Charlton revived their hopes of avoiding the drop with their first Premiership win since October 24 courtesy of some comical Wimbledon defending.

Martin Pringle gave the home side the lead after 36 minutes, beating Neil Sullivan from 10 yards after both Dean Blackwell and Chris Perry failed to clear.

And the Dons gift-wrapped the three points on 68 minutes following a farcical mix-up between Blackwell and Sullivan as they tried to collect Chris Powell's hopeful centre, the ball bouncing off the keeper and then the defenders' legs and into the empty net.

It was the kind of luck Alan Curbishley's side needed after taking just one point from their last 10 league matches, the victory lifting them above Southampton on goal difference.

And with John Barnes signing from Newcastle before kick off until the end of the season, the Valley faithful at last had some reason to be optimistic about their chances of survival.

They restricted the disappointing visitors to a couple of half chances with 17-year-old Paul Konchesky - Charlton's youngest ever first team player as a 16-year-old last year - impressive on his full Premiership debut at left back.

Wimbledon could have gone sixth with a victory but with John Hartson anonymous they never looked seriously like achieving that win and have now gone 277 minutes without a league goal.

The pre-match signing of Barnes had looked likely to be the most exciting action on the pitch of a dreadful first half at the Valley before Pringle's strike 10 minutes before the interval.

The former England international must have wondered what he had let himself in for after the abject first 45 minutes in which it was difficult to tell which was the home side.

Wimbledon enjoyed by far the greater share of possession, forcing seven corners to two but still struggled to produce any real clear chances.

The first half-chance in fact fell to the home side after 12 minutes, Andy Hunt's superb control on the chest allowing Robinson a site of goal but the Welsh international snatched at his shot and dragged it well wide of Neil Sullivan's goal.

Sullivan was called into action five minutes later, Danny Mills cutting inside Ben Thatcher but his shot, on his weaker left foot, was too close to the goalkeeper who held comfortably.

Wimbledon's greatest threat came from the air, John Hartson glancing a header just wide of Simon Royce's far post on 21 minutes from Neal Ardley's cross.

Mills was then robbed in the centre circle allowing Mark Kennedy to race clear down the left-wing and Carl Tiler did well to slide in and intercept his dangerous low cross with Hartson lurking at the back post.

It was against the run of play that the home side then broke the deadlock after 36 minutes through Pringle's second goal since his loan move from Benfica.

The striker was allowed to advance deep into the penalty area before being challenged and it looked as though Chris Perry and Blackwell would get the ball clear.

But Perry stumbled as the ball stuck under his feet and rolled invitingly back to Pringle who beat Sullivan from 10 yards out.

That brought the home crowd and side to life, Pringle testing Sullivan again with a left foot volley from 20 yards.

The home side came close to doubling their lead, the first time they had been in front since Boxing Day at Selhurst Park, 10 minutes into the second half.

Kinsella's free-kick from near the right corner flag was well met by Steve Brown whose header appeared to be heading for the far corner but Sullivan dived sharply to his right to save well.

Wimbledon struggled to create any real chances, Perry's header wide from Kennedy's corner their best opening.

And they found themselves two behind in farcical fashion after 68 minutes after a mix-up between Blackwell and Sullivan.

Both came to clear Powell's hopeful ball into the area but ended up only getting in each other's way, the ball eventually bouncing off Blackwell's heel and into the empty net.

Before that Joe Kinnear had brought on Ceri Hughes for the ineffective Carl Cort, Hughes becoming the first player booked just two minutes after coming on.

Charlton boss Alan Curbishley then made a change, bringing on Shaun Newton for Robinson as the Addicks looked to cling on to their lead.

That they did so with relative ease was more a comment on Wimbledon's inadequacies than defensive strength but the 20,000 crowd inside the Valley had no complaints.

Chants of "We are staying up" may prove a trifle premature with Liverpool Saturday's visitors, but at least the Addicks have given themselves a fighting chance.

Teams

Charlton: Royce, Mills, Tiler, Brown, Konchesky, Robinson (Newton 69), Redfearn, Kinsella, Powell, Hunt, Pringle.

Subs Not Used: Ilic, Jones, Barness, Bright.

Booked: Redfearn.

Goals: Pringle 37, Blackwell 68 og.

Wimbledon: Sullivan, Cunningham, Perry, Blackwell, Thatcher, Roberts, Ardley, Kennedy, Euell (Goodman 84), Cort (Hughes 62), Hartson.

Subs Not Used: Heald, Kimble, Castledine.

Booked: Hughes.

Att: 20,002

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).