Charlton found themselves hosting a promotion party at The Valley on Saturday, but sadly not their own, as league leaders Norwich City escaped with a 1-0 win.

The Canaries grabbed the win they needed to confirm their immediate return to the Championship next season, but Phil Parkinson's side will wonder how they failed to find the scoresheet during a dominant second half display.

Norwich centre back Michael Nelson scored the game's only goal on 34 minutes, heading home a Simon Lappin corner. But arguably the match winner for the visitors was keeper Frazer Forster, who pulled off a string of spectacular saves to deny a Charlton comeback.

Strikers Deon Burton (pictured) and Nicky Forster were denied in the second half, while skipper Nicky Bailey also had a free-kick saved early on.

Charlton remain three points off the automatic promotion places after defeats for fellow challengers Leeds United at Gillingham and Millwall at Huddersfield on Friday night. Swindon Town leapfrog Charlton into fourth after securing a draw at Walsall.

Charlton: Randolph, Richardson, Borrowdale, S Sodje, Dailly; Sam, Semedo (Reid 72mins), Racon, Bailey (Shelvey 82mins); A Sodje (Burton 84mins), Forster. Subs not used: Elliot, Solly, Llera, Wagstaff.

Norwich: Forster; R Martin, Drury, Nelson, Doherty; Hughes, Spillane, Russell, Lappin; Johnson (Rose 64mins), C Martin (Elliot 87mins). Subs not used: Rudd, Gill, McNamee, McVeigh, McDonald.

Attendance: 20,023