Charlton ended a run of six successive defeats with a 2-0 victory over Sunderland thus extending the Black Cats’ losing sequence to nine and inflict on them their 100th Premier League defeat.
Goals by Darren Bent and Darren Ambrose - who was sent off in the earlier clash between the two sides this season - was enough to give Charlton their first double over Sunderland since the 1985/86 season and leaves Sunderland with just one Premiership win under Mick McCarthy in 25 matches.
The early exchanges were relatively even handed with Ambrose and Jerome Thomas firing wide for Charlton and Julio Arca seeing his free kick punched clear by home keeper Dean Kiely.
Kiely, though, had to be at his most alert in the 13th minute when he just got down to tip round the post a fierce shot by Liam Lawrence but the visitors failed to do anything from the corner.
In a match clearly being played by two out of form teams there was little class about the clash till Bent struck in the 42nd minute shooting past Kelvin Davis after seizing on Danny Murphy's pass.
If Sunderland thought they would gain some respite after the break they were soon proved wrong as in the 49th minute Ambrose doubled the hosts lead shooting home right footed with Luke Young the provider.
However Charlton had Kiely to thank for preserving their two-goal advantage as the former Republic of Ireland international did brilliantly to tip round the post a fierce shot by Arca in the 50th minute.
Charlton upped the ante considerably after their second goal with Jerome Thomas, Ambrose and Bent peppering the Sunderland goal as they searched to land the killer blow.
Sunderland had very little to offer with Lawrence having a shot on goal with about 15 minutes remaining but like most of the Black Cats displays this season it was off target.
Charlton end run of defeats
