It was another frustrating night, as the Addicks extended their winless streak to four.
They twice led through Tariqe Fosu and Ricky Holmes, but surrendered their advantage on both occasions.
Ezri Konsa came in for the injured Jason Pearce, and Ricky Holmes returned at the expense of Karlan Ahearne-Grant ,who dropped to the bench.
Patrick Bauer played as the left sided central defender, with Konsa on the right.
Anfernee Dijsteel was also amongst the
substitutes. The Addicks only had a travelling squad of 18 at the game.
After a sluggish start, Karl Robinson’s team took the lead after 13 minutes. Jake Forster-Caskey’s aerial pass sent Fosu clear, and he beat Mark Gillespie with aplomb.
Charlton should have doubled their lead three minutes later, but Gillespie somehow managed to turn Josh Magennis towering header on to the post, and the Saddlers scrambled it clear for a corner.
The Addicks dominated the rest of the half, but failed to capitalise on their chances, and switched off four minutes before the interval.
Nicky Devlin’s ball in from the right was deftly touched in by Tyler Roberts.
The teams went in level at the break, but Charlton should have had the game sewn up by then.
Walsall were more in the game in the second period, but there were few chances, though Holmes nearly took advantage of an under hit back pass.
The game exploded into life at the death. Two minutes from time, the Saddlers could only clear Chris Solly’s cross as far as the edge of the box.
Holmes’ venomous shot went over Gillespie and dipped under the bar, to send the small band of Addicks fans behind the goal into raptures.
Their joy was short lived though. Straight from the restart, substitute Daniel Aygei thundered a 30-yard effort past Ben Amos.
It was a hammer blow to the visitors who thought they had snatched the three points.
There was further disappointment after the final whistle when Robinson announced that Jason Pearce would be out for 8-10 weeks.
Pearce has been one of Charlton’s best players this season, and Bauer is a better player when Pearce is alongside him.
The Addicks face a difficult trip to Fleetwood on Saturday, as they bid to end their winless run.
Charlton: Amos; Solly, Konsa, Bauer, Dasilva; Kashi, Forster-Caskey, Fosu, Clarke (Ahearne-Grant 72), Holmes, Magennis.
Subs (not used): Phillips, Sarr, Jackson, Dijksteel, Aribo, Dodoo.
Goals: Fosu 13, Holmes 88.
Booked: Kashi 57 (foul).
Walsall: Gillespie; Devlin, Wilson, Guthrie, Leahy (Donnellan 87); Ismail (Kouhyar 74), Chambers, Edwards, Morris; Oztumer, T Roberts (Agyei 77).
Subs (not used): L Roberts, Kinsella, Flanagan, Bakayoko.
Booked: Wilson 30 (foul), Ismail 45 (foul)
Goals: T Roberts 41, Agyei 89.
Referee: Carl Boyeson (East Yorkshire).
Attn: 3,712 (263 Charlton).