Former Portsmouth midfielder Amady Faye grabbed his first Charlton goal with a late winner against his old club in a Fratton Park shock.

And a dramatic late save by Scott Carson denied Andy Cole an equalising header.

Faye's 79th-minute strike earned Charlton boss Alan Pardew his second win in their fight against relegation as Pompey failed to score at home for only the second time this season.

It was only their second defeat in 11 games but Charlton could have wrapped it up earlier when Bryan Hughes, whose return pass set up Faye's decider, failed to turn Marcus Bent's header into an empty net.

Inevitably, the announcement of Ben Thatcher's name in the Charlton side brought a massive jeer from the home fans - even before the teams appeared on the pitch. The former Wales defender was facing Portsmouth for the first time since his elbow smash to the face of Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes earlier this season while at Manchester City, which earned him an eight-match ban.

Mendes accepted Thatcher's handshake as the teams went through the Premiership pre-match ritual, but Thatcher finished the day on top, playing a vital part in his team's disciplined defence and rode out a storm of boos.

Earlier, Pompey boss Redknapp was give a generous ovation as owner Alexandre Gaydamak presented him with a glass memento of more than 1,000 games as a manager over 25 years.

Pompey, beaten just once in their 10 previous games, had the lion's share of possession with Lauren, who had a major knee operation last January, busy wide on the right on his debut in place of suspended skipper Gary O'Neil.

But they were almost caught out in the sixth minute when Jerome Thomas slipped a clever ball behind their defenders into the area and Marcus Bent arrived unmarked but just too late to make the most of it.

Pompey were slow to find their touch in attack with Cole twice caught offside early on and Mendes and Djimi Traore - a Charlton player until Thursday last week - resorting to long-range efforts that were charged down.

For a team beaten seven times in the last 10 games, Charlton made a promising start but were grateful to escape in the 18th minute when Traore pulled the ball back from the left and Cole swivelled menacingly to shoot - only to hoist his effort from 15 yards well over the crossbar.

But there was an even bigger escape for Pompey to come. Lauren lay prone near the centre circle after an aerial collision with Thatcher, and a superb cross by Thomas took out David James and was headed across an empty goalmouth by Bent, only for Hughes to kick thin air as he tried to slide it in.

Even referee Mark Clattenburg looked as though he could scarcely believe it as he pointed for a goal-kick, but Portsmouth knew it was a warning and piled on pressure from set-pieces in the last 15 minutes of the first half.

Thatcher stopped Cole's goalbound effort after the striker and Linvoy Primus caused big trouble at the far post from Matt Taylor's corner.

Any one of four Pompey players could have scored when Charlton stopped playing in anticipation of an offside flag from Taylor's free-kick.

In the end Hermann Hreidarsson hacked the loose ball away and then made a splendid tackle on Kanu as the Nigerian tried to work his way through from the left.

Charlton showed bags of character to delight Pardew but Pompey boss Redknapp knew his Blues were off-colour.

He replaced Sean Davis with tiny winger Roudolphe Douala in the second half and he went close to a goal with a 25-yards blast with 20 minutes left. Sadly, it flew over.

The breakthrough came for Charlton with 11 minutes to go when Faye worked a one-two with Hughes, advanced into the box and despite the attention of two Pompey defenders managed to lift a shot past James.

Cole's late effort almost saved the day but Pompey could not escape their first home defeat for four months and only their second Fratton Park appearance without a goal this season.

Teams

Portsmouth James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Traore, Lauren,Davis (Douala 53), Pedro Mendes, Taylor, Kanu (Mwaruwari 73),Cole.

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Thompson, Hughes.

Charlton Carson, Sankofa, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Thatcher,Rommedahl (Kishishev 82), Faye (Diawara 90), Holland, Hughes,Thomas (Hasselbaink 90), Marcus Bent.

Subs Not Used: Myhre, Ambrose.

Booked: Sankofa, Faye, Carson.

Goals: Faye 79.

Att: 19,567

Ref: M Clattenburg (Co Durham).