Charlton 1 Preston 2

CHARLTON were left clinging precariously to the fifth play-off place following Saturday's shock home defeat by relegation-haunted Preston at The Valley.

The Addicks were booed off by their frustrated supporters, leaving manager Alan Pardew to contemplate an unpalatable record of four wins from their last 15 games.

Preston, who have accounted for top sides Stoke, West Bromwich Albion and Watford, were much the better team throughout.

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Afterwards, Pardew conceded: "We're out of the running for automatic promotion and the best we can get is promotion via the play-offs.

"We never got going, we were dictated to by a side who came here and played well. I don't blame the supporters for booing off the team. They pay good money and I would have done the same had I been in the crowd.

"The players will be in on Sunday because there is a lot to sort out before we play Burnley on Tuesday."

Charlton fell behind in the 15th minute when Chris Brown beat goalkeeper Nicky Weaver at his near post after Darren Carter played him in.

Preston newcomer Tamas Priskin, signed from Watford 24 hours earlier, let Charlton off the hook by missing two sitters.

Charlton improved marginally after the break and equalised in the 75th minute when central defender Patrick McCarthy scrambled the ball in after Sam Sodje headed on skipper Matt Holland's cross.

Their joy was short-lived as Brown added a second two minutes later after skipper Paul McKenna and Simon Whaley combined well to create the opening.

Charlton: Weaver, Halford (Iwelumo 82mins), McCarthy, Sodje, Youga, Sam (Sinclair 14mins), Holland, Zhi, Ambrose, Varney (Gray 45mins), Lita.
Subs Not Used: Elliot, Semedo.
Attendance: 25,124.