Charlton remain at the bottom of the Premiership table after succumbing 2-1 to London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Brian McBride started Fulham fightback

The game was a poor contest but two excellent finishes won the game for Fulham - who now find themselves in the top half of the table after claiming the three points.

The opener did not arrive until the 65th minute with Brian McBride firing home superbly from the edge of the box, and then less than two minutes later the match was won by substitute Claus Jensen as he registered against his former employers.

Darren Bent pulled one back for Charlton, but it was to no avail as they could not find an equaliser despite some late pressure.

Fulham began, what was always going to be a close match, the brighter and created the first chances of note.

Heidar Helguson almost took advantage of an error from Talal El Karkouri as the Moroccan stopper slipped, but despite meeting McBride's cross - he could not test Scott Carson.

McBride then fired wide from Wayne Routledge's corner as the American swiveled well on the edge of the box but he could not redirect his effort.

From then Charlton dominated the remainder of the half with wide men Andy Reid and particularly Dennis Rommedahl looking dangerous.

Darren Bent should have done much better on 21 minutes when Rommedahl easily beat Franck Queudrue before finding the England international, but he curled the ball wide of Antti Niemi's goal.

The Finn was then on hand to produce the first save of the match, but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's effort was straight at him.

Rommedahl and Darren Bent both failed to find the target when well placed before the best chance of the half came just before the interval. It came for Reid as he met a Rommedahl pass with terrific venom - but unfortunately for the Irishman his effort flashed just wide of the post.

El Karkouri's adventurous 35-yard free kick was the opening effort of the second half as the game again failed to set pulses rating.

Chris Coleman looked to change things on the hour as long-term injury victim Jensen made a welcome return in place of Helguson as he made his first Premiership appearance for just short of a year.

McBride, for the first time, was then given some good service as Routledge whipped in a cross from the right - but the Fulham striker's header was woefully wide of the mark when he should have at least tested Carson.

With McBride at the heart of everything good for Fulham - it was little surprise he opened the scoring on 65 minutes

It came from a Jensen free kick out of defence and after Queudrue had challenged Souleymane Diawara, the ball fell for McBride and he lashed home from the edge of the area - although Charlton were far from happy at what looked like a use of the arm from the Fulham striker before he struck his effort goal-bound.

Full of confidence, Fulham almost doubled their lead within a minute as from almost an identical position to McBride - Radzinski fired just over.

However, the home fans did not have long to wait as just a minute later the second did arrive and to rub salt into the wounds for Charlton it was their ex-midfielder Jensen. He raced onto a long ball into the box and coolly fired past Carson into the top of the net.

Iain Dowie was left with little option but to change things and he introduced Jerome Thomas and Marcus Bent in the hope of producing something.

And the change appeared to do the trick as with just over ten minutes left Charlton grabbed some hope as Darren Bent lashed home coolly after Fulham failed to clear in their own box.

As expected Charlton surged forward looking for a dramatic leveller, but it did not arrive as Dowie's men suffered their fifth straight Premiership defeat.

Fulham: Niemi, Rosenior, Pearce, Knight, Queudrue, Routledge (Volz 79), Diop (Bocanegra 81), Brown, Radzinski, McBride, Helguson (Claus Jensen 58).
Subs Not Used: Lastuvka, John.

Booked: Queudrue (55,f).

Goals:
McBride 65 (Direct free kick taken right-footed by Claus Jensen from right channel, goal by Brian McBride right-footed into the bottom-right of the goal from the left channel 20 yards out. Assist (cross) by Claus Jensen (Fulham) from right channel),

Claus Jensen 67 (Goal by Claus Jensen volleyed right-footed into top-left of goal from right side of penalty area, 12 yards out. Assist (pass) by Liam Rosenior from right wing)

Charlton: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Diawara (Holland 79), Hreidarsson, Reid, Faye, Hughes (Marcus Bent 72), Rommedahl, Hasselbaink (Thomas 72), Darren Bent.
Subs Not Used: Myhre, Fortune.

Booked: El Karkouri, Young, Reid.

Goals: Darren Bent 78.

Att: 19,179.

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).