Charlton hold on in the second halfunder serous pressure from Blues, but Alan Curbishley's 600th game ends in victory as Birmingham suffer their third straight home defeat.

Charlton try to waste some time with Alexei Smertin making way for

The Addicks look like they pit seal the victory on the break, with Bent going close again with a shot accross the face of goal.

With Blues pushing forward in numbers, Darren Bent beats Cunningham on halfway and runs towards goal but is denied by Damien Johnson.

Hermann Hreidarsson let's fly from the edge of the box, the ball hits Nicky Butt and deflects up and over the bar.

The ball falls in the Charlton area but after a good turn, Forssell can't keep his shot down.

A 25-yard free-kick from Jermaine Pennant is close but whistles over the bar and Blues still can't find a way through.

Another change for Blues, Muzzy Izzet comes on to replace the impressive Jiri Jarosik.

Another slip on a slippery surface, this time from Jamie Clapham, almost lets Charlton in and Clapham looked to have handled but nothing given.

Kenny Cunningham gives the ball away allows Charlton to break, Bryan Hughes' shot is deflected wide by Johnson. Murphy's corner is easily collected by Taylor.

Another cross into the box from Johnson and Pandiani, off balance, volleys a yard wide of the Charlton upright.

Alan Curbishley, in charge of his 600th game as Charlton boss, makes his second change with former Blues midfielder Bryan Hughes replacing Jerome Thomas.

Chris Perry is only the second player to go into the book so far after a rash challenge on Mikael Forssell.

Pennant's cross is headed just past his own post by Chris Perry, who was at full stretch to clear.

Another corner for Blues is flicked on by Gray, but Jarosik's header lacks power and is collected by Stephan Andersen.

Mikael Forssell looks to have been tugged back in the area by Chris Perry, but the referee waves away the penalty appeals.

Pandiani gives the ball away to Smertin, but the Russian can't find Thomas will his through ball.

Charlton make their first change, with Dennis Rommedahl replaced by Shaun Bartlett.

The Addicks are struggling to get anything going as Birmingham continue to close down all over the pitch.

Gray does well down the left and his pinpoint cross picks out Mikael Forssell, but his header hits the side-netting.

It's a very bright start by Blues and Andersen has to dive and punch Walter Pandiani's cross out of his area.

Steve Bruce was obviously not happy with what he saw in the first-half, with Julian Gray coming on to replace Mario Melchiot and Damien Johnson has gone to play at right-back.

Birmingham start the second-half in the pouring rain, with Pennant winning a corner straight away.

The visitors are in front at the break and could have been further in front had Rommedahl taken a good chance. But Blues will be agreived that Stephan Andersen wasn't sent-off and they also had a good penalty appeal waved away.

Charlton are keeping the ball and will be happy to take a lead in at the break.

Pennant cross causes Charlton problems with Andersen forced to tip the ball away under pressure from his own player Danny Murphy.

Rommedhal breaks free down the wing and should have played in Bent, but goes on his own and runs the ball out of play.

On a rare break in the last ten minutes, Rommedahl breaks down the right and his cross picks out Murphy who volleys the ball into the crowd!

Birmingham continue to pile the pressure on Charlton but can't quite find the killer pass in the last third.

Pandiani turns Young and his dipping volley forces a brilliant save from Andersen. The resulting corner sees Upson's header cleared off the line by Powell, who looks to have handled it.

Jermaine Pennant's corner causes confusion in the Charlton box, but Perry is on hand once again to clear the danger.

Pandiani is the latest player to try his luck from long range and has Stephan Andersen scrambling across goal, but the effort goes wide.

Danny Murphy takes a knock, but decides he's okay to continue after recieving treatment.

Steve Bruce will not be happy with how his side are passing the ball, as Blues continue to give the ball away in the middle of the park.

Mikael Forssell has Blues first shot in anger, but his 20-yard strike drifts wide of the upright.

Charlton should be two-up. A long ball forward is flicked on by Bent, but Rommedahl's lob clears the crossbar.

The resulting free-kick from Pennant comes to nothing, but Forssell cross into the box is hacked clear by the Addicks Luke Young.

Stephan Andersen can't stop himself sliding outside the area with the ball in his hands, but referee Mark Halsey decides to just book him, much to anger of the home fans.

Charlton are in front and it's that man Darren Bent again. The England Under-21 international heads home unmarked from six-yards out after Jerome Thomas' cross.

The crowd are quiet and have been deflated by Heskey's early exit.

Emile Heskey can't go on with what looks like a groin injury and is replaced by Walter Pandiani.

Luke Young fires in a shot from the edge of the area, Taylor keeps it out despite misjudging the flight of the ball.

Dennis Rommedahl and Danny Murphy combine well and Murphy's cross is brilliantly cleared Kenny Cunningham.

The first foray forward for Charlton, but Thomas is flagged offside after a good run from Darren Bent.

Jarosik is all over the pitch and wins the ball back off Powell but conceeds a throw-in.

Upson 's free-kick is aimed towards Jarosik, but the ball runs out for a Charlton goal kick. Heskey is still limping, although he seems keen to stay on.

Heskey already causing Charlton problems in the air, although he appears to have injured himself in an ariel challenge.

Taylor bangs a long clearance down field, Heskey gets his head on it but Jiri Jarosik can only fire over from long range.

Charlton get us underway and Damien Johnson is in with the first tackle of the afternoon.

Blues stick with the same side that beat West Brom last time out, while Luke Young starts for Charlton despite his disappointment with England.