Charlton boss Phil Parkinson grabbed his first win since taking charge as they beat Crystal Palace 1-0.
Spring fires Charlton to victory
Charlton boss Phil Parkinson grabbed his first win since taking charge as they defeated local rivals Crystal Palace 1-0 at The Valley.
It is The Addicks' first win in 19 attempts and only their fifth win of the season.
The hero was Matthew Spring, who pounced after 14 minutes, to give Charlton their first win since October.
Charlton had previously taken six points from a possible 54 during a club-record winless streak which has left them rooted to the foot of the table and staring at the drop to League One.
Palace were themselves relegated from the Premier League at The Valley in 2005, and nothing would have given them greater pleasure than nudging their neighbours a step closer to the Championship trapdoor.
But Charlton, for a change this season, put in a display full of courage and character and were well worth their win against an Eagles side in danger of slipping off the play-off pace.
The result also meant a first league victory for Phil Parkinson since he took over from Alan Pardew, initially as caretaker boss, in November.
The hosts were quicker out of the blocks and Nicky Bailey fired a snap-shot over the top from the edge of the area before Spring just failed to get a touch on a cross from Lloyd Sam.
Winner
Addicks winger Sam was already giving Danny Butterfield a torrid evening, and in the 14th minute he waltzed past the Palace right-back again and sent in another dangerous cross.
This time, the Eagles defence could only clear the ball straight into the air and it dropped for Spring to lash an unstoppable volley past Julian Speroni from 10 yards out.
Palace looked to hit back and Paul Ifill was inches from getting a stud on Nick Carle's cross before Shefki Kuqi volleyed well wide.
Carle fizzed another angled drive over, and as the first half drew to a close Clint Hill's glancing header from John Oster's cross flew just wide.
Eagles boss Neil Warnock sent on strikers Alan Lee and Victor Moses after the interval in a bid to pep up his side's limp attack, and Charlton were dealt a blow soon after when defender Jonathan Fortune limped off.
Matt Holland was sent on as a makeshift centre-half alongside Addicks skipper Mark Hudson, who was himself clearly struggling with an ankle injury.
Moses headed straight at Elliot from Oster's cross before Lee met a centre from the youngster but again planted his header too close to the Charlton keeper.
Elliot then produced a fine save to keep out Moses' low drive with his feet, and both Shaun Derry and Neil Danns shot over as Charlton's patched-up rearguard held out.
