Vale Park boasts a huge pitch, which the Addicks made good use of. Russell Slade made two changes from the side that beat Coventry on Saturday.
Harry Lennon came in for injury victim, Jason Pearce, and Johnnie Jackson returned in place of Lee Novak. Slade opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation, and the game was played in wet and windy conditions.
Port Vale started brightly but Charlton quickly gained the upper hand, and went on to totally dominate the first half.
Unfortunately, the visitors spurned a host of chances and went in at half-time with a slender 1-0 lead.
A Ricky Holmes cross found Josh Magennis after 20 minutes, and it looked like a formality for the big Ulsterman to score.
Alas, Magennis’ header thundered against the underside of the bar, bounced out, and was cleared.
The Addicks had a number of good chances that they failed to capitalise on, but the one they took came on the half hour mark.
Holmes drove in a cross from the right, and Frederik Ulvestad’s clever flick beat Jak Alnwick.
Vale had the better of things after the break, but Charlton created the better chances.
Five minutes after the restart, Ademola Lookman sent in a free-kick from the right. Josh Magennis’ shot was parried by Alnwick as far as Ulvestad, but the Norwegian put the rebound wide.
After 72 minutes, a Holmes cross gave Ulvestad a glorious opportunity to sew the game up, but his header was too close to Alnwick and was saved.
The Addicks conceded a penalty six minutes from time. Lennon tripped Alex Jones in the box, and Jones picked himself up to despatch the spot-kick beyond Rudd.
There was still time for Brandon Hanlan to win the game for the visitors, but he shot wide when well placed.
It was a bitter pill for Slade to swallow and he had this to say after the game:
“I feel sick, absolutely sick, we should have been three of four up before half-time. It’s frustrating and it’s not good enough.
“As an away side, we created so many opportunities against a team who has won five and lost one at home.
“We have got to be ruthless in what we do, but we weren’t and we didn’t stick to the game plan as we should.
“We did not continue to do the things that had brought us those chances.”
Charlton: Rudd; Solly, Bauer, Lennon, Fox; Holmes (Chicksen 83), Crofts, Ulvestad, Jackson; Lookman (Hanlan 70), Magennis (Novak 83).
Subs (Not used): Phillips, Johnson, Konsa, Ajose.
Goal: Ulvestad 30.
Booked: Holmes 54 (foul).
Port Vale: Alnwick; Mackintosh, Streete, Smith, Knops (Cicilia 65); Grant, Hart, Pereira (Turner 86), Tavares; Paterson (Kelly 46), Jones.
Subs (not used): Kiko, Santos, Amoros, De Freitas.
Goal: Jones (pen 85).
Booked: Tavares 81 (foul).
Referee: Graham Salisbury (Lancashire).
Attn: 3,494 (253 Charlton).
TAGS: Charlton Athletic