Charlton Athletic 3 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
The Albion suffered an agonising defeat in south London as their Boxing Day blues extended another year. The Seagulls have failed to win a St Stephen’s feast fixture since 2005.
Leo Ulloa, starting his first match since October, put the Albion ahead after 22 minutes, but just ten minutes later the impressive Yann Kermorgant set up Lawrie Wilson, who fired Charlton level.
That’s how it stayed until half time with the game evenly poised in scoreline, possession and chances.
However, just before the hour, after a mistake by Andrew Crofts, Wilson scored again, firing the ball into the roof of Peter Brezovan’s the net to put the home side 2-1 in front.
Ashley Barnes replaced David Lopez soon after and the Albion had a couple of half chances to equalise through Ulloa.
But it was Kermorgant, who all but sealed the result for the Addicks, curling a free kick into the top corner to give the Addicks a two goal lead.
Barnes and Inigo Calderon hit the post within minutes of each other, not long after Charlton’s third.
With a minute left on the clock, Ulloa tapped in his and Albion’s second but Albion had little time to try to conjure an equaliser.
They go to Blackpool on Sunday in 9th place in the Championship but still only three points off the play-off places.
