CHARLTON missed out on the opportunity to close the gap on leaders Brighton when they were beaten by basement side Walsall at The Valley this afternoon.

Manager Phil Parkinson named an unchanged starting XI from the side which beat Luton Town 3-1 in Thursday's FA Cup replay.

Regular reserve keeper Ross Worner was ill so there was a place on the bench for academy youngster Brandon Hall.

Scott Wagstaff came close to putting the hosts in front inside two minutes with a shot from the edge of the area which went just wide.

Walsall went close three minutes later when Andy Butler challenged Rob Elliot for a cross and Alex Nicholls blazed a volley wildly over the bar when the loose ball fell to him 12 yards out.

Therry Racon drilled a dangerous looking shot straight at visiting keeper Jonny Brain moments later after the Addicks midfielder had been set up by some good build up play from Johnnie Jackson and Joe Anyinsah.

Julian Gray did well to get himself into a shooting position by breaking into the area on 11 minutes but his eventual effort sailed over the bar.

Richard Taundry saw a low drive from 30 yards go well wide of the target but although Elliot had not really been tested, it was fair to say the rock-bottom visitors looked the more ambitious of the two sides in the early exchanges.

They should have gone in front in the 19th minute when Steve Jones' cross picked out an unmarked Taundry but the Walsall skipper fired into the side-netting.

Jackson's shot from 20 yards went just wide two minutes later as Charlton at last showed some response at the opposite end.

Wagstaff needlessly gave away possession 30 yards from goal and almost paid the price when Taundry latched onto the loose ball before firing a powerful shot over Elliot's bar.

Charlton's frustration was summed up perfectly on the half hour with a spectacular mis-kick from the left of the area by Simon Francis when he had the perfect opportunity to at least test the visiting keeper.

Jackson did well eight minutes before the break by putting in a dangerous cross which had to be scrambled away by Aaron Lescott under pressure from Wagstaff.

A poor first half finally came to an end, much to the relief of everyone at The Valley after a totally forgettable opening 45 minutes.

It came as no surprise when Parky made a double substitution at the start of the second half by throwing on Kyel Reid and Lee Martin and taking off Joe Anyinsah and Matt Fry.

Reid almost made an instant impact by going on a run which saw him break into the area but the ball went out, while Martin headed Wagstaff's 55th minute cross wide.

Paul Benson slid in to get on the end of martin's low drive across the face of goal one minute later and was unfortunate not to be able to apply a touch.

But Walsall squandered the best chance of the game on 58 minutes when Gray's cross was headed over by Will Grigg from six yards.

Jackson's free-kick at the other end was blocked, as was a follow up shot from Reid.

Grigg burst into the area on 65 minutes and his low cross was hacked clear by Doherty as Walsall again took the initiative.

Doherty had to hack a cross away as the visitors again went close before Benson dragged a low shot wide of the post at the other end.

But Walsall finally got their noses in front in the 69th minute when Matt Richards got on the end of Gray's cross and drilled a low shot from 20 yards beyond the reach of Elliot.

Nicholls tested Elliot again five minutes later but this time the Addicks stopper was able to gather, although he was lucky moments later to see Nicholls' stunning 25 yard volley go agonisingly wide.

Jones' dangerous looking 77th minute cross failed to pick out a team-mate, while Reid just failed to pick out Akpo Sodje at the other end after exchanging passes with the substitute.

Jones claimed his 85th minute shot had been blocked by the hand of Jackson, an appeal which fell on deaf ears, while his cross two minutes later just failed to pick out a Walsall striker at the back post as Charlton continued to live very dangerously.

Nicholls should have put the outcome beyond all doubt in the final minute when he broke through on goal but Elliot came to the rescue with a crucial stop.

Francis should have done better in stoppage time with a free-kick which went straight to Brain.

But it would have been harsh on Walsall had Charlton nicked a point which they clearly didn't deserve after a shocking display.

Charlton: Elliot, Francis, Doherty, Fortune, Fry (Martin 46), Wagstaff (Sodje 71), Semedo, Racon, Jackson, Benson, Anyinsah (Reid 46). Subs not used: Hall, Abbott, McCormack, Seip. Att: 14,938.