Charlton 1 Bolton Wanderers 2

CHARLTON left themselves with an uphill struggle to secure a European place following a 2-1 defeat to Bolton at The Valley on Saturday.

It was the Addicks’ fourth consecutive game without a win and, to make matters worse, it came against one of their fellow challengers for a UEFA Cup spot.

Bolton took the lead after only seven minutes when a penalty was awarded for handball against Hermann Hreidarsson despite vociferous protests by the Charlton players and supporters.

Bolton skipper Jay Jay Okocha kept his nerve and calmly slotted the spot kick into the net.

It was the third successive game that Charlton had conceded an early goal, but they pushed forward and forced and equaliser on 28 minutes.

Danny Murphy’s free kick on the right of the box was played square to Francis Jeffers and his shot deflected off Stelios and into the net.

The visitors went back in front after 50 minutes when a deep cross from the right was headed back across goal by Kevin Nolan and substitute El Hadji Diouf headed the ball over keeper Dean Kiely and into the net only four minutes after coming onto the pitch.

Bolton came close twice in quick succession in the closing stages.

Kiely was forced to pull off a fine save to deny Nolan before Fernando Hierro flashed a long range shot just wide.

Hreidarsson, Murphy and Jonatan Johansson had half chances for the Addicks but they never really came close to a second goal.