Charlton boosted their Coca-Cola Championship promotion hopes and added to struggling Sheffield United's relegation woes with a comfortable 2-0 victory at Bramall Lane.

Chris Iwelumo's 10th goal of the season put the hosts en route to victory with his strike on the brink of half-time after Paddy Kenny was forced into making a string of fine saves for the hosts.

The Blades failed to produce any real response and were killed off by Sam Sodje's late header, leaving Kevin Blackwell's men just four points clear of the drop zone.

United have now not won in seven games and their misery was compounded by the injury-time sending-off of Stephen Quinn.

Blackwell was searching for his first victory since taking over from Bryan Robson and handed starts to full-back Chris Armstrong and Wigan loanee David Cotterill.

Charlton boss Alan Pardew opted to leave new loan signing Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair on the bench and, inspirationally, recalled Iwelumo to start up front on his own.

Blades' defender Chris Morgan had the first real effort of the game as he fired over the bar in the 10th minute.

But it was the hosts' goalkeeper who was first forced into action shortly after as Kenny saved comfortably from Luke Varney's strike.

Matthew Holland then fired an efforts on target but Kenny was again on hand to deny the visitors before Zheng Zhi also failed to beat the Blades stopper.

Visiting goalkeeper Nicky Weaver had to make his first save of the game just before the half-hour mark as he saved from Armstrong's strike.

Kenny then saved Darren Ambrose's strike but Iwelumo broke the deadlock in the first minute of injury time when Greg Halford set him up to slot home from close range.

The Blades failed to produce a response in a dull opening to the second half.

Kenny was called into action again shortly after the hour mark as he denied Chinese international midfielder Zheng again.

Blackwell then rung the changes in the hope of reversing his side's fortunes as he brought on winger Keith Gillespie and striker Jonathan Stead before Sinclair was introduced into the action for the Addicks.

The visitors continued to look the more likely to score as Ambrose fired over the bar.

And the Addicks secured the points in the 82nd minute when Ambrose's corner was headed home by Sodje.

United looked to hit back but Armstrong failed to keep his strike on target with Blackwell's men unable to produce any further efforts of note.

Youngster Sinclair then attempted to add to the host's misery with a debut goal but his effort went wide of the right-hand upright before Sodje headed wide.

The Blades' afternoon went from bad to worse when Quinn was sent off in injury time for a professional foul on Jose Semedo.