Charlton 2-0 Brentford

Fellow promotion hopefuls Sheffield United crashed to a 3-2 defeat at Carlisle United, while Huddersfield Town failed to capitalise after drawing 2-2 at Notts County.

It may not have been the most entertaining match of free-flowing football just south of the River Thames, but Chris Powell's side were good value for their victory over the Bees.

The Addicks suffered an early scare after just three minutes when Bradley Wright-Phillips took a heavy knock to the back of his head following a towering leap from Brentford's Leon Legge.

It was Legge with the first chance of the match, poking an effort just wide of the post following a corner, but the Addicks carved out their first chance just 30 seconds later when a cross-cum-shot from Wright-Phillips flew inches wide of the far post.

Charlton began to grow in confidence, as dangerous crossed from Green and Johnnie Jackson were ushered away by the Bees' defence in quick succession, while the hosts could have had a penalty appeal following a possible handball from Legge.

Brentford responded with pressure of their own moments later as the game began to erupt into an end-to-end affair, with a number of corners forcing the Addicks back.

Ben Hamer was fortunate to pick up a loose ball on the edge of the six yard box after initially punching clear a cross from the right.

But it was Charlton that took the lead on the half-hour mark thanks to centre-back Morrison.

A long throw from Green was half-cleared, before Danny Hollands headed the ball back over the Bees' defensive line from the edge of the box, leaving Morrison to bravely head the ball over onrushing keeper Richard Lee.

Brentford had a chance to level on 37 minutes when Niall McGinn picked up the ball 25 yards out before teeing himself up for a dipping volley which looped just over Hamer's upright.

Craig Woodman set himself for another long range effort shortly before the break, but Leon Cort through his body in the way to block, before the Addicks calmly collected and cleared.

But the Addicks hit back with a chance of their own - Green's long throw evading the Bees' defence inside the box, but Cort could only send his header wide of the far post.

After the restart, Wright-Phillips was through on goal following hesitancy from custodian Lee.

As he took the ball around him, he was forced wide, when in fact, he could have gone down following Lee's challenge.

After picking himself up, the striker screwed a shot well wide of the target.

The Addicks were close to extending their lead on 55 minutes, when a corner was headed back into the mix and Jackson got in front of his marker to send a diving header against the post.

And from the scramble inside the six yard area, Bradley Pritchard failed to connect to the loose ball properly.

Chris Powell's men were in the ascendency as Yann Kermorgant was next to go close moments later, directing a free header wide inside the box from a long free-kick.

The Bees did have a good chance to equalise straight away on the hour when a loose ball was hit from 20 yards out from Marcus Bean before Danny Hollands was inches away with a close range header following a corner for the Addicks.

Brentford did put further pressure on Charlton, but Powell's men held firm, including a firm block from a Sam Saunders free-kick 20 yards out.

New signing Leon Clarke came on for Wright-Phillips, and the first thing he could do was give away a free-kick in another dangerous position just outside the box, but luckily Saunders sent his free-kick high and wide.

But minutes later, a clever flick from Kermorgant sent Clarke in on goal, and as he got a touch on the ball, Lee did enough to come out and block him, before Wagstaff fired over from the rebound on the right.

The Addicks really should have been out of sight with the number of clear-cut chances they had in the second half.

But they were nearly made to pay on 85 minutes, when a flick through from Jonathan Douglas found Clayton Donaldson eight yards out, but he fired over as Cort had done enough to put him off with an attempted block.

Green made the game safe in the final minute of normal time with a calm finish inside the box for the home side after a fantastic flick-on from Kermorgant.

The summer signing was in acres of space on the left, before cutting inside, and taking the ball around Lee to slot into an empty net.

It was a fully deserved win for Powell's men, who continue to lead League One by five clear points, and start 2012 with a bang.

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Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Wiggins, Morrison, Cort, Green (Hughes 90), Hollands, Pritchard, Jackson (Wagstaff 78), Kermorgant, Wright-Phillips (Clarke 78). Subs not used: Sullivan, Taylor.