Karlan Grant and Lyle Taylor scored twice in a matter of minutes as Charlton saw off Walsall to earn their first win of 2019.

Tariqe Fosu slid through Grant before the striker found the back of the net and Taylor converted from the penalty spot three minutes later.

Andy Cook would have the deficit, and Walsall had opportunities to equalise, but couldn't to complete the comeback.

READ: Player ratings from Charlton's New Year's Day win over Walsall

The Addicks, who had lost two games on the spin, are now up to fourth in the table as Peterborough United drop out of the playoff spots.

Dillon Phillips started in goal, replacing the recalled Jed Steer, as Lee Bowyer made five changes to the side which lost to Barnsley in Charlton’s final game of 2018.

Charlton took the lead six minutes in when Fosu fed through Grant before he swept home his 12th league goal this season.

And despite Albie Morgan’s delivery into the box being cut out, referee Ross Joyce pointed to the spot for a penalty from which Taylor duly converted.

But despite Walsall posing little threat Charlton struggled to push on, playing backwards and sideways passes which put them at risk of committing unnecessary errors.

It wasn’t until the closing stages of the first half that the visitors came close to scoring, the most action Phillips had seen during the opening 45 minutes.

Josh Gordon would twice force him into excellent saves before Luke Leahy rifled a volley on the edge of the box he was equal to.

The visitors, needing a goal, started the second half as brightly as Charlton did the first – Anthony Cook swivelled inside the box before firing past Phillips two minutes into the restart.

Charlton struggled in the second half and looked tired, with Walsall coming back with again and again for a potential equaliser.

One of the second half’s biggest moments came when referee Ross Joyce ruled out a third Charlton goal following a corner that looked to have been put in by the goalkeeper.

Walsall’s opportunities to score again came when Bielik made a close range block to deny Cook before the visiting goalscorer fired wide of the target.

Meanwhile, at the other end, substitute Mark Marshall ran towards goal in injury time before the visitors thwarted his chances of finishing off the tie.