Alan Curbishley was determined to ensure Charlton's season which had promised so much did not end in disappointment - and he would have left The Valley a happy man after the victory over Southampton on the final day of the Barclaycard Premiership season.

The Addicks had looked good for a European place after a promising start to the campaign, only to fall away since the turn of the year.

Goals from Jason Euell and substitute Carlton Cole either side of half-time were enough to see off the Saints' challenge and secure a best-ever finish in the Premier League of seventh place, although David Prutton's well-worked goal with 25 minutes left ensured a tense finale to a roller coaster season.

The day had started brightly for Paolo di Canio, who would later go off injured in what could be his final appearance for the Addicks as he is out of contract in the summer.

The Italian combined well with Hermann Hreidarsson to send the big defender away down the left inside the opening minute, but his centre was just to high for Radostin Kishishev to control.

Both teams took their time to settle and the early exchanges had an end-of-season feel about them on a glorious May afternoon.

Southampton were forced into a change after 13 minutes when midfielder Anders Svensson hobbled off with what looked like a hamstring injury to be replaced by Chris Baird.

Matt Holland tried his luck from 30 yards when the ball fell to him following a half-cleared corner but the Addicks skipper was well off target.

James Beattie then went down as he tussled with Luke Young for a loose ball just inside the Charlton box but his penalty appeals were more in hope than expectation and referee Jeff Winter was having none of it.

After 26 minutes Yoann Folly gave away a free-kick on the right edge of the penalty area when he man-handled Holland.

Paul Konchesky struck the dead ball sweetly with his left-foot to beat the wall but Alan Blayney, deputising again for the ill Antti Niemi, produced a stunning one-handed save to push the ball behind.

Blayney was then quick off his line to block Shaun Bartlett's snap-shot from just inside the box. However, he could do little to prevent Charlton taking the lead after 36 minutes.

Stephen Crainey headed Dean Kiely's long punt up field back into the air, and Bartlett showed good spring to nod on the ball to di Canio, whose delicate flick fell perfectly into the path of Euell, and he made no mistake from 12 yards.

Brett Ormerod then suddenly found himself in the clear with no offside flag. The ball was running away from him, though, and Kiely came out to narrow the angle before scrambling the ball away with Beattie pressing.

Holland fired just over the crossbar from a full 25 yards, and then di Canio fell to the floor holding his ribs as he chased a long ball into the Southampton half.

The Italian had to be helped from the field by Charlton's physio team, before being replaced by Cole.

And it was the on-loan Chelsea man who made it 2-0 eight minutes after the restart.

Holland sent a brilliant searching pass from deep over the backline and between the two centre-backs, where Cole collected it on his chest before drilling the ball home from six yards.

To their credit, the visitors did try to up the tempo and get back into the match, which for them had little riding on the outcome.

Prutton was involved in some good build-up play along with Beattie which eventually put Ormerod in some space just inside the box.

His shot on the turn was powerful enough, but Kiely got down well to beat the ball behind for a corner.

The Saints pulled a goal back after 64 minutes when Crainey played the ball towards Ormerod on the edge of the box. His clever step-over allowed the pass to run on to Prutton, who smashed the ball in from close range.

With 15 minutes left, Kishishev swung the ball in from the right, and as it looped towards the far corner, Blayney had to quickly back-pedal and did well to stop himself from carrying it over the line.

Southampton saw plenty of possession in the closing stages, but were not able to find a decisive pass as Charlton's back line held firm.

Teams

Charlton: Kiely, Young, Fortune, Perry, Hreidarsson, Kishishev, Euell, Holland, Konchesky, Bartlett, Di Canio (Cole 45), Cole (Jensen 86).

Subs Not Used: Royce, Powell, Fish.

Goals: Euell 36, Cole 53.

Southampton: Blayney, Telfer, Hall, Kenton, Crainey, Fernandes (Griffit 85), Prutton, Folly, Anders Svensson (Baird 13), Ormerod, Beattie.

Subs Not Used: Poke, Cranie, Blackstock.

Booked: Prutton.

Goals: Prutton 64.

Att: 26,614

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).