After taking just one point from their last seven Premiership matches Charlton Athletic regained their pride with a 2-1 home victory over FA Cup finalists Southampton at The Valley.
After scoring a goal in each half Charlton were in complete control of the game although they did allow England striker James Beattie to score his 23rd goal of the season in the last minute, but by then they had deservedly won the contest.
It was a welcome victory for the home side who had been on a dreadful run and had lost their last three home games but they took the lead on 32 minutes with a fine individual goal by midfielder Scott Parker.
He burst into the Southampton penalty area unchallenged and shot past goalkeeper Paul Jones.
Earlier Jones had saved well from Parker.
Southampton had their chances in the opening 45 minutes and probably felt they were unlucky to be behind at the break.
Beattie headed wide after only four minutes then saw a long-range effort tipped over the bar by Charlton keeper Dean Kiely who also saved well from Wayne Bridge and Brett Ormerod.
Charlton increased their lead on 50 minutes when Claus Jensen's pin-point free-kick was brilliantly headed home by Kevin Lisbie.
Charlton had further chances to increase their lead through Paul Konchesky, Jensen and Jonathan Fortune and will be grateful that their lapse of concentration which allowed Beattie to score came when it was too late for the visitors to save the game.
Southampton manager Gordon Strachan thought the second Charlton goal killed off his team's chances of winning and was once again disappointed by their away form which has let them down this season.
Charlton manager Alan Curbishley was upbeat about his team's performance after their recent disappointing run of form.