England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson turned up to see Charlton's second goalless draw in a row as his possible international successor Alan Curbishley suffered more frustration.

Aston Villa stretched their unbeaten away run in the Barclays Premiership to eight matches, holding on for a point in a poor second half.

Both managers tried to inject more style and guile into proceedings with a string of substitutions after the break - but nobody could match the near misses of Charlton striker Darren Bent in the first half.

Centre-half Liam Ridgewell was recalled to the Aston Villa starting line-up for the first time this year in place of the injured Mark Delaney.

Juan Pablo Angel was preferred up front to promising youngster Luke Moore as David O'Leary's side looked to extend their unbeaten away record, stretching back to October.

Villa had last lost a Premiership away game at Manchester City on October 31.

Despite their vulnerability at centre-half, they started with confidence.

Hermann Hreidarsson and Matt Holland were both fully stretched to make vital interceptions early on as Angel and Milan Baros chased through balls.

Charlton had not conceded a Premiership goal at home since Boxing Day when they lost to Arsenal.

It was Bent's presence which made Villa goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen rush from his penalty area to clear in the ninth minute.

Two minutes later, Marcus Bent put too little weight on his through ball with Darren Ambrose racing into the area - and Aaron Hughes comfortably cleared.

Darren Bent had the first effort on target when he rose for Radostin Kishishev's far-post cross and forced a smothering save out of Sorensen with a firm header.

But it was Charlton's turn to survive a sticky spell when Chris Perry made a vital tackle on Baros six yards out after the home side could only half-clear James Milner's corner.

Villa's back-line were floundering when Holland delivered to the far post - but not enough support was up with him.

When Darren Bent sprinted between two defenders in the inside-right channel to get in a low drive Sorensen had to spread himself to push it out and away with 28 minutes gone.

Villa's Gareth Barry became the first player to receive a yellow card, appearing to stamp on Luke Young in front of referee Chris Foy.

Then 11 minutes before the break, Darren Bent was inches away from giving Charlton the lead. In a quickfire break with Marcus Bent, he took possession on the left side of the area and curled a shot just past the far post with Sorensen beaten.

Charlton had the taste for it now, and Kishishev clipped a drive just over the bar three minutes later.

Marcus Bent was also just too high with his finish as the first half headed towards stoppage time. Yet Charlton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre had to make a fingertip save from Milner's cross-shot with almost the last kick of the half at the expense of a corner.

Villa boldly put on a third striker, Luke Moore, at the start of the second half when he replaced Hughes.

Myhre did well to be in the right place to hold Ridgewell's header from a corner.

Sorensen was also handily placed to keep out Kishishev's long-range shot and then the goalkeeper stretched down by his left-hand post to keep out a drive by Jay Bothroyd who had come on moments before for Marcus Bent.

Baros was furious when referee Foy refused to award Villa a penalty on the hour mark as he went over in the area after Jon Spector's challenge. The home crowd jeered his display of shoulder-shrugging and arm-waving as the referee blanked his appeal.

Charlton had a second substitute on when Jason Euell replaced Bryan Hughes in the 63rd minute and then Villa sent on Kevin Phillips for the ineffective Angel.

Villa looked more dangerous on the break after their changes of personnel and Phillips tested Myhre with a shot on the turn with 15 minutes left.

But Charlton will consider it more like two points lost than a point gained after dominating much of the possession and making the better chances.

Darren Bent, desperately unlucky in the first half, rarely looked as dangerous in the second.

Teams

Charlton Myhre, Young, Perry, Hreidarsson, Spector, Ambrose,Kishishev, Holland (El Karkouri 72), Hughes (Euell 62),Marcus Bent (Bothroyd 57), Darren Bent.

Subs Not Used: Andersen, Powell.

Aston Villa Sorensen, Hughes (Moore 45), Ridgewell, Mellberg,Samuel, Milner, Davis, McCann, Barry, Angel (Phillips 65),Baros.

Subs Not Used: Taylor, Hendrie, Cahill.

Booked: Barry.

Att: 26,594

Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).