Charlton midfielder Matt Holland's goal in first-half injury time ended Everton's run of five successive home wins the in the Barclays Premiership.

Holland's effort also denied fourth-placed Everton the chance to move 10 points clear of neighbours Liverpool, who lost at Southampton earlier in the day.

The Ireland international's goal and an excellent performance from former Liverpool man Danny Murphy stopped Everton in their tracks and sent them to their first Goodison Park defeat since early October.

The Toffees had given new signing James Beattie his home debut and Leon Osman returned to the side after a knee injury to take over from Joseph Yobo in midfield in an attempt to fill the void left by Thomas Gravesen's departure.

Everton, after five successive home wins in the league, had dropped only two points from 21 at home since the first week of October.

But their visitors were right back in form and had lost just two of their last nine matches in all competitions.

Paul Konchesky returned to the Addicks side in place of the injured Dennis Rommedahl, while Graham Stuart and Mark Fish returned to the bench. Former Everton striker Francis Jeffers had to make do with a place among the substitutes.

Beattie almost embarrassed Dean Kiely when he charged down a clearance from the keeper but the ball bounced harmlessly away from goal and behind.

Not surprisingly, Everton missed the drive and industry of Gravesen, as so much of their midfield dominance this season had been due to the Dane's tireless efforts.

Murphy certainly took advantage, along with Holland, and the pair were more than a match for Everton's midfield trio of Lee Carsley, Osman and Tim Cahill.

Bent sent a 39th-minute header over from an Alessandro Pistone cross from the left, but the game was now stagnating with only minor action in either box.

Only set-pieces threatened to change that. Twice Beattie almost profited from, first when Osman played him in and then when a Carsley corner was not cleared. Both times his efforts were charged down by Jonathan Fortune.

But it was Charlton who took the lead in first-half injury time when Everton failed to clear a corner and Hermann Hreidarsson lifted the ball to Holland, who volleyed superbly home from just outside the box.

Everton brought on Duncan Ferguson for Bent after the break and adopted a more conventional 4-4-2 formation.

The Toffees were now more direct and had greater urgency, but the constructive play was still missing.

However, one neat pass from Osman released Beattie on the right - and his low drive eluded Kiely. With Cahill failing to make any contact as he flung himself at the ball in the six-yard box, the shot cannoned off the foot of the far post before being hacked clear.

But Charlton were soon back to dictating the play, Murphy everywhere while Holland was quick to pick off bad passes.

Ferguson sent Carsley scampering into the box, but a fine saving tackle from Konchesky stopped the Irish international in his tracks.

Kevin Kilbane had struggled to make any impact against Luke Young and Hughes down Everton's left flank - and on 65 minutes he was replaced by James McFadden.

The young Scot certainly livened things up and instantly linked well with Ferguson - and one of McFadden's runs won a corner which Carsley fired into the box for Ferguson to head wide.

The Scot set about trying to turn the game. He was prepared to run at defenders and produced a couple of shots which troubled Kiely.

Everton were clearly missing Gravesen and Beattie saw a curling free-kick from 25 yards palmed away by Kiely at full stretch.

Hughes was booked for a foul on Pistone, but the game was becoming increasingly frustrating for Everton. They brought on Yobo in place of Pistone after 87 minutes, with Charlton replacing Hughes with Jonatan Johansson.

Teams

Everton Wright, Hibbert, Stubbs, Weir, Pistone (Yobo 86), Osman, Carsley, Cahill, Kilbane (McFadden 65), Beattie, Bent (Ferguson 45).

Subs Not Used: Naysmith, Turner.

Booked: Stubbs.

Charlton Kiely, Young, El Karkouri, Fortune, Hreidarsson, Holland, Thomas, Murphy, Hughes (Johansson 87), Konchesky, Bartlett.

Subs Not Used: Stuart, Fish, Jeffers, Andersen.

Booked: El Karkouri, Hughes.

Goals: Holland 45.

Att: 36,041

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).