Charlton heaped more misery on struggling Birmingham with a 2-0 win at The Valley.

The Blues handed a debut to Chris Sutton, and dominated much of the game.

But Steve Bruce's men, as on many other occasions this season, lacked a precise final ball after some promising build-up and were made to pay when Bryan Hughes headed in from a corner against his old club after 29 minutes.

Birmingham pressed for long spells from then on, but could not break down the home defence and returned to the midlands empty handed, leading scorer Darren Bent smashing in his 14th of the season on the break in stoppage time.

Charlton had won just twice in the last 10 Barclays Premiership games, and looked determined as they soon settled with winger Dennis Rommedahl enjoying some early success down the right.

However, it was Birmingham who created the first decent chance.

Jiri Jarosik got into some space on the overlap down the left, but his angled shot from the edge of the box flew well over.

On 14 minutes, following a long drop-kick by goalkeeper Maik Taylor, Sutton headed the ball back into the path of the busy Czech midfielder, who drilled a low strike just wide from 20 yards.

Another effort by the one-time Chelsea player again flashed off target, a low left-foot strike drilled across the six-yard box.

Even with some positive approach play, the home side had failed to create any real chance of note.

However, the Valley faithful were soon on their feet as Hughes scored against his former club on 29 minutes.

A Rommedahl corner from the right found its way into the six-yard box where the former Blues favourite was alert enough to head the ball down and into the far corner.

Birmingham went straight on the offensive, and Jonathan Fortune did well to cut out Jarosik's low centre to the near post, with Sutton sliding in.

With the game suddenly coming to life, Rommedahl skipped clear down the right.

His cross was chested back by Bent into the path of Matt Holland, who drilled a first-time effort over from 25 yards.

With four minutes to go before half-time, Birmingham worked the ball well across field to find Emile Heskey on the left side of the area.

The former England regular made space for a shot, which flew just clear of the crossbar.

Charlton had almost found themselves 2-0 ahead within minutes of the restart when Holland flashed a volley just wide after Birmingham had failed to clear following a corner.

Thomas Myhre, though, had to be alert to keep out Heskey in the 50th minute.

Fortune inadvertently flicked on a long pass upfield into the six-yard box, which the Blues striker instinctively pushed goalwards - and at point-blank range, the Charlton goalkeeper got down quickly to pull off a fine reaction save.

Birmingham were enjoying another good spell, but just lacked the ability to unlock the home defence in the danger area.

Heskey managed to stab the ball back to Sutton on the edge of the penalty area, but the big striker was off balance and could only stab his shot wide.

In the 62nd minute, Fortune went into the book for checking Muzzy Izzet as he looked to latch onto Sutton's flick, conceding a free-kick in a central position, 22 yards out.

Jarosik struck his effort well, but straight into the wall.

Charlton were unable to alleviate the pressure and resorted to hitting long balls upfield for Bent and Shaun Bartlett to chase, but without much success.

As the match entered the final 20 minutes, the home side were very much on the back foot.

Then on the break, Young almost curled in a fine 20-yard effort, but Taylor produced a save at full stretch to tip the ball around the post to keep the game alive.

Substitute Darren Ambrose could have settled it in the closing moments, but blasted over after being sent clear.

Myhre again stood up well at his near post to deny Sutton late on, before, in stoppage time, Bent broke away and held off Mario Melchiot before smashing home his 14th of the season to make sure of the points.

Teams

Charlton Myhre, Young, Fortune, Hreidarsson, Powell, Rommedahl (Ambrose 72), Kishishev (Lisbie 82), Holland, Hughes, Bartlett, Bent.

Subs Not Used: Kiely, Perry, Spector.

Goals: Hughes 29, Bent 90.

Birmingham Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham (Forssell 76), Upson, Lazaridis, Pennant, Izzet, Johnson, Jarosik (Dunn 76), Sutton, Heskey.

Subs Not Used: Vaesen, Kilkenny, Gray.

Att: 26,312

Ref: G Poll (Hertfordshire).