Charlton's first league win over Nottingham Forest for 21 years kept alive their automatic promotion hopes and cut the First Division table-toppers' lead over second-placed Sunderland to one point.

A crowd of 15,815, the biggest at The Valley since the Addicks returned to their South London home in December 1992, packed in to see Forest spurn three gilt-edged chances which proved their downfall.

Three meetings between these two sides this season have produced 18 goals and it was the league leaders who made the early chances.

After only three minutes, Kevin Campbell presented Chris Bart-Williams with a glorious chance but Charlton keeper Sasa Ilic was not seriously tested by the midfielder's shot.

Clive Mendonca missed a half chance and a Richard Rufus effort was cleared by Geoff Thomas as the home side replied and then in the 11th minute a fine header from Mark Bright produced a spectacular flying save from Dave Beasant.

The match exploded into life with two goals in two minutes midway through the first half. Charlton opened the scoring when Bright headed home from close range after Eddie Youds - a £550,000 transfer deadline signing - headed back a Mark Kinsella free-kick.

Two minutes later, Forest were on level terms again when Campbell smartly headed home his 18th goal of the season after Thomas had nodded on a Bart-Williams corner.

Forest missed another great opening when Steve Stone skied a poor shot high over the bar after being set up by Alan Rogers.

Rogers then tested Ilic with a tremendous shot and before the break John Robinson sent an angled shot inches wide for the home side.

England winger Stone missed another golden chance in the 59th minute when after springing the offside trap, he shot miserably wide.

Seconds after Stone's expensive miss, Charlton were in front again when substitute Paul Mortimer snapped on to a pass from Keith Jones, ghosted past Colin Cooper, and blasted the ball home from 10 yards.

Charlton kept on the offensive and Mark Bowen fired a sizzling shot just too high then Bright was inches wide with a 66th-minute header.

Ilic did well in the 73rd minute to keep out a Steve Chettle shot, diving late to stop the deflected effort.

Charlton then had an incredible let-off in the 82nd minute when a Pierre van Hooijdonk free-kick hit the post and then rebounded off Ilic to safety.

The home team then wrapped up the points in the 89th minute when Mendonca netted his 20th goal from the penalty spot after he had been pulled down by Cooper.

Then in time added on, Kinsella added a fourth for Charlton and Campbell still had time to net his 19th of the season for the visitors.

Teams

Charlton: Ilic, Mills, Bowen, Jones, Rufus, Youds, Newton (Mortimer 43), Kinsella, Robinson (Emblen 76), Mendonca, Bright.

Subs Not Used: Balmer.

Booked: Youds.

Goals: Bright 14, Mortimer 60, Mendonca 89 pen, Kinsella 90.

Nottm Forest: Beasant, Bonalair, Rogers, Cooper, Chettle, Thomas, Stone, Gemmill (Woan 69), Van Hooijdonk, Campbell, Bart-Williams.

Subs Not Used: Hjelde, Armstrong.

Booked: Cooper, Bart-Williams.

Goals: Campbell 16, 90.

Att: 15,815

Ref: K M Lynch (Knaresborough).