Sunderland plunged to the foot of the Premiership for the first time this season after pressing the self-destruct button against in-form Charlton.
The Black Cats gifted their opponents a three-goal lead in a crazy seven-minute spell midway through the first half, Tore Andre Flo deflecting a Mark Fish into his own net to be followed by Michael Proctor twice scoring in his own goal.
Kevin Phillips pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 80th minute after Jonathan Fortune had brought down Flo but it was much too little too late and the relegation trap-door looms large at the Stadium of Light.
Beaten at home in midweek by Southampton, the Black Cats could ill-afford to finish empty-handed again and if a return to the Nationwide League is to be avoided, there will have to be a vast improvement in the last dozen matches.
Manager Howard Wilkinson refuses to throw in the towel despite his side being five points adrift of fourth from bottom Bolton and failing to end a run of eight league games without a win.
"I dont accept the inevitability of relegation as some are saying, he said.
"I still think we can get out of this. There were some important positives today and I have never been involved in or watched a game where three own goals were scored.
"Two of the goals were bizarre and I just wish it had happened to somebody else than Michael Proctor. He is a Sunderland boy who has supported the club at both stadiums and he cares about this club. Charlton manager Alan Curbishley agreed the goals changed the course of the game. "The first goal was always going to be important and if it had gone to Sunderland it would have given the crowd a lift, he said.
Sunderland had proved more than a match for the visitors until the 24th minute opener. Central defender Fish shot was deflected by Flo and full-back Stephen Wright applied the finishing touch.
Three minutes later Chris Powell surged into the penalty area and when his drive was blocked by goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, the ball rebounded from Proctor into the empty net.
In the 31st minute a left-wing corner eluded a ruck of players before the ball struck the hapless Proctor to give Charlton a remarkable three-goal lead.
Jason Euell missed two great chances early in the second half to rub salt into Sunderland’s wounds and though the home side kept battling to the end, pulling the game out of the fire was beyond their wildest dreams.