Pablo Counago scored one of the goals of the season as Town dominated the second-half but Blues paid the price again for a disappointing first 45 minutes.

Former Blues Matt Holland and Darren Ambrose took six minutes to make their mark against their former club, Ambrose heading in from Holland's cross.

Chris Iwelumo extended the Addicks' lead on the half hour mark and Ambrose appeared to have wrapped up the points just before the break with a terrific finish from distance.

Jim Magilton made all three changes before the second-half started and Blues were a different side.

Alan Lee missed a great chance to reduce the arrears immediately after the restart but his penalty was saved by Nicky Weaver before Counago backheeled the ball past the startled Charlton 'keeper with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Lee and Danny Haynes both hit the woodwork as Blues more than matched the promotion favourites in a second-half that ended in controversy with Jonathan Fortune sent-off after a clash with Lee following the final whistle.

Fabian Wilnis came in for the injured Alex Bruce as expected for Town, Tommy Miller returning to the middle of the park after missing the defeat at Bristol City. Sylvain Legwinski making way.

Just like at Ashton Gate on Tuesday night, Blues were a goal down early on though and to rub salt into the wound, it had Ipswich written all over it with a flowing move seeing the ball fed to Holland on the right and his cross was headed in by Ambrose.

The England U21 international then thumped a strike just over the bar as Charlton forced Town back, Zhi Zheng then robbing Owen Garvan but failing to take advantage, the midfielder catching Neil Alexander in the face as he slid in on the loose ball.

Gavin Williams had an anxious look at the referee as he dealt with a cross, the home fans calling for a handball in the box, Zhi almost feeding Ambrose with a good pass, Lloyd Sam then showing great skill to open up the Blues' defence but the wideman dragged his shot well wide.

Charlton extended the lead on the half hour mark with Andy Reid whipping in a cross and former Colchester striker Iwelumo forcing the ball over the line from no more than a yard.

Town boss Jim Magilton immediately made a change with Counago coming on for Williams, the Spaniard joining Lee in attack with the five man midfield shelved.

Counago hit the post within 60 seconds after latching on to a header from Jason De Vos but the referee awarded a free-kick to the home side.

Ambrose continued to haunt Blues and from another rapier break six minutes before the interval, the 23-year-old beat Alexander with a terrific strike from 25 yards to extend the home side's lead.

Seconds later Reid should have made it four, failing to find the target at the far post as a cross flashed across the Blues' goal.

Danny Mills then found space on the right and his cross was met by Reid again but De Vos was in the right place to clear.

Town made two further changes at the break, Sito coming in for his first appearance of the season with Dan Harding making way, Haynes on for Gary Roberts.

Blues were straight out of the blocks after clearly and understandably given a rocket by the manager and swarmed all over the Addicks. Lee and Counago were both denied by desperate defending inside the Charlton box before referee Swarbrick pointed to the spot following a challenge on Lee.

Weaver saved Lee's kick though, the Republic of Ireland international's first failure for Town from the penalty spot.

Lee almost converted at the far post then Walters fired just wide as Town looked a completely different side from the first-half.

Iwelumo failed to find the net from close range but Town continued to take the game to the Addicks and Haynes headed against the underside of the bar from six yards with the home side clearly rattled.

Ambrose's 40 yard run was brought to a premature end by De Vos on the edge of the box, the Town skipper yellow carded for the offence. The Charlton player firing the free-kick into the wall.

Holland's strike was pushed onto the post by the diving Alexander, then referee Swarbrick pointed to the penalty spot for a handball against Wilnis but then correctly changed his mind after consulting his assistant - the ball hitting the Dutchman's chest.

Counago's header just evaded De Vos from Garvan's cross while Sito showed his pace to deal with the equally quick Sam as the game swung from one end to the other.

Town hit the woodwork again on 67 minutes, Lee's cross beating Weaver but bouncing off the bar, Haynes then heading goalwards.

A piece of brilliance from Counago got Town back in the game with 20 minutes left on the clock, the striker backheeling the ball in from the penalty spot after good work by Lee to register his eighth goal of the season.

Haynes' pace was causing Chris Powell problems down the flank and the teenager won a corner as the Addicks were pushed back again with Alan Pardew then making his first change with the more defensively minded Jose Semedo on for Sam.

Counago's trickery released Lee on the edge of the box, the Irish striker brought down by Fortune to earn the defender a yellow card.

Blues had another chance to reduce the arrears with Garvan clear in the box from Walters' pass, the Republic of Ireland U21 international firing just wide seconds later.

At the other end, Ambrose ran on to the loose ball after David Wright had tackled Reid but failed to trouble Alexander with a long range shot.

Luke Varney replaced Reid as the game entered the last 10 minutes, the former Crewe man beaten to the through ball by Alexander. Mills then picking up a booking.

Lee and Wright both received yellow cards in the five minutes of added on time and following the final whistle, Fortune saw red in a clash that saw Lee knocked to the ground.

Charlton: Weaver, Mills, Sodje, Fortune, Powell (Bougherra 88), Sam (72), Zhi, Holland, Reid (Varney 82), Ambrose, Iwelumo. Subs not used: McLeod, Randolph. Sent-off: Fortune. Booked: Fortune, Mills.

Town: Alexander, Wright, Wilnis, De Vos, Harding (Sito 46), Williams (Counago 36), Miller, Garvan, Roberts (Haynes 46), Walters, Lee. Subs not used: Trotter, Supple. Booked: De Vos, Lee, Wright.

Att: 26,680