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Palace 0 Charlton 1

Dennis Rommedahl grabbed a sensational 93rd-minute winner as Charlton notched up a last-gasp victory at Crystal Palace. The Denmark international found space in the Palace penalty area with just seconds remaining before firing past Gabor Kiraly to steal three points.

Dean Kiely had earlier saved an Andrew Johnson penalty to keep the Addicks in the game, and Luke Young had been required to head clear in the 90th minute after the goalkeeper missed a Wayne Routledge cross.

But Rommedahl, who had replaced the injured Jonatan Johansson in the first half, was teed up by Danny Murphy and beat defender Danny Granville before firing his first Charlton goal since his £2m move from PSV Eindhoven in the summer.

Indeed, the Dane he has not started a game since the trip to Liverpool almost two months ago, and his second-half appearance against Chelsea last week was his first Premiership chance after four games without making the bench - although he had suffered with a back injury.

It had been a frustrating afternoon for the 49-cap winger, but his Charlton career may just have been gifted the trigger it has needed - with the Addicks having now won two away games in their last three travels.

Alan Curbishley had decided to stick with those players that had gained wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Norwich City prior to the, perhaps expected, pair of defeats against Manchester United and Chelsea.

But his plans were checked a little after just 19 minutes when Johansson, who had played a major part in each of those victories in November, pulled up with a hamstring strain and was replaced by Rommedahl.

In a scrappy first half it was perhaps honours even with the Addicks enjoying more possession and a greater number of chances, but Palace coming closest when Aki Riihilahti headed against the crossbar.

Following criticism in each of their last two games that they had lacked the kind of spirit expected of a Charlton side, the Addicks looked ready to fight for a first win in three against their South London rivals.

Jonathan Fortune, Radostin Kishishev, Murphy and Young could each have been booked for rash challenges before Murphy was finally booked after half an hour for dissent as he argued with referee Matt Messias - with good reason, Addicks fans would say.

The ex-Liverpool man had played a delightful chip over the Palace defence which dropped nicely for the accelerating Shaun Bartlett, until he was thrown to the ground by defender Tony Popovic.

The referee's assistant waved his flag with vigour but Messias refused to give the decision, leading to Murphy's word in his ear.

Murphy had also been on hand to set up half-chances for Matt Holland and Johansson, and saw an attempt of his own from just outside of the area easily saved by Gabor Kiraly. It wasn't the best effort, but it showed his intent - as did his workrate in chasing the ball down.

Kishishev was another player who saw yellow as the first period drew to a close, while the Bulgarian came close to scoring his first goal of the season when he found space from 30 yards and blasted just wide of the target.

His card was for a late foul on Routledge as Palace broke, but the referee allowed the home side the advantage and soon the impressive Joonas Kolkka, who had terrorised Young from the first seconds, was crossing into the area for his Finland colleague Riihilahti, whose downward header bounced up and smashed against the crossbar.

That was with just two minutes left on the clock before the break, but Charlton still had their best effort to come, courtesy of the livewire Thomas.

Well into injury time, a free-kick was knocked down by Hermann Hreidarsson and landed at the winger's feet, but with there seeming to be little chance of any danger as there were so many bodies in the area.

But he suddenly skipped on the outside of the assembled masses and managed to somehow scoop a powerful shot goalwards, which Kiraly just palmed wide.

Thomas had already been on countless mazy runs, showing that his 'difficult', in the words of Curbishley, experiences against Chelsea and Manchester United were consigned to history.

Perhaps his best run of the first period came after he had returned to the left - after a long spell on the right before Rommedahl's introduction - and thundered past Emmerson Boyce.

He skipped to the touchline and delivered a fine ball right into the danger area at the near post, which Holland charged on to but could only head wide.

After his performance before the break, the second period began with an air of worry as Thomas needed treatment for a head injury - and then matters got much worse.

A quick move by Palace suddenly culminated with Johnson turning in the area - gaining space on the left, although he was rushing away from goal.

El Karkouri, perhaps deceived by Johnson's speed of movement or maybe looking to prevent a shot, cut the former Birmingham City striker's legs away and Messias immediately pointed to the spot.

The Moroccan was also booked for his trouble, before Johnson stepped up to take the kick himself - and might have wished he hadn't when Kiely sprang forward and to his left to push wide. A fantastic save from a decent spot-kick.

Just 12 minutes and El Karkouri and Johnson again found themselves in the spotlight when the forward was allowed through due to a loss of concentration in Charlton's defence in dealing with a long clearance.

Johnson again headed for the left of goal, but this time El Karkouri produced as precise a challenge as possible and flicked the ball - immediately looking round to make sure Messias' hands were pointing towards the corner flag.

The Addicks struggled to stretch Palace in wide areas as they often had in the first period, but although Iain Dowie's side had much the better of possession, they also failed to trouble Kiely and Young was much more effective in dealing with Kolkka.

With just seconds remaining it had seemed another disappointing afternoon for Rommedahl - who had really only caught the eye when he forced a save from Kiraly in the 72nd minute - and a point for the Addicks.

But 74 minutes after replacing Johansson he suddenly received the ball out wide from Murphy and took possession in his stride before skipping past Granville.

A low shot was enough to beat Kiraly and after a winner in a South London derby - perhaps Rommedahl's Valley career starts at Selhurst Park.

Palace: Kiraly, Granville, Popovic, Routledge, Johnson, Watson, Riihilahti (Freedman 88), Hughes, Boyce, Kolkka (Lakis 77), Hall.

Subs (not used): Speroni, Leigertwood, Andrews.

Booked: Watson 45 (foul on Thomas), Riihilahti 86 (foul).

Charlton: Kiely, Hreidarsson, Young, Fortune, El Karkouri, Murphy, Holland, Kishishev, Thomas, Johansson (Rommedahl 19), Bartlett (Jeffers 78).

Subs (not used): Andersen, Euell, Konchesky.

Booked: Murphy 31 (dissent), Kishishev 43 (foul on Routledge), El Karkouri 58 (foul on Johnson).

Goals: Rommedahl 93.

Ref: M Messias.

Att: 20,705.

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