Charlton's automatic promotion hopes suffered another blow on Tuesday as they suffered a surprise 2-1 home defeat at the hands of lowly Brighton in League 1.

The Seagulls took the lead on 36 minutes when, after a goalmouth scramble in the Brighton box, the visitors broke quickly and Inigo Calderon applied the finishing touch from 20 yards.

Elliott Bennett then drove in Brighton's second after 78 minutes and although substitute Akpo Sodje pulled one back in stoppage time, it was too late for the Addicks to salvage anything more.

felt that when we had chances, we didn't make the goalkeeper work.. I "It was a disappointing night for usCharlton manager Phil Parkinson, pictured, told the club's website:

"In the second half we had three or four really good opportunities and their keeper didn't really have a save to make. They've had one shot in the second half and it's ended up in the back of the net.”

And to cap a miserable evening, Norwich and Leeds both won to improve their chances of claiming the two automatic promotion places while Charlton sit fourth, six points off of second spot.