Tamas Priskin hammered what could prove the final nail in the coffin of Charlton's Coca Cola Championship survival hopes as Watford came from behind to snatch the points at The Valley.

A moment of individual brilliance from Grzegorz Rasiak looked to have rescued a point for the Hornets after Tresor Kandol's instinctive double, but they went one better when Slovakian Priskin curled home the late winner.

Don Cowie had given Watford a 17th-minute lead, before Kandol's classy brace - the first goals from an Addicks forward since December - but defeat does little to rouse hope at The Valley.

Boss Phil Parkinson made two changes to the side which lost 2-1 at Doncaster midweek, Deon Burton and Lloyd Sam earning starting roles in place of Tom Soares and Chris Dickson.

Three successive 2-0 wins had done much to help Watford's plight at the wrong end of the table, until Tuesday's defeat at fellow strugglers Plymouth saw question marks re-emerge.

Manager Brendan Rodgers brought back Jobi McAnuff, Jack Cork and talisman Tommy Smith into his first XI in place of Lee Williamson, Will Hoskins and Gavin Hoyte.

Watford took the lead through a familiar outlet in the 17th minute. Danger man Smith made up ground down the left flank before picking out Cowie, who drilled home from just next to the penalty spot.

But the lead was short-lived as just four minutes later Charlton were level.

Kandol reacted first to a loose ball in the Hornets half and did well to power into the penalty area, take the ball round the sprawling Scott Loach and dispatch into the back of the net.

Loach came to Watford's rescue as the Addicks began to lay siege on his goal, the keeper doing remarkably well to deny Sam with his feet on the half-hour.

But he could do nothing to stop Kandol heading a second 12 minutes before the interval.

Spring supplied the cross from the right by-line and the Leeds loanee rose highest to power his side into a deserved lead.

Robert Elliot did superbly to keep out first Rasiak, then Cowie, as a lively first-half came to an end.

Watford got themselves back on level terms in spectacular fashion 10 minutes after the restart.

McAnuff played in Rasiak, back to goal, on the edge of the area before the giant Pole flicked the ball up and lashed a superb volley past Elliot and straight in the top left corner.

It was a goal to grace any game and it spurred Watford towards finding a winner.

McAnuff's free-kick produced an excellent save from Elliot, before Cowie sent a stinging volley narrowly over the bar.

McAnuff again tried his luck as the game entered its final phase but Elliot was on hand to gather.

Parkinson sent on Svetoslav Todorov for Burton with 15 minutes remaining in a final push for the crucial fifth goal.

But it was the Hornets who grabbed it. Priskin curling home right-footed from just inside the area to leave Charlton facing a monumental uphill battle to preserve their Championship status.

Teams

Charlton Elliot, Butterfield, Ward, Hudson, Youga,Sam (Soares 84), Spring (Zhi 68), Racon, Bailey, Kandol,Burton (Todorov 74).

Subs Not Used: Randolph, Holland.

Goals: Kandol 21, 33.

Watford Loach, Doyley, Mike Williamson, Mariappa, Harley,McAnuff, Jenkins, Cork, Cowie, Smith (Rasiak 40),Priskin (Lee Williamson 88).

Subs Not Used: Lee, Hoyte, Cauna.

Goals: Cowie 17, Rasiak 56, Priskin 83.

Att: 20,052

Ref: Andy Penn (W Midlands).