbie, drew a breathtaking save from Ben Hamer as the game edged towards the last quarter of an hour. Moments later Palace restored parity when Dean Moxey squared the ball to Glenn Murray who steered it past Hamer’s outstretched left hand and into the corner of the net.

Four minutes later, Murray stood the game on its head. Superbly brining down a high ball in the area, Palace’s top scorer beat Hamer at his right-hand post.

Try as they might, the Addicks could not conjure up an equaliser but they will feel their first half efforts deserved some reward.

Charlton: Hamer; Solly, Cort, Morrison, Evina; Dervite, Pritchard, Jackson (Kermorgant 81); Wilson (Haynes 81), Wagstaff (Wiggins 73); Fuller.

Subs (not used): Button, Taylor, Stephens, Wright-Phillips.

Goal: Fuller 14.

Crystal Palace: Speroni; Richards, Ramage, Delaney, Moxey; Marrow, O’Keefe (Williams 67), Butterfield (Phillips 46); Zaha, Bolasie (Dobbie 67), Murray.

Subs (not used): Price, Blake, Wilbraham, Parr.

Goals: Murray 75, 79.

Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Att: 17,945 (3,091 Charlton).

Picture supplied by Ed Boyden. To see more of Ed’s photos, visit www.edboydenphotos.co.uk