Deon Burton scored his 10th goal of the season as Charlton eased past Southend to close in on the League One summit.
Burton grabbed the only goal of the game when he headed home Lloyd Sam's cross midway through the first half.
The result extended Southend's losing streak away from home to six games but helped the Addicks close the gap on league leaders Leeds to four points.
Simon Francis and James Walker came close to grabbing the elusive equaliser for Southend but had shots blocked.
Addicks boss Phil Parkinson told BBC London 94.9:
"The last two home games we've won 5-1 and 4-2 and this game certainly didn't live up to that in terms of entertainment.
"It was a scrappy old affair and we didn't play with our normal fluency, especially in possession.
"But we showed many other qualities to make sure we got the result.
"And, as the old saying in football goes, you've got to win when you don't play well. And we certainly did that today."
Shrimpers manager Steve Tilson told BBC Essex:
"Excellent performance. We deserved more than we got today.
"We've had the lion's share of play, we were the better side and they've gone away with the three points."
Live text and stats
Saturday, 5 December 2009
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Charlton
1-0
Southend
FT
(HT 1-0)
Burton 25
Charlton
01 Elliot
02 Richardson (Omozusi 46)
12 Basey
16 Wagstaff
18 S Sodje
35 Dailly
04 Bailey yellow card
08 Racon yellow card (Spring 78)
11 Sam
10 Burton
23 Mooney (A Sodje 60)
Substitutes
25 Randolph,
05 Llera,
31 Omozusi,
07 Shelvey,
14 Spring,
15 McLeod,
33 A Sodje
Southend
01 Mildenhall
02 Francis yellow card
03 Malone yellow card
05 Morrison
06 Barrett
07 Grant
08 McCormack
14 Moussa yellow card (Scannell 87)
09 Barnard
17 Ibehre (Walker 80)
26 Laurent
Substitutes
36 Bentley,
12 Scannell,
22 O'Keefe,
10 Walker,
16 Freedman
Ref: Danny McDermidAtt: 17,445
CHARLTON
SOUTHEND
Possession
Charlton52%
Southend48%
Attempts on target
Charlton6
Southend3
Attempts off target
Charlton6
Southend8
Corners
Charlton4
Southend3
Fouls
Charlton20
Southend10
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:54 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
90:00+3:21 Scott Malone has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal.
90:00+2:17 Foul by Christian Dailly on Francis Laurent, free kick awarded. Simon Francis takes the free kick.
89:24 Lloyd Sam fouled by Scott Malone, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Nicky Bailey.
88:27 Rob Elliot takes the free kick.
88:27 Booking Simon Francis goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
88:15 Simon Francis concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Wagstaff.
86:40 Sam Sodje gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Alan McCormack. Simon Francis takes the free kick.
86:08 Substitution Damian Scannell joins the action as a substitute, replacing Franck Moussa.
85:35 James Walker takes a shot. Blocked by Matthew Spring.
85:17 Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Bailey from the left by-line, clearance made by Adam Barrett.
84:23 Grant Basey takes the inswinging corner, Deon Burton takes a shot. Save by Steve Mildenhall.
79:13 Simon Francis takes the free kick.
79:13 Substitution Jabo Ibehre goes off and James Walker comes on.
79:13 The official flags Akpo Sodje offside.
77:55 Substitution Therry Racon goes off and Matthew Spring comes on.
76:42 Free kick awarded for a foul by Therry Racon on Francis Laurent. Strike on goal comes in from Simon Francis from the free kick.
72:35 Simon Francis takes a shot. Christian Dailly gets a block in.
71:41 Scott Wagstaff gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sean Morrison. Free kick taken by Scott Malone.
69:58 Foul by Jabo Ibehre on Elliot Omozusi, free kick awarded. Christian Dailly takes the direct free kick.
68:25 The assistant referee flags for offside against Franck Moussa. Rob Elliot takes the indirect free kick.
66:36 Therry Racon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Franck Moussa. Free kick crossed right-footed by Simon Francis from left channel, Therry Racon makes a clearance.
65:46 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by Akpo Sodje. Sean Morrison takes the direct free kick.
64:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Therry Racon by Alan McCormack. Nicky Bailey takes the direct free kick.
60:39 Lloyd Sam concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Grant. Direct free kick taken by Steve Mildenhall.
59:31 Substitution Akpo Sodje joins the action as a substitute, replacing David Mooney.
57:49 Scott Wagstaff sends in a cross, Deon Burton takes a shot. Steve Mildenhall makes a save.
56:02 Foul by Adam Barrett on Deon Burton, free kick awarded. Nicky Bailey restarts play with the free kick.
