Alan Curbishley made three changes ahead of the game, but the 4-5-1 system remained, although Jay Bothroyd missed out with a tight calf. Radostin Kishishev was back after a one-match ban and Jerome Thomas and Chris Powell were both recalled. Meanwhile former Sunderland keeper Thomas Myhre was on the bench but there was no place in the starting 16 for Jonatan Johansson, Matt Holland, Jonathan Spector or Stephan Anderson.
The game had barely started when Black Cats defender Gary Breen had to clear off the line from Darren Bent after Danny Murphy had played him in but the rather wayward effort was hacked to safety.Charlton snatched a crucial advantage three minutes before the interval. Thomas won the ball bravely before it eventually broke to Danny Murphy. The Sunderland defence failed to clear and the midfielder's precise pass was inch perfect to reach Bent who hammered the ball home superbly for his 11th goal of the season.
Liam Lawrence then exchanged passes with Le Tallec moments later and Dean Kiely had to get down low and make a good save parrying the ball round the post.
Three minutes into the second half Murphy and Alexei Smertin combined to send Young charging down the right and what followed was a real comedy of errors - some kamikaze defending by Sunderland saw Steven Caldwell's attempted clearance clatter off his own post and the ball eventually found its way back to Young. The full-back drove the ball back into the dangerzone and the dozy Caldwell made an even bigger hash of clearing his lines second time round, presenting possession to Darren Ambrose who finally tucked the ball home from close range.
Back at the other end half time substitute for the visitors Jon Stead shot just wide of Kiely's left-hand upright after latching onto Justin Hoyte's pass and shifting inside before shooting.
And it took another wonderful save from Kiely to deny Julio Arca and prevent them getting back into the game on the 70th minute.