Christophe Dugarry notched one of the cheekiest goals of the season at The Valley to all but secure Birmingham's Premiership status as Charlton's dramatic slump continued.

In the 19th minute, the French forward met Geoff Horsfield's cross and flicked the ball between his legs and into the net.

The Addicks were in fact lucky Steve Bruce's men were not out of sight by half-time as referee Neale Barry turned down two decent penalty shouts by the west midlanders either side of Dugarry's strike.

Alan Curbishley's players were sloppy in the first 45 minutes and booed off at the interval.

The second period showed a temporary improvement by the home side - but Chris Powell was controversially adjudged to have felled Robbie Savage in the box in the 55th minute and the midfielder himself scored from the penalty spot.

A 2-0 victory was the least the Blues deserved for a passionate display both by their players and the tremendously-vocal travelling fans.

So Bruce's team have smashed the magical 40-point barrier and almost certainly guaranteed a second season of top-flight football.

However, Bruce's opposite number Alan Curbishley must be wondering where it all went wrong for his side this spring.

On February 22, they beat Aston Villa 3-0 - setting a club record fifth straight Premiership win - to soar within three points of the Champions League places.

Now, after five defeats and a draw in the six games since, they are bogged down in mid-table and their dream of even a UEFA Cup place appears to be just that.

Early on in today's contest in chilly south-east London, Savage needed two minutes' treatment after a crunching aerial challenge with Charlton's Jonatan Johansson. From the resulting free-kick, Dean Kiely saved Horsfield's header.

The ball cross-crossed the Addicks' penalty area in the 12th minute, with Dugarry's square pass evading Horsfield, whose shot seconds later skidded past the far post.

And home centre-back Tahar El-Khalej was lucky to escape unpunished when his clumsy challenge left Horsfield on the deck in the penalty area.

And the visitors' pressure told in the 19th minute when a moment of magic from Dugarry which put Bruce's men 1-0 up.

The Frenchman, who failed to find the net in his first 10 games in English football, finally broke his duck in last Saturday's 2-0 victory against Sunderland.

And his second Blues goal, one which will be replayed time-and-time again on television, arrived at The Valley.

Horsfield shrugged off Jonathan Fortune's challenge to square the ball from the right.

Dugarry raced into the six-yard box and - as Luke Young threw himself into a sliding tackle - he stuck out his right boot to cheekily flick the ball between his legs and into the net.

Mathias Svensson was booked for a terrible tackle on Clemence 12 minutes before the break. The forward launched himself at the Blues man and caught him in the head with his boot.

Charlton had another penalty let-off when Young handled a loose ball in the area - and referee Barry waved away Birmingham appeals.

Frantic Blues defending denied Scott Parker and substitute Kevin Lisbie shots at goal as Charlton came out strongly after the break.

Birmingham weathered the storm and bagged their second goal after a highly controversial penalty decision by Barry.

Savage raced clear and left-back Powell cut across to cover and slide-tackled the Blues man.

He appeared to make clear contact with the ball - but Savage also tumbled and Barry pointed to the spot.

After fierce Addicks protests to the official, Savage took the kick himself and sent Kiely the wrong way to put the visitors 2-0 up in the 55th minute.

Clemence went into Neale's notebook for shoving Parker after he was fouled by the home player.

After 74 minutes, Bennett was down smartly on his line to snaffle up Jensen's well-hit free-kick.

Horsfield had the opportunity to cap an industrious afternoon's work with a goal - but after playing a one-two with substitute Stern John, he ballooned high and wide from eight yards.

Kiely also saved from the big Blues forward late on.

Teams

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Fortune, El Khalej (Konchesky 82), Powell, Kishishev (Robinson 45), Parker, Euell, Jensen, Svensson (Lisbie 45), Johansson.

Subs Not Used: Roberts, Blomqvist.

Booked: Parker, Svensson.

Birmingham: Bennett, Kenna, Cunningham, Upson, Clapham, Damien Johnson (Purse 90), Savage, Hughes, Clemence, Horsfield (Devlin 87), Dugarry (John 68).

Subs Not Used: Marriott, Lazaridis.

Booked: Clemence.

Goals: Dugarry 20, Savage 55 pen.

Att: 25,732

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).