Charlton Athletic, once again, succumbed to Millwall despite taking the lead at The New Den.

Chris Solly’s dismissal just before the half hour mark was a key factor, and stoically though they defended, the Addicks were hit with two late goals.

Solly and Igor Vetokele returned to the starting line-up and Alou Diarra moved forward into midfield to replace the suspended Yoni Buyens.

Rhoys Wiggins was on the bench but Johnnie Jackson – though with the squad – was not fit enough to feature.

Millwall started at a frantic pace, with Solly fired up and he got in an early crunching tackle on Dan Harding.

The skipper was booked for an innocuous looking challenge after 10 minutes. The free-kick led to three corners before Charlton managed to clear the danger.

The Lions continued to dominate, but as the opening period entered its second phase, the visitors began to show some attacking intent.

Johann Gudmundsson’s diagonal ball into the box was steered into the side netting by Chris Eagles and Tony Watt was nearly able to capitalise on a defensive hesitancy.

Solly was controversially sent off after 28 minutes. Joe Gomez blocked one shot but the follow up appeared to hit Solly in the face.

The dual Player Of The Year was infuriated by Mick Russell’s decision and protested his innocence long and hard. Solly left the field with blood coming from a cut on his lip.

The already raucous away end cranked it up a notch when Stephen Henderson comfortably saved Lee Gregory’s penalty.

The dismissal galvanised the. Addicks, Andre Bikey came on, with  Gomez switching to right back. Tony Watt was proving a real handful for Jos Hooiveld and the defender was booked ten minutes before the break for fouling the young Scot.

Watt eluded Hooiveld again shortly after and was wrestled to the ground by the defender. Russell awarded Charlton a free-kick but took no further action. The away fans were clamouring for Hooiveld to be given a second yellow.

Henderson continued to make fine saves after the break to keep his numerically disadvantaged team on level terms.

Then midway through the half came the moment Addicks fans had waited so long for, their team took the lead at the Den.

Good work down the left freed Morgan Fox to deliver a super ball to Diarra. The French midfielder deftly flicked it over David Forde and into the far corner of the net to send the away end into raptures.

But two goals in the last eleven minutes grabbed the spoils for the home team. First, substitute Magaye Gueye crashed an unstoppable shot beyond Henderson, then Hooiveld struck from a corner.

The win was Millwall’s first at the Den since October, and moved them to within four points of Rotherham.

Charlton’s dismal record against their near neighbours continues, their fans are wondering what they have to do to secure that elusive win.

Charlton: Henderson; Solly,  Gomez, Johnson, Fox; Gudmundsson,  Cousins, Diarra, Eagles (Bikey 33); Vetokele (Bulot 72), Watt (Church 78).

Subs (not used): Dmitrović, Wiggins, Lennon, Lepoint.

Goal: Diarra 67.

Booked: Solly 10 (foul).

Sent off: Solly 28 (handball).

Millwall: Forde; Cummings, Nelson, Hooiveld, Harding; Upson (Bailey 76), Abdou (Gueye 58), Williams, Woolford; Gregory, O’Brien.

Subs (not used): Archer, Beevers, Dunne, Maierhofer, Taylor-Fletcher.

Goals: Gueye 79, Hooiveld 87.

Booked: Hooiveld 35 (foul), Williams 71 (foul), Woolford 77 (foul).

Referee: Mick Russell (Hertfordshire).

Attn: 14,722 (2,235 Charlton).