Matt Holland grabbed a dramatic late equaliser against fellow European hopefuls Birmingham at The Valley in a match which suggests teams across the continent have little to fear from either of these sides.

Clinton Morrison put Blues ahead on his return to the starting line-up with five minutes remaining in their first meaningful attack, but Steve Bruce's side could not hold on for their first away win of the year.

Holland's header at the other end was just reward for Charlton, who had dominated much of the match but failed to make their chances count in a game shockingly devoid of passion or quality, but only a late mis-kick from Bryan Hughes spared their blushes.

Mikael Forssell (knee) and Matthew Upson (groin) both shook off injuries to make the starting line-up for Birmingham, who made two changes from the side which lost at Portsmouth.

Out were Stern John and Olivier Tebily, while Morrison and Stephen Clemence were restored. David Dunn failed to make the squad despite his return from a hamstring injury, but youngsters Carl Motteram and Andrew Barrowman made the bench.

Charlton manager Alan Curbishley named the same team which won for the first time in 50 years at Liverpool on Easter Monday. Paolo di Canio returned to the bench after a recent illness.

Shaun Bartlett was the Charlton hero at Anfield and he had the first chance of the game when Chris Powell found him lurking dangerously with a left-wing cross but the South African headed wide.

The visitors went into the game having won only once in their last six league matches but they were winning the physical battles and dominating possession against a Charlton side lacking invention.

Claus Jensen had a hopeful effort from long range which sailed harmlessly high and wide, but there was little to suggest the Addicks would achieve only their fourth victory since selling Scott Parker to Chelsea in January.

Paul Konchesky's testing left-wing cross almost caught Birmingham out, evading everyone in front of goal before falling to Kenny Cunningham to clear, but there was no-one there to put him under any pressure.

Luke Young did force Clemence to head his long-range shot wide as the half wore down, but there was a strange apathy about both teams, and Jonatan Johansson's shot trickled tamely wide.

Charlton came out after the break eager to prove that late-season slumps are a thing of the past in SE7, and on came flamboyant Italian di Canio to liven things up in a previously lethargic forward line.

But passes were still going astray, and neither side managed to bring any greater urgency into their play in front of 25,206 disappointed spectators.

Maik Taylor was finally forced to make a save in the 59th minute when Johansson capitalised on a mistake by Cunningham at the back to nip in and steal the ball, but the Finn's right-foot shot was easily held.

Charlton then went for broke by throwing on striker Carlton Cole for midfielder Radostin Kishishev. Within seconds Jon Fortune had just failed to make contact at the far post with Hermann Hreidarsson's header from a Jensen corner.

Fortune then put another chance from a Jensen corner over the crossbar at full stretch after Johansson had found him with a flick-on.

Forssell wasted a free-kick from a good position for Birmingham while Johansson was unlucky not to get a touch on Konchesky's wicked left-wing centre, and di Canio scuffed a half-chance into Taylor's grateful arms.

Top scorer Jason Euell then entered the fray for the home side, replacing Johansson, who had been Charlton's liveliest player. But Birmingham grabbed the lead when Morrison headed home Matthew Upson's flick from Damien Johnson's cross in the 85th minute.

Yet this game had another twist when Addicks skipper Holland rose highest to head an equaliser for the home side just two minutes later, and Hughes could have won it for Birmingham if not for a terrible mis-kick in stoppage time.

Teams

Charlton Kiely, Young, Hreidarsson, Fortune, Powell, Kishishev (Cole 61), Holland, Jensen, Konchesky, Johansson (Euell 75), Bartlett (Di Canio 45).

Subs Not Used: Royce, Perry.

Booked: Young.

Goals: Holland 86.

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham, Johnson, Savage, Clemence, Hughes, Forssell (John 90), Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Tebily, Barrowman, Motteram.

Goals: Morrison 84.

Att: 25,206

Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).