Ipswich's hopes of a place in next year's Champions League were dealt a severe blow with defeat at The Valley.

Richard Rufus sealed the points for Charlton early in the second half after Martijn Reuser sneaked a free-kick past Sasa Ilic to cancel out Matt Svensson's headed opener.

Ironically, it was last year's Division One champions that put the skids under George Burley's men as Charlton's own impressive return to the highest level has been overshadowed by the progress of Ipswich, who are guaranteed at least a UEFA Cup place.

With just a point needed to leapfrog Leeds back into third place and a Champions League berth, Ipswich became the 11th Premiership team to leave south-east London empty-handed.

Charlton, meanwhile, jump above Aston Villa in the table as a result and are set for their highest top-flight finish since 1953 if they maintain their current eighth place.

Last year's Nationwide Leaguers exchanged early efforts at either end with Mark Fish volleying wide and Ipswich captain Matt Holland heading over.

Claus Jensen, bright and inventive in midfield, tested Richard Wright with a 30-yard swerver which the England keeper clutched.

Then, after Scott Parker was adjudged to have fouled Holland, Martijn Reuser clipped the free-kick over the wall and off Sasa Ilic's right-hand upright.

If Reuser and Ipswich were ruing their luck, they had greater reason to be down as a flowing move provided Charlton with a 14th-minute lead.

Jensen offered John Robinson space to centre on the right and the Welshman's deep cross was thumped past Wright by Svensson's forehead.

The Swede was only in the side due to a throat infection that accounted for 14-goal top scorer Jonatan Johansson.

Undeterred by that setback, the Blues responded with a bizarre 21st-minute leveller.

Reuser swung another free-kick into the area - this time from the right - the ball cleared a melee of players around the six-yard box and crept across Ilic and inside the post.

Thereafter, Ilic, who won his second cap for Yugoslavia last week three years after his first, was the busier of the two goalkeepers.

Reuser struck the crossbar, direct from a corner, moments after the Australian-born stopper had kept out Jermaine Wright's toepoke.

He bettered that save, however, just short of the half-hour when, following a clever exchange of passes between 19-goal Stewart and Holland, the Premiership's top scorer watched a flashing left-foot drive on the run turned away.

With the Tractor Boys ploughing forward at will, the home side almost caught them on the break when Shaun Bartlett chested into the path of Parker only for the alert Wright to snuff out the danger at the young midfielder's ankles.

Alan Curbishley's side, challenged by the manager not to fade with little to play for in the closing weeks of the season, showed greater purpose on the resumption.

And they regained the lead 11 minutes into the second period through centre-back Richard Rufus.

Jensen swung in another free-kick, substitute Graham Stuart - on for Parker - collected at the back post and although the innocuous shot appeared to be covered by Wright, Rufus nipped in to loop the ball over the sprawling keeper's body.

Ilic then produced the save of the night by acrobatically touching over Reuser's fierce free-kick moments later.

South African Bartlett could have killed Ipswich off, with two chances in quick succession. First, failing to connect with Robinson's driven, low cross and then cleverly turning John McGreal and forcing Wright to turn his shot around a post.

Burley sprang a surprise midway through the half with the withdrawal of Stewart and introduction of Mark Burchill.

Ipswich continued to press, though; a flurry of corners by Reuser caused differing degrees of panic in the Charlton ranks and from the best 10 minutes from time, the unmarked Titus Bramble wastefully nodded over from six yards.

But the hosts held on much to the relief no doubt of fellow top-three contenders Leeds and Liverpool.

Charlton (1) 2 Ipswich (1) 1

Charlton: Ilic, Fish, Todd, Rufus, Powell, Robinson, Kinsella, Jensen (Konchesky 86), Parker (Stuart 38), Svensson (Lisbie 77), Bartlett.

Subs Not Used: Brown, Caig.

Goals: Svensson 12, Rufus 57.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Makin, Bramble, McGreal, Hreidarsson, Jermaine Wright, Magilton, Holland, Reuser, Armstrong, Stewart (Burchill 66).

Subs Not Used: Branagan, Wilnis, Clapham, Naylor.

Booked: Makin.

Goals: Reuser 20.

Att: 20,043

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).