ADDICKS HOLD ON TO GO TOP

Wolves recalled Havard Flo as Ade Akinbiyi was suspended, Akinbiyi has also been sent home from the Nigerian squad for the African Nations Cup, currently training in Spain as he is injured. Flo it was who opened the scoring after 17 minutes, a neat Wolves move started when Flo nodded the ball to Bazeley and his cross was tipped behind by Dean Kiely. From the corner, Flo came steaming in at the back post and scrambled the ball into the net.

Shaun Newton should have equalised almost immediately as Kinsella drove a cross into the Wolverhampton box only to see Newton fire over when it looked easier to score.

The game was an end-to-end affair and Michael Branch could have opened his Wolves account following his permanent transfer from Everton but he did not gamble on a near-post cross by Flo and the chance was gone.

Charlton were almost gifted an equaliser as Michael Oakes lost concentration and allowed a Neil Emblen header to go past him but Ludovic Pollet was on hand to head off the line.

But that let-off did not last long as Wolves were savaged by a brace of goals four minutes before half time. Firstly, Richard Rufus headed home a John Robinson cross with four minutes remaining for his fifth of the season and Martin Pringle, preferred in the side to young striker Charlie MacDonald who scored on Saturday, delivered the killer blow as he headed in a Robinson corner in first half injury time.

The second half was something of a midfield battle with Flo at the heart of all Wolves` moves whilst Charlton looked happy to hang on for the win. With 20 minutes left, Mark Kinsella, subject of a £5 million bid from Newcastle, released Newton down the right and his cross was met perfectly by Robinson to head the third. But, five minutes later, Pringle put through his own net which set up a barnstorming finale.

Flo should have got his second of the match but fired wide when well placed and Andy Todd headed Steve Corica`s goalbound effort to safety with Kiely stranded to allow the Addicks to hang on for three vital points.

Nic Evans