Gregory sees Derby crash

Derby's Mawene slides in to deny Parker of Charlton

Charlton 1-0 Derby
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Struggling Derby slumped to defeat at Charlton - with manager-elect John Gregory watching from the stands.

Chris Bart-Williams scored his first goal since his move from Nottingham Forest to win the game for Charlton and leave Derby five points adrift in the Premiership relegation zone.

Gregory was in the stands

Gregory, who quit as Aston Villa boss last week, had five hours of talks with the Derby board earlier on Tuesday and is poised to take over at Pride Park.

But he now knows the gravity of the situation, as the Rams failed to make the most of a promising start and crashed to their fifth straight defeat.

With just 11 minutes left on the clock and the game heading for a goalless draw, Bart-Williams scored directly from a free-kick to earn the Addicks all three points.

Early promise

Derby started brightly, with their players intent on impressing their prospective manager - but it was Charlton who had the best early chance.

Scott Parker did well to create some space in the penalty box before squaring the ball along the six-yard line for John Robinson, whose shot was scrambled clear by the desperate Derby defence.

This is the worst I've felt in six-and-a-half years at Derby - we've got to look at ourselves and really dig deep

Derby skipper Darryl Powell

Charlton pushed forward fitfully, but Jason Euell headed over while Jonatan Johansson's header was straight at Derby keeper Andy Oakes.

Derby so nearly nudged in front right at the end of a dour first half.

Malcolm Christie showed some neat touches to glide through the Charlton defence and into the area - but keeper Dean Kiely did well to keep out his low shot with his legs.

Set-piece winner

But Charlton were an improved side after the break and Graham Stuart, Chris Powell and Johansson all went close in the opening minutes of the second half.

Still Derby held out, though - and with 20 minutes left Charlton boss Alan Curbishley brought on Kevin Lisbie for Johansson.

Derby's players gave everything they had tonight - and if Christie had finished his chance, it might have been a different game

Addicks boss Alan Curbishley

It proved an astute substitution when Lisbie was felled by Youl Mawene and Charlton were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position on the left of the box.

Bart-Williams, who is on loan from Forest until the end of the season, stepped up and curled a fine free-kick past Oakes.

This was caretaker manager Billy McEwan's first Premiership game in charge of Derby.

But with Gregory waiting in the wings, it looks like being the last.

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Charlton: Kiely, Konchesky, Costa, Fortune, Powell, Bart-Williams, Parker (Svensson 79), Stuart, Robinson, Euell (Kishishev 84), Johansson (Lisbie 71).

Subs Not Used: Ilic, Brown.

Booked: Stuart.

Derby: Oakes, Mawene, Riggott, Higginbotham, Jackson, Boertien, Valakari, Powell, Ducrocq (Kinkladze 85), Christie, Ravanelli.

Subs Not Used: Grant, Carbonari, Morris, Bolder. Booked: Riggott, Mawene.

Attendance: 25,387.

Referee: D Pugh (Bebington).