CHARLTON suffered only their second home defeat of the season at the hands of Brighton & Hove Albion this evening.

Inigo Calderdon’s 36st minute effort put the Seagulls in front and the game was made safe late in the second half by Elliott Bennett’s superb long range strike.

Substitute Akpo Sodje grabbed a late consolation with virtually the last kick of the game, but few present would have denied Albion were worthy winners.

Phil Parkinson’s side can have few complaints about the outcome as Brighton were clearly the better side on a night when the Addicks failed to deliver in the final third of the pitch.

Kazenga Lualua had the first chance for the visitors inside two minutes, unleashing a low drive from 20-yards which went only inches wide of the post with Addicks keeper Rob Elliot at full stretch.

Bennett’s ninth minute cross was fired straight at Elliot by Nicky Forster from six yards as Albion continued to look the more likely in the early stages.

Charlton’s first opportunity came on 14 minutes when Deon Burton’s powerful shot was pushed behind by Peter Brezovan for a corner.

Therry Racon attempted an audacious lob from the edge of the area five minutes later, although Brezovan always looked relaxed as it sailed over the bar.

Forster fired straight at Elliot, while nobody was there to connect with Johnnie Jackson’s low ball across the six yard box moments later at the other end.

The Addicks suffered an untimely blow when injury forced Burton to be replaced by Akpo Sodje in the 31st minute after the striker came off worse in a 50-50 challenge with Marcos Painter.

Kyel Reid blazed wildly over from long range two minutes later before the game sprung into life when Akpo Sodje’s overhead kick was blocked.

The rebound fell invitingly at the feet of Painter, who was ideally placed to clear off the line.

Within 30 seconds, Albion were in front as play switched quickly to the other end and Calderon’s shot from edge of area took a deflection off Miguel Llera before landing in the bottom corner of Elliot’s net.

Nicky Bailey placed a 42nd minute shot from 25 yards straight at Brezovan but it was Albion who went in at the interval with their noses in front.

Mooney got on the end of Reid’s pass at the near post but turned and fired off target five minutes after the restart.

Only a crucial tackle prevented Mooney firing home from Akpo Sodje’s cross five minutes later as the Addicks began to finally threaten.

However, Christian Dailly should maybe have considered passing instead of trying his luck ambitiously from 30 yards in the home side’s next attack.

Akpo Sodje got on the end of Llera’s long punt forward just after the hour to beat the offside trap, but his first time shot went wide of the post.

The on-loan Sheffield Wednesday striker fired tamely fired straight at Brezovan two minutes later from inside the box with an attempt that lacked conviction.

Akpo Sodje’s flick on was blazed over by Mooney on 68 minutes and many home fans were surprised it wasn’t the Irishman who didn’t make way for Leon McKenzie shortly afterwards, with Frazer Richardson instead the man to draw the short straw.

But it was Albion who doubled their advantage 12 minutes from time when Bennett unleashed a stunning shot from 30 yards which gave Elliot no chance.

McKenzie went past Adam El-Abd moments later as Charlton immediately tried to get back in contention before placing his shot wide.

Brighton skipper Andrew Crofts almost added a third on 82 minutes with a chip from inside the area which forced a save from Elliot.

A goalkeeping error was capitalised on by Akpo Sodje deep into stoppage time as the striker stuck out a toe to halve the deficit.

But this was a night to forget for Charlton, as Leeds and Norwich both enjoyed victories to pull further clear in the race for automatic promotion.

Charlton: Elliot, Richardson (McKenzie 70), Llera, Dailly, Jackson (S Sodje 75), Sam, Racon, Bailey, Reid, Burton (A Sodje 31), Mooney. Subs not used: Randolph, Semedo, Wagstaff, Solly. Att: 17,508.