Matt Holland pounced to lift Charlton back into fourth place in the Barclaycard Premiership but Middlesbrough will be wondering how they left The Valley without at least a point.

The Addicks skipper's 25th-minute finish, created by Paolo di Canio, may have been of the highest order but it was tough on Boro who had competed on equal terms before the break and were in full control in the second half.

They dominated play after the interval as they went in search of the equaliser but for all their possession and some attractive approach play, they left it late before testing Charlton keeper Dean Kiely.

Spanish midfielder Gaizka Mendieta and striker Joseph-Desire Job both threatened, only to be denied by a post and Kiely's quicksilver reactions, which also accounted for efforts from Gareth Southgate and substitute Szilard Nemeth.

Charlton just shaded it on chances despite seeing less of the ball in an entertaining encounter which halts the Addicks' alarming dip in form - before today they had clinched only one Premiership victory in their last five outings.

Alan Curbishley's side are desperate to avoid the end-of-season slump which has characterised their previous two campaigns as they chase qualification for their first taste of European football.

But they will need to improve their concentration if they are avoid another collapse after their failure to close Boro down in the last 10 minutes of the match almost cost them two points.

Curbishley will also be concerned by the reaction of on-loan Chelsea striker Carlton Cole upon being substituted in the second half. The youngster walked off shaking his head and immediately made his way to the changing rooms, ignoring Charlton's coaching team on the way.

Cole was full of enthusiasm early on though as Charlton poured forward from the first whistle, with the forward's pace and strength causing plenty of problems around the fringes of the visitors' box.

But the best chance of the opening 10 minutes came at the other end when Boro expertly worked the ball to Bolo Zenden, only for his powerful low drive to hit the right post with keeper Dean Kiely well-beaten.

Cole forced a superb save from Mark Schwarzer in the 13th minute, although the Boro stopper could only parry his shot away into the path of Paul Konchesky. Luckily Stuart Parnaby was on hand to see-off the danger.

Charlton nearly took the lead in the 18th minute through Radostin Kishishev when Boro's unconvincing corner clearance found the unmarked right-back, but his shot narrowly missed the target.

George Boateng then went close as play swept from end to end, the Dutchman's long-range effort creeping wide of the left post, but it was the Addicks who broke the deadlock in the 25th minute.

Di Canio picked up a rebounded shot in the right corner and found Holland who had escaped onto the edge of the penalty area unnoticed, and the former Ipswich midfielder curled a superb 20-yard strike into the top left corner.

Charlton continued to press with Jensen and Kishishev both failing to hit the target, but the goal failed to dampen Boro's spirits as the Carling Cup winners threatened briefly down the right through Mendieta.

In fact, the visitors were in full control during the last 10 minutes of the first half and Kiely was tested fully by a diving header from Joseph-Desire Job who latched onto Franck Queudrue's floating cross.

Steve McClaren brought on Nemeth and Massimo Maccarone after the break - Juninho was given an advanced midfield role - but they failed to make the most of a promising 46th-minute attack.

Maccarone was played through by Juninho shortly after but just as the Italian had broken clear and was about to take his shot, Hermann Hreidarsson covered across and made a perfectly-timed tackle.

Jensen hit the side netting as Charlton enjoyed a rare moment of ascendancy before Cole was replaced by Shaun Bartlett, a move which was not welcomed by the Chelsea striker.

A marauding run from substitute Jonatan Johansson saw Holland released clean through on goal but Schwarzer got down well for the shot, while Southgate and Nemeth forced a pair of super saves from Kiely.

Charlton gave the ball away far too easily as the match neared its conclusion but with Jensen and Fortune keeping their heads, Curbishley's men were able to cling on for all three points.

Teams

Charlton Kiely, Young, Fish, Perry, Hreidarsson, Kishishev, Holland, Jensen, Konchesky, Cole (Bartlett 59), Di Canio (Johansson 72).

Subs Not Used: Royce, Fortune, Hughes.

Goals: Holland 25.

Middlesbrough Schwarzer, Parnaby, Ehiogu, Southgate, Queudrue, Mendieta (Greening 68), Boateng, Doriva (Nemeth 45), Zenden, Juninho Paulista, Job (Maccarone 45).

Subs Not Used: Jones, Riggott.

Att: 26,270

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).