Charlton narrowly beat Middlesbrough to clamber off the bottom of the Premiership table after recording their first home win of the season.

A fifth minute header from Jason Euell proved enough to ensure Alan Curbishley's side picked up their first home points after four successive defeats at The Valley.

Middlesbrough's defeat cost them the opportunity to reclaim third place from Manchester United and Spurs' win over Bolton saw Steve McClaren's side slip to fifth spot.

While Middlesbrough adopted a patient passing game, Charlton's up-and-at-them strategy finally won the day and pushd them up to 15th place.

That commitment was clear to see within the opening seconds when Shaun Bartlett was yellow-carded for his tackle on George Boateng.

Allied to Charlton's prodigious work ethic was some polished defending, typified by Mark Fish's outstanding first-half tackle to deny Szilard Nemeth.

So impressive last weekend against England, the Slovak had a less productive game, struggling to link with Massimo Maccarone as well as twice failing to calibrate his shooting.

Like Nemeth, Maccarone also had a quiet game, his one chance coming after Joseph-Desire Job had set him free, but the Italian was crowded out by the Charlton defence.

Midway through the second half, McClaren withdrew both Nemeth and Maccarone as well as Robbie Stockdale.

The introduction of Carlos Marinelli had an immediate impact as the Argentine fashioned a couple of chances.

Jonathan Greening also went close, but his finely-struck shot was tipped on to the post by Dean Kiely.

Charlton's frenzied opening brought an early reward when Claus Jensen's free-kick found Euell and, despite Ugo Ehiogu's best efforts, the Charlton midfielder's header curled past Mark Schwarzer.

Immediately after the restart another Jensen-inspired move resulted in Schwarzer blocking Euell's half-volley.

Soon afterwards, John Robinson almost got on the end of Bartlett's cross-cum-shot.

Charlton tired in the closing stages but, in the face of Fish's expert marshalling, Middlesbrough were unable to take something away from the game.

Charlton: Kiely, Robinson, Fish, Rufus, Rowett, Powell, Mustoe (Young 79), Jensen, Parker (Kishishev 78), Euell, Bartlett.
Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Johansson, Fortune.

Booked: Bartlett.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Stockdale (Cooper 68), Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Geremi, Boateng, Job, Greening, Maccarone (Marinelli 68), Nemeth (Whelan 68).
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Wilkshire.

Booked: Stockdale, Whelan, Boateng.

Attendance: 26,271

Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).