Crystal Palace found out all about the luck you need to stay in the Premiership when Jon Fortune's 83rd minute header put them down for the fourth time in 14 years.

Fortune gave away two goals to substitute Dougie Freedman and spot-kick master Andy Johnson with dismal defending as Palace looked to complete the great escape, with relegation rivals Norwich taking a battering down the road at Fulham.

But after falling behind, going ahead and then being pulled back level in a roller-coaster of a match they eventually had to accept their fate.

They waved a muted farewell to their fans stationed behind the goal where Fortune had broken their hearts and it was also a low-key send-off for Charlton after this, their ninth consecutive game without a win - six of them defeats.

Thousands of their supporters drew plenty of satisfaction from the result against the team with who they shared a ground at Selhurst Park between 1985 and 1991.

It was easy to see that Palace were the only team with something at stake in the opening half-hour here. And yet before the interval their defence had been run ragged by some inspired Charlton raids.

Dean Kiely's bravery denied Tom Soares a goal in the opening seven minutes when he dived fearlessly at his feet to block a six-yard chance.

And a foul on Soares brought Palace a free-kick 30 yards out in the 26th minute from which Watson sent in a vicious curling drive that Kiely did well to save even though a linesman ruled he had taken it over the line for a corner.

When Wayne Routledge let fly from 25 yards on the half-hour, Kiely had to plunge to his left and turn away with another smart save.

Yet totally against the run of play, it was Charlton who took a 32nd minute lead through Bryan Hughes. The former Birmingham midfielder got in behind Fitz Hall to move onto Radostin Kishishev's chip forward and steered his shot past Gabor Kiraly, appearing to graze the inside of a post as it crept in.

Palace were stunned after having easily the better of the first half-hour. And they nearly conceded again when Danny Murphy crossed from the right and Jonatan Johansson's sidefooted shot skidded inches past the post with Kiraly beaten.

Hall was at full stretch to clear from the returning Shaun Bartlett as Charlton pressed forward again five minutes before the break Palace had another escape when Kishishev played in Johansson once more only for the unmarked Finn to shoot into the side-netting.

The change in the game was remarkable with Charlton turning it on and Palace looking shaky at the back and yet it was Palace who finished the half on top again with Michael Hughes and Routledge pumping in diagonal crosses that had the home defence at full stretch.

Palace, who have scored just seven league wins this season, showed an astonishing lack of urgency until veteran Freedman was brought on as a substitute in the 55th minute.

Within two minutes he had equalised - thanks to Fortune's clumsy back-header which left keeper Kiely helpless against a cute lob by Freedman.

Thirteen minutes more and Freedman was flying at the Charlton goal again - pumping over a left-wing cross which struck Fortune on the arm.

Andy Johnson stepped up to squeeze home his 22nd goal of the campaign - and his 10th penalty.

What a shame he missed one when Charlton won with a stoppage-time goal at Selhurst Park earlier this season.

It may still come back to haunt him after Fortune's unstoppable late strike - a thumping header from substitute Jerome Thomas' free-kick.

Teams

Charlton Kiely, Young, El Karkouri, Fortune, Konchesky, Kishishev, Johansson, Holland (Thomas 67), Murphy (Sam 76), Hughes, Bartlett (Rommedahl 79).

Subs Not Used: Perry, Andersen.

Booked: Konchesky, Fortune.

Goals: Hughes 30, Fortune 82.

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Butterfield (Freedman 56), Hall, Popovic, Granville, Leigertwood, Soares (Powell 86), Watson (Riihilahti 89), Hughes, Routledge, Johnson.

Subs Not Used: Speroni, Ventola.

Booked: Soares, Johnson.

Goals: Freedman 58, Johnson 71 pen.

Att: 26,870

Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).