CHARLTON slipped to a first defeat of the season as opponents Stoke went top of the Championship on Saturday.

Manager Alan Pardew, who saw his side let slip a 53rd minute lead,admitted afterwards: "We were always battling set-plays today.

"I thought we looked uncomfortable in the first half but then we started to play and started to get a grip on things.

"But we needed more height to combat Stoke. We did something about that at half-time and in the second period we looked a good side.

"We got the goal but then we had to resuffle after losing Yassin Moutaouakil through injury. The reshuffle cost us the equaliser."

Reid opened his League account for the season with a 53rd minute free-kick that took a deflection off Jonathan Fortune.

Stoke were level three minutes later when substitute Paddy McCarthy was found wanting and Ricardo Fuller picked his spot.

Stoke substitute Jon Parkin won the match in the 78th minute when he turned McCarthy to score.

Charlton: Weaver; Moutaouakil (McCarthy 55 mins), Bougherra, Fortune, Thatcher; Sam (Thomas 46 mins), Semedo, Ambrose, Reid; Bent, McLeod (Iwelumo 46 mins) Substitutes not used: Randolph, Zhi.

Attendance: 12,649.