Walsall 2-0 Charlton

A goal in each half from Will Grigg and Julian Gray kept Dean Smith’s men out of the bottom four and with a realistic chance of avoiding the drop.

And although the Addicks were far from terrible in a game without real motivation, the away fans in the Extrabet Stand will head home having hoped to see more following Easter Monday’s impressive performance to dash Rochdale’s play-off hopes.

Despite the relegation-threatened hosts looking lively at the beginning, the Addicks almost took an early lead when Simon Francis’ cross was headed onto the root of the near post by Paul Benson after just three minutes.

The action went end to end with no feeling out process, with former Crystal Palace winger Gray’s cross inches away from the head of Grigg while Therry Racon was similarly close to putting Bradley Wright-Phillips through moments later.

Saddlers striker Jon Macken was denied by the returning Rob Elliot just shy of the 10 minute mark from close range before Grigg’s attempt on the rebound was blocked by Francis.

Midfielder Matt Richards, who scored the only goal at The Valley from long range in December, fired wide in an attempt to recreate the magic on 12 minutes.

As news filtered through of Walsall’s relegation rivals Dagenham and Bristol Rovers both taking the lead, the Midlanders continued to search for their own saving grace and Jordan Cook’s 20-yarder once again forced Elliot to be on good form.

Though Rovers were soon pegged back by Sheffield Wednesday, the blue-wearing visitors almost added further complications when Racon found space on the left to collect Nathan Eccleston’s cross.

However, the Guadeloupe international hashed his strike and it went both wide and over the bar at the same time.

Alarm bells rang once more at the Bescot after 28 minutes when Michael Stewart was granted ample time on the ball to find space for a shot which flashed wide of Jimmy Walker’s post.

Cook once again tested Elliot a few minutes later thanks to more good work by the lively Gray, and 60 seconds later the hosts made their vital breakthrough.

A fine cross from right-back Richard Taundry was only half cleared by Charlton and Grigg slotted home the loose ball into the bottom corner.

Chris Powell’s men attempted an immediate response after some poor defending to go behind, but Racon’s ball into the box was cleared a couple of yards from the goal line and Benson’s audacious lobbed attempt didn’t dip in time to go the right side of the crossbar.

The marauding Benson managed to intercept a Walker kick-out five minutes before the break, but unfortunately for the Addicks the ball rebounded safely into the corner instead of beyond the veteran goalie and into the net.

Walsall almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Macken staved off Fortune inside the Charlton box long enough to tee Richards up to surely score from ten yards.

Elliot once again kept his side in it with a fine stop, and Gray was flagged for offside as he attempted to cross the ball back into the danger zone.

The home side continued to look the sharper and hungrier of the two following the interval, and a good breakaway after catching the men in blue napping led to a low Gray cross which missed everyone inside the area.

But Charlton were far from finished, as exemplified by a series of attacks minutes later which culminated in Benson looping a header at full stretch just over the woodwork.

Cook remained determined to steal the show and almost did on the hour with a superlative long-range drive which dipped onto Elliot’s crossbar with the keeper helpless to prevent it, even at full-reach.

Though the contest slowed down considerably after Cook’s wood-rattling thunderbolt, Grigg was put through with a serious chance to double his tally and Walsall’s lead on 72 minutes.

However, Elliot made himself big and despite the forward slotting it under the keeper’s near arm, enough was done and the ball rolled into the side netting only.

It would be the goalscorer’s final contribution, as he was replaced with 15 minutes remaining by former Millwall man Darren Byfield.

But it was the man associated with the Addicks’ other South London rivals who put the game to bed on the 78 minute mark.

Byfield had the beating of Francis out on the left flank, and his low cross found the feet of Macken who was once again denied by the superb Elliot.

However, with no blue shirts in sight Gray was there to hammer the rebound into the far bottom corner and seal three points which could keep the Saddlers in League One.

Francis, who was caught out of position for the second, had to slide in to deny a third at the feet of Cook, who was hell-bent on adding his name to the scoresheet.

The final whistle was met with disappointment from the 393 travelling supporters, some of whom were observing the tradition of fancy dress for the final road trip of the season, but their side were deservedly beaten by a side hanging on to survival by the skin of their teeth.

Charlton: Elliot, Francis, Fortune, Doherty, Bessone, Eccleston, Parrett, Stewart, Racon (Harriott 71); Benson, Wright-Phillips. Subs not used: Sullivan, Solly, Llera, McCormack, Wagstaff, Nouble. Att: 5,088