Charlton were condemned to a first Sky Bet League One defeat in five at Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday night.
Dion Charles gave the hosts an early lead before substitute Chuks Aneke 76th-minute header got the Addicks back in the contest, but Will Aimson’s response just seven minutes later ultimately separated the sides.
Johnnie Jackson made three changes from Saturday’s triumph over AFC Wimbledon, restoring Jason Pearce, Diallang Jaiyesimi and Mason Burstow to his starting XI.
After a quiet opening 10 minutes at the University of Bolton Stadium, the hosts were gifted the lead in fortuitous fashion, with Charles providing the finish.
Akin Famewo failed to generate the requisite power to find Craig MacGillivray with a header back, allowing the forward to sneak in, round Charlton’s number one and poke the ball into the vacated net, despite Famewo’s sliding effort.
Chances proved to be few and far between for both sides as the opening period wore on, with Albie Morgan sending an audacious first-time volley wide from some 40 yards in first-half stoppage-time.
Morgan was involved again 11 minutes after the restart, this time delivering a deep corner for Sean Clare to lay off for Alex Gilbey, though his goalbound drive was blocked by Ricardo Almeida Santos.
At the other end, Oladapo Afolayan latched onto Charles’ flick-on to send a low drive whistling past MacGillivray’s right upright, before Jackson introduced Scott Fraser.
And the introduction of Fraser - coupled with a change of system - soon paid dividends for the Addicks, as two substitutes combined to devastating effect.
Having picked up the ball on the left wing, Fraser delivered an inch-perfect cross Aneke, who nodded past Trafford with an unerring finish.
Charlton’s joy was short-lived, though, as Aimson met Aaron Morley’s inswinging free-kick to restore the hosts’ lead.
It could have been worse for the Addicks moments later but for the heroics of MacGillivray, who produced a stunning stop to foil substitute Jon Dadi Bödvarsson’s rasping drive.
Fraser’s low effort was smothered by Trafford deep into injury-time as the Addicks pushed for another leveller, though it ultimately proved elusive.
Bolton Wanderers: Trafford; Jones, Almeida Santos (c), Aimson; Fossey, Williams, Morley, John; Dempsey (Bakayoko 77); Afolayan (Bödvarsson 72), Charles (Sadlier 78)
Subs (not used): Dixon, Baptiste, Gordon, Lee
Goals: Charles 10, Aimson 83
Booked: Jones 33 (foul on Dobson), John 54 (time-wasting), Bakayoko 90+5 (foul on Morgan)
Charlton: MacGillivray; Clare, Pearce (c) ((Lavelle 60), Famewo; Matthews, Gilbey (Fraser 68), Dobson, Morgan, Jaiyesimi; Burstow (Aneke 60), Washington
Subs (not used): Henderson, Purrington, Lee, Leko
Goal: Aneke 76
Booked: Washington 39 (foul on Trafford), Gilbey 42 (foul on Trafford), Pearce 53 (foul on Charles), Dobson 67 (foul on Charles)
Referee: Ben Toner
Attendance: 13,523 (328 from Charlton)