Lita adds to Addicks' woes

Lita: Winning strike

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Leroy Lita returned to the Norwich starting line-up to prolong sorry Charlton's run without a win to 14 games.

Lita, on loan at Carrow Road from promotion-chasing Reading, missed the loss to the Royals last week as he was unable to face his parent club.

The powerful striker slotted past Rob Elliot in the 60th minute to lift the Canaries away from the bottom three after back-to-back defeats.

Elliot Omozusi, the on-loan Fulham defender, started for Norwich in place of on-loan defender John Kennedy who has returned to Celtic for treatment on a knee injury.

Portsmouth's Linvoy Primus was the man who again missed out for the Addicks due to the club being allowed to field only five loan signings.

Caretaker boss Phil Parkinson kept faith with 22-year-old goalkeeper Elliot after Nicky Weaver was dropped for Monday night's 2-2 draw with Derby.

The young Charlton goalkeeper was tested early on when Mathew Pattison hit a left-footed drive from 30 yards but Elliot dealt with it comfortably.

Lita was desperate to make up for lost time when David Bell's corner presented him with a good chance, but the striker looked out of touch as he snapped a shot wide of the target.

Despite the hosts being on top early on, midway through the first half Charlton could have taken the lead when defender Mark Hudson unleashed a fine volley from 20 yards but Norwich goalkeeper David Marshall pulled off a fantastic save.

Significant

Hudson then curled a 20-yard effort over the bar.

The standard of finishing struggled to improve after half time.

Charlton's Lloyd Sam drilled a left-footed strike wide from 25 yards before Lita's lob drifted wide from 18 yards out for Norwich in the very next move.

The hosts had their goalkeeper to thank in the 58th minute as Marshall made another fine save by repelling Hameur Bouazza's effort from 12 yards.

The save was all the more significant when Norwich took the lead two minutes later as Lita drilled a left-footed strike past Elliot following Sammy Clingan's assist.

Parkinson attempted to change the course of the game by bringing on Svetoslav Todorov, Keith Gillespie and Deon Burton but they all failed to make an impact.

Bouazza continued to be Charlton's most threatening force but his duel with Marshall continued to go the way of the goalkeeper.

The Charlton striker watched on as Marshall parried his shot wide.

It was a rare chance for the visitors as Norwich maintained control of the game and closed out an important win that heightened Charlton's relegation concerns.