Everton 0 Charlton 1

CHARLTON are starting to look a plausible proposition among the clubs attempting to qualify for Europe next season.

While the elite of the Premiership look over their shoulders, a club who had such an indifferent start to the campaign are timing their run to perfection as the serious jostling starts for key positions and that fourth Champions League place.

Skipper Matt Holland scored his first goal of the season to earn maximum points at West Bromwich Albion on December 11. It was a superb strike, which he matched and bettered in Saturday's first half stoppage time to win the game.

Victory leaves Charlton in 7th place, equal on 37 points with Liverpool and Middlesbrough, and seven behind 4th-placed Everton.

Manager Alan Curbishley found himself fending off questions at Goodison Park regarding Charlton's credentials to muscle in on the big three of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

With Liverpool and Manchester United due at The Valley soon, Charlton will be able to assess how far this new-look side with its new-look 4-2-3-1 formation have developed.

Curbishley said: "We defended superbly, made some great block tackles and thoroughly deserved our win.

"So far as 4th place is concerned, yes, it would be marvellous if some club could break the monopoly. We were in exactly the same position as Everton are last season but we just couldn't do it, so we'll have to see.

"An essential ingredient of our side is that everyone digs in, everyone mucks in and you saw that today. We weren't getting that in the early part of the season, certainly away from home."

Curbishley, who denied pre-match speculation that he would change formation to accommodate Francis Jeffers, persisted with Shaun Bartlett as the lone striker but dropped Dennis Rommedahl and recalled Paul Konchesky.

Having lost on five previous visits to the North West this season, Charlton started at a high tempo with a distinct look of resilience about the side.

Everton, whose previous five Premiership defeats this season had come against London clubs, seemed aware of the statistic as they made a tentative start.

Parading their £6m record signing James Beattie for his home debut, they seemed incapable of making a serious impression on the Charlton defence until manager David Moyes changed formation in the second half with the introduction of Duncan Ferguson to partner Beattie in attack.

Danny Murphy completed his fifth goalline clearance of the season when he foiled David Weir in the 23rd minute while Beattie unwittingly went close a minute later when goalkeeper Dean Kiely's hurried clearance from Jonathan Fortune's under-hit back pass rebounded off the striker and away for a goal kick.

The secret of Charlton's success is that the players are drilled to stick to their jobs. What they lack in creativity they compensate for in determination and on Saturday they always looked the more cohesive of the two sides.

When their chance came, they took it in style. Everton half cleared a long throw from Hermann Hreidarsson, the defender then drove the rebound into the path of Holland who lashed the ball home from 25 yards.

Beattie was out of luck with a shot that beat Kiely but struck a post in the 54th minute.

Everton were raining in a succession of long, high balls in the hope of finding the head of Ferguson, but it was all too easy for centre-backs Talal El Karkouri and Fortune.

In the closing stages, as Everton turned up the heat, Kiely distinguished himself with some first rate handling under constant pressure from Ferguson.

As for that final Champions League place, all things are possible in football. Together, Charlton and their supporters know that because they have performed a few miracles over the years.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, El Karkouri, Fortune, Hreidarsson, Holland, Konchesky, Hughes (Johansson 86), Murphy, Thomas, Bartlett. Subs Not Used: Andersen, Stuart, Fish, Jeffers.

Attendance: 36,041.