Charlton boss Alan Pardew had made 12 summer signings, eight of whom were involved in the match and his team are favourites to go straight back into the Premiership after last season's relegation.
However, they were given a shock by a hard-working Scunthorpe side, that took a share of the spoils despite being on the back foot for long periods of the game.
This is the first League meeting between the two sides for 34 years and the highest level that Scunthorpe have played in for 43 years, and they certainly were not overawed by the occasion and their supporters celebrated at the end as though they had won the Cup Final.
There were early chances for both sides with Charlton's new skipper Andy Reid firing just over the bar and then seeing his free-kick deflected for a corner, while at the other end Charlton's new goalkeeper Nicky Weaver had to be alert to save Jonathan Forte.
Charlton began to dominate the game and youngster Lloyd Sam wriggled through the visitors defence, but his weak shot was comfortably saved by Joe Murphy, but the Scunthorpe keeper did well to deny Darren Ambrose, tipping over his fierce volley from Charlton's best chance of the goalless first half.
Charlton had loud claims for a penalty when Marcus Bent appeared to be brought down, but the home side took the lead on 62 minutes, when Bent scored from close range for his 100th career goal, converting Sam's cross. The referee only gave the goal after consulting a linesman.
Scunthorpe scored a shock equaliser on 69 minutes when their new signing Izzy Iriekpen rose unmarked above the Charlton defence to head home a Kevan Hurst corner.
It was Scunthorpe that finished the game better, although Charlton's Reid should have put the Addicks in front, only to screw his shot wide from close range. But it was the home side that were hanging on at the end as the visitors twice put headers over the bar in a frantic finale.