The lingering fog finally gave way to hazy sunshine in the run up to kick-off at the Galpharm.

The early news, when the team coach arrived, was the absence of Yann Kermorgant, who had been taken ill. Was recalling Hayes fortuitous timing or was Kermorgant suffering on Friday? No doubt we will find out in the fullness of time.

Chris Powell opted to retain Dany N’Guessan on the left with Hayes resuming his early season partnership with Wright-Phillips up front. Lee Cook was included on the bench for the first time and Pritchard’s energy, was preferred to Green’s guile, on the bench.

Huddersfield had the better of the early exchanges with Gary Roberts and Danny Ward looking dangerous and Ben Hamer was called on to make a smart save from the prolific, Jordan Rhodes.

A Charlton free-kick was cleared to the halfway line where Darel Russell got himself into trouble and lost possession. The ball was played out to Gary Roberts on the left. The winger cut into the area, checked inside, only to be tripped by the retreating Russell.

Jordan Rhodes coolly sent Hamer the wrong way and rolled the penalty to the keeper’s left after 15 minutes.

The Addicks came more into the game as the half wore on, without seriously threatening Smithies in the home goal, but an incident that was later to have dire consequences for the visitors, happened just before the break.

Anthony Kay’s challenge went straight through Wagstaff but went unpunished by referee, Carl Boyeson.

The Addicks started the second period much more brightly. A good move saw Wagstaff roll the ball back to Danny Hollands whose shot flew over the bar.

The game’s major talking point occurred just before the hour mark. Darel Russell received a straight red for an incident with Anthony Kay – the player who had ploughed through Wagstaff earlier. Kay received a yellow for his part in the incident, as did a fortunate Lee Novak, who shoved Russell to the ground in the aftermath.

Powell left three men in midfield but introduced Dale Stephens in the middle, with Hollands pushed further left, in place of N’Guessan who had made way for Stephens.

Paradoxically, Charlton enjoyed their best spell of the game when reduced to ten men.

A later substitution saw Bradley Pritchard come on for Hayes, leaving Wright-Phillips as the lone front man.

Though they huffed and puffed, the Addicks were only able to trouble Smithies once, when he had to make a routine tip over from a Cort header.

Charlton did not get the rub of the green with the refereeing decisions but it was ultimately Russell’s mistake – later compounded by a red card – that cost them dear.

Charlton: Hamer; Solly,  Cort, Morrison, Wiggins; Wagstaff, Russell, Hollands, N’Guessan (Stephens 60);  Hayes (Pritchard 81), Wright-Phillips.

Subs (not used): Sullivan, Taylor,  Cook.

Sending off: Russell 57 (foul).

Huddersfield: Smithies; Hunt, P Clarke,  Morrison, T Clarke; Roberts (Lee 70), Arismendi (Arfield 90), Kay (Gudjonsson 70), Ward; Novak, Rhodes.

Subs (not used): Bennett, Woods.

Goal: Rhodes 15 (pen).

Booked: Kay 57 (foul), Novak 57 (foul).

Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire).

Attn: 15,735 (1,118 Charlton).