Charlton were relegated to League One after a draw with Blackpool at The Valley.

The Addicks, who only dropped out of the Premier League two seasons ago, continued their alarming descent and will be in the third division of English football next season for the first time in 29 years.

They kicked off knowing only a win would give them any chance of prolonging their battle for another few days, starting the day 12 points adrift with only a dozen to play for.

And they so nearly kept their side of the bargain on a sunny afternoon in south London, although positive results for Nottingham Forest and Barnsley would still have consigned the Addicks to the drop.

Deon Burton and Jonjo Shelvey put them 2-0 up, but DJ Campell's penalty and a stoppage-time equaliser from substitute Lee Hughes secured a point for Blackpool - who are not yet out of the woods themselves.

Charlton have, in truth, been planning for League One for some time - the club-record 18-game winless streak under first, Alan Pardew, and current boss Phil Parkinson earlier in the season was always going to be too much to claw back.

And while 11 players are out of contract in the summer and more will be moved on, they will surely move heaven and earth to keep hold of 17-year-old Shelvey.

The midfielder ran Blackpool ragged, capping a fine display with a well-taken goal, and must be held on to if Charlton want to emulate Leicester and bounce straight back.

The Addicks dominated the first half but, as has been the case all season, lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.

Darren Ward headed Nicky Bailey's corner wide, Shelvey and Burton scooped shots over the crossbar and Zheng Zhi drove wide as the Addicks poured forward.

Bailey should have opened the scoring on the half-hour, but instead of shooting opted to pass to Lloyd Sam who could not get his shot away.

And while the score remained goalless, Charlton are always vulnerable and they were almost caught out when Campbell skipped past Mark Hudson only to fire over from eight yards.

But after the interval the Addicks made an immediate breakthrough when Burton met Sam's cross with a deft header which looped over Paul Rachubka and into the net.

And 90 seconds later they were two up when Zheng's clever chip fed Shelvey, who took a touch before firing an angled shot across Rachubka and into the far corner.

Blackpool pulled one back when Hudson brought down Campbell, who picked himself up to send Rob Elliot the wrong way from the penalty spot.

And in stoppage time a nervy Charlton rearguard back-tracked and allowed Claus Jorgensen to play in Hughes, who made no mistake with a curler from 12 yards to deny the hosts victory.

Teams:

Charlton Elliot, Butterfield, Hudson, Ward, Youga (Holland 86), Sam, Zhi, Racon, Bailey, Shelvey,Burton (Tuna 78).

Subs Not Used: Randolph, Spring, Wagstaff.

Booked: Hudson, Youga.

Goals: Burton 48, Shelvey 49.

Blackpool Rachubka, Baptiste, Barker, Evatt, Crainey, Small (Ormerod 61), Adam, Southern, Vaughan (Hughes 89), Campbell, Burgess (Jorgensen 83).

Subs Not Used: Gilks, Walton.

Goals: Campbell 67 pen, Hughes 90.

Charlton are relegated

Att: 19,615

Ref: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).