Sam Dalby's sixth goal of the season gave Bolton Wanderers their first win in four Championship games and left Charlton Athletic perched precariously above the bottom three.

The striker capitalised on a mistake by the returning Nathaniel Chalobah in the first half to put Wanderers ahead.

And they survived a strong second half push from the Addicks to boost Steven Schumacher's side into mid table.

Defeat made it four losses on the bounce for Nathan Jones' side, a far cry from the start of the season when they won their first three matches to give hopes of a new dawn at The Valley.

These two are the most recent two teams to be promoted to the Championship via the play-offs, but both have found life difficult in the second tier, although Bolton are showing more signs of life, this being their third win in their past four away games.

Charlton manager Nathan Jones made six changes from the side which lost 3-0 at Middlesbrough on Saturday, with goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo among those left out.

Chalobah was making his first start since he was injured in the win over Preston on 29 August, which was the last time Charlton picked up three points, but he had an inauspicious return.

With little threat on halfway, he played an aimless ball back towards his own goal and Dalby had enough pace to escape the defence before expertly planting his shot past Will Mannion in goal.

The midfielder was taken off at half-time, but the damage was done as Charlton huffed and puffed in their attempts to get back in the game, after Danny McNamara and Harvey Knibbs had come closest to scoring for them in the first half.

Bolton sat back after the break as Charlie Kelman's header and Conor Coventry's flashing shot were both inches away from levelling, but full debutant Max Lott almost doubled the lead as Bolton menaced on the counter.

The visitors had a tricky moment to survive when goalkeeper Jack Bonham inexplicably picked up Josh Sheehan's back pass, giving the home side an indirect free-kick on the edge of the six-yard box.

Knibbs went for power and Sheehan injured an ankle by bravely hurling himself in front of it, and was forced off a few minutes later, but he had done his job, although Tyreece Campbell curled a shot narrowly side in added time.

Charlton manager Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London:

"In terms of endeavour, in terms of work-rate, in terms of passing the football there was zero problem. We've had more possession, more touches in the opposition box, and so many opportunities in and around their box, but we've gifted them a goal - they haven't had to work for it in any way.

"We had no problem all night and then gifted them a goal. Then we just didn't demonstrate enough quality in the final third, with the amount of opportunities we've had to cross it, to put it in areas, corners and free kicks.

"It wasn't any individual. We've probably made more positive substitutions tonight than is humanly possible, but we just didn't demonstrate enough quality. We aren't doing the out-of-possession stuff well enough because we are gifting goals."