Everton 3 Charlton 1

CHARLTON slipped to a ninth defeat in 11 games in a depressing start to the New Year at Goodison Park on Monday.

The Addicks, who finished well beaten on previous trips to the North West this season at Blackburn and Wigan, were unable to halt a dismal sequence of results in the area as their defence was torn apart by two set piece goals from Everton’s Tim Cahill.

He also had what looked like a perfectly good goal disallowed before hitting the angle of post and bar in second half stoppage time.

Charlton, who were confident of building on their New Year’s Eve 2-0 success against West Ham, found themselves trailing to a controversial sixth-minute penalty.

Dennis Rommedahl was penalised for a challenge on Kevin Kilbane and James Beattie stepped up for the resulting penalty.

Charlton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre saved his kick but the rebound fell perfectly to the striker and he shot home to make it 1-0.

Matt Holland, Charlton’s matchwinner in last season’s corresponding fixture, equalised in the 17th minute with a drive from 20 yards after the Everton defence had half cleared Luke Young’s cross.

Charlton looked comfortable until they were caught napping in the 41st minute from Mikel Arteta’s quickly taken free-kick. Cahill inched ahead of Young and put his side ahead.

Charlton’s brittle confidence snapped on the hour when Cahill powered home a header from another of Arteta’s precision free kicks. The remainder of the game proved a formality for Everton, who should have increased their lead.

Charlton: Myhre, Young, Fortune, Hreidarsson, Powell, Rommedahl (Lisbie, 75 mins), Murphy (Kishishev, 67 mins), Hughes (Ambrose, 67 mins), Holland, Bartlett, Bent. Subs not used: Andersen, Spector

Attendance: 34,333

TWO goals by Everton's Tim Cahill ensured his side secured all three points and added to the London club's misery.

Alan Curbishley's men have now lost nine of their last 11 matches in all competitions.

Everton went in front after nine minutes when James Beattie followed up his own saved penalty to stroke the ball home.

Alan Curbishley's men equalised shortly afterwards with an impressed volley from Matt Holland but a Cahill header just before the interval restored the home side's lead.

Cahill made it three with another header on 59 minutes.

Charlton battled hard towards the end but failed to get back into the match.