54:37 Strike on goal comes in from Scott Malone from the free kick.
54:37 Booking The referee shows Scott Malone a yellow card.
53:30 Booking Nicky Bailey is shown a yellow card.
53:13 Unfair challenge on Anthony Grant by Nicky Bailey results in a free kick.
Correction - 47:36 Scott Wagstaff concedes a free kick for a foul on Anthony Grant. Direct free kick taken by Steve Mildenhall.
47:36 Foul by Scott Wagstaff on Anthony Grant, free kick awarded. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
46:59 Therry Racon produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area and misses left.
45:04 Substitution Elliot Omozusi joins the action as a substitute, replacing Frazer Richardson.
45:01 The second half has started.
Half Time
45:00+1:32 The referee blows for half time.
45:00+0:35 Scott Malone takes the direct free kick.
45:00+0:35 Booking Therry Racon is given a yellow card.
45:00+0:27 Francis Laurent fouled by Therry Racon, the ref awards a free kick.
43:48 Long distance shot from Lloyd Sam misses to the left of the target.
42:39 Grant Basey restarts play with the free kick.
42:39 Booking Booking for Franck Moussa.
42:35 Lloyd Sam fouled by Franck Moussa, the ref awards a free kick.
40:48 Corner from right by-line taken by Scott Malone.
40:33 Franck Moussa crosses the ball, clearance made by Grant Basey.
39:07 Effort from outside the penalty area by Simon Francis goes wide left of the goal.
38:10 Corner from right by-line taken by Scott Malone.
37:17 Unfair challenge on Jabo Ibehre by Therry Racon results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alan McCormack.
36:18 Foul by Therry Racon on Francis Laurent, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Alan McCormack.
35:58 Therry Racon concedes a free kick for a foul on Sean Morrison. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
31:37 Shot from just outside the area by Therry Racon misses to the right of the target.
31:13 A cross is delivered by Frazer Richardson.
29:45 Inswinging corner taken by Nicky Bailey, Christian Dailly produces a header from deep inside the six-yard box that clears the bar.
28:50 Scott Malone gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Wagstaff. David Mooney has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, save by Steve Mildenhall.
28:05 The ball is delivered by Lloyd Sam, save made by Steve Mildenhall.
27:03 Effort on goal by Sam Sodje from outside the box goes harmlessly over the bar.
24:54 Assist by Lloyd Sam.
24:54 GOAL - Deon Burton:Charlton 1 - 0 Southend Deon Burton grabs a headed goal from close in. Charlton 1-0 Southend.
24:51 Lloyd Sam delivers the ball,
24:01 Scott Malone gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Mooney. Nicky Bailey produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, Scott Malone gets a block in.
23:23 Lee Barnard challenges Grant Basey unfairly and gives away a free kick. Rob Elliot takes the direct free kick.
22:33 Scott Wagstaff challenges Francis Laurent unfairly and gives away a free kick. Francis Laurent restarts play with the free kick.
21:10 Lee Barnard takes a shot. Rob Elliot makes a save.
19:35 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Barrett, Header from deep inside the area by Sean Morrison goes over the bar.
18:51 Christian Dailly gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Barrett. Adam Barrett takes the direct free kick.
15:36 Frazer Richardson delivers the ball.
14:39 David Mooney takes a shot.
14:04 The ball is swung over by David Mooney, Simon Francis makes a clearance.
13:24 Effort on goal by Scott Malone from long range goes harmlessly over the target.
13:06 Lloyd Sam challenges Francis Laurent unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Simon Francis.
10:59 Inswinging corner taken by Nicky Bailey.
10:33 The ball is swung over by Deon Burton, Lloyd Sam takes a shot. Blocked by Scott Malone.
9:49 Foul by Deon Burton on Adam Barrett, free kick awarded. Steve Mildenhall restarts play with the free kick.
9:09 Franck Moussa has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
8:55 Alan McCormack fouled by Christian Dailly, the ref awards a free kick. Francis Laurent takes the direct free kick.
7:43 The assistant referee flags for offside against Deon Burton. Steve Mildenhall takes the indirect free kick.
6:48 Foul by David Mooney on Anthony Grant, free kick awarded. Steve Mildenhall restarts play with the free kick.
4:47 Christian Dailly challenges Anthony Grant unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steve Mildenhall takes the free kick.
3:18 The ball is swung over by Scott Malone, blocked by Scott Wagstaff.
2:18 Jabo Ibehre produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target.
0:14 Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Barrett on Therry Racon. Indirect free kick taken by Rob Elliot.
0:00 The match has kicked off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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