The team news saw Chris Perry returned in the centre of defence alongside Hermann Hreidarsson as Talal El Karkouri missed out. Jonathan Spector was also back in the starting XI at left-back with Chris Powell dropping to the bench while Matt Holland got the nod to replace the suspended Radostin Kishishev in midfield. Dean Kiely was retained in goal for his first Premiership start of the campaign.
It was no surprise when the visitors took the lead on 25 minutes. A Charlton clearance was returned with interest and landed at the feet of Vassell and as two home defenders converged on him, Cole was allowed to sneak in unattended through the back door to collect his 182nd Premiership goal and his sixth of the season.
Charlton did score after 35 minutes to draw level, but the visitors quickly restored their advantage 54 seconds later. A long clearance from skipper Young wasn’t dealt with by City and Bent was on to it like a flash to fire home past the exposed James for his tenth goal of the season. Cole then played the overlapping Sinclair in and Kiely might have done better with the low angled shot which went under him and inside the far post.
Boos rained out at the interval and Jerome Thomas was introduced for Holland at the start of the second half with Johansson pushing up front as they reverted to a 4-4-2 system. Johansson was replaced by Jay Bothroyd nine minutes in. But Charlton found themselves further adrift on 69 minutes. Sinclair's cross from the right pinged around in the box before Vassell was fouled in the area by Hermann Hreidarsson. Up stepped Barton and although Kiely saved his poorly struck penalty he couldn’t hold on to the ball and the midfielder reacted quickest to turn home the rebound.
Back came Charlton - Jay Bothroyd crashed home a 20-yard free-kick after Murphy had rolled the ball back for him to lash a drive past James and give his side a fighting chance. However, the visitors completed the rout with two late goals to end all Addicks’ hope of getting anything from the game. 11 minutes from time Cole sent Vassell racing away on the left and the striker cut inside before coolly making it 4-2. Curbishley then sent on Bryan Hughes for Ambrose but in the 83rd minute Perry was the guilty party as his woefully short back header at a long clearance intended for Kiely was intercepted by Cole who nipped away from the advancing keeper to roll home his second of the afternoon.