A smash-and-grab job by Nottingham Forest has left Charlton seven points from safety in the Championship.
Charlton dominated possession but a string of first-half saves from Paul Smith kept the visitors in the game.
Nathan Tyson scored with Forest's first attack, sweeping Paul Anderson's low cross home from six yards out.
Forest doubled the lead two minutes later, Robert Earnshaw coolly lobbing keeper Rob Elliot to leave Charlton 18 games without a win.
Charlton manager Phil Parkinson:
"In the first 30 minutes we had numerous chances to take the lead, we didn't take them and then we gifted them two goals.
"The defenders might say how many chances do our strikers need to put the ball in the net.
"But any success is built on a resilience at the back and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb."
Forest manager Billy Davies told BBC Radio Nottingham:
"Very pleased with the three points, it was a hard fought three points.
"I thought we started poorly in the first 20 minutes or so, never competed, never won that second ball, never won the individual battles that we have to win and gave the home side far too much space but we picked up from there and scored a couple of great goals.
"Second half was very disciplined, very determined and great credit to every single one of these players.
"For young players its outstanding the way they stand up to it and the energy that they show and it's a fantastic three points."
Charlton: Elliot, Murty, Fortune, Hudson, McEveley, Sam, Semedo (Holland 11), Shelvey, Spring (Waghorn 64), Ambrose, Burton (Gray 64).
Subs Not Used: Randolph, Basey.
Booked: Murty.
Nottm Forest: Smith, Chambers, Morgan, Breckin, Cohen, Anderson, McGugan, Perch, Thornhill, Tyson (Davies 46), Earnshaw (Garner 76).
Subs Not Used: Gamble, McCleary, Moloney.
Goals: Tyson 34, Earnshaw 36.
Att: 24,553.
Ref: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire).
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