But their victory will have done nothing to ease Charlton boss Alan Curbishley’s desire for the Football Association to name England’s successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson as soon as possible.

Curbishley, one of the names on the FA’s shortlist, believes Charlton’s season has suffered ever since he became one of the contenders to replace the outgoing Swede after this summer’s World Cup finals in Germany.

Charlton’s performance certainly appeared to underline Curbishley’s view as they were second best for long periods in a game that enjoyed most of its best moments in the opening 45 minutes.

Boa Morte put the home side ahead in the 15th minute only for Jason Euell to equalise 10 minutes later. But the Fulham captain struck a glorious winner in the 29th minute to leave Curbishley thirsting for a speedy resolution to the FA’s hunt for a new national coach.

Charlton began the game with more endeavour than their hosts but the home side took the lead in the 14th minute when Boa Morte’s free-kick from an acute angle on the right-wing caught the Charlton defence completely by surprise.

With everyone expecting a cross into the centre, the Fulham captain drove his low free-kick towards the near post and into the net with Addicks ’keeper Myhre left stranded in the centre of the six-yard box.

In the 23rd minute, Knight had to clear Darren Ambrose’s dangerous free-kick into the penalty area but the equaliser arrived from the resultant corner.

Niemi could only punch the ball to the feet of Herman Hreidarsson and when he turned the ball goalwards, Jason Euell pounced to head the ball home.

Darren Bent should have put Charlton in front moments after their equaliser but Niemi dived low to his right to keep prolific striker at bay.

In the 28th minute Ambrose let fly with a speculative effort from 25-yards which rose just too high to trouble the busy Niemi.

But a minute later Fulham were back in front thanks to Boa Morte’s second goal of the afternoon.

Helguson nodded the ball into his path but the Fulham captain still had plenty of work to do as he advanced across the Charlton defence.

But the visitors allowed Boa Morte time and space to deliver an angled drive beyond Myhre from just inside the penalty area.

In the 35th minute Myhre was forced to dive lo to his right to keep out a free-kick from Papa Bouba Diop which threatened to creep inside the upright.

Two minutes later Fulham had a narrow escape when Darren Bent’s deflected shot bounced twice on the top of the crossbar before Boa Morte was fouled on the goal line under pressure from Euell.

Charlton continued to try and find a way of levelling the scores for the second time in the game but Fulham, for once in the game, were adopting a more resolute approach towards their defending.

When the action recommenced both sides found it hard to reproduce the attacking qualities that had been so admirable in the opening 45 minutes.

Boa Morte was again leading by example for the home side as he cleverly found enough space to cause Charlton some anxious moments.

But the visitors were persistent in their desire to get back on level terms and Hreidarsson was unlucky to see his goalbound 25-yard drive deflect off the outstretched leg of Knight in the 58th minute.

In the 65th minute, Holland fouled Brian McBride on the edge of the penalty to give Fulham a marvellous opportunity to increase their lead.

Boa Morte, sniffing the chance of a hat-trick, sent his free-kick beyond the defensive wall only for Euell to deny him a third by clearing off the line.

McBride then sent Wayne Bridge clear on the left but the England international left-back delivered a poor cross which Myhre collected with ease.

In the 69th minute Euell was lucky not be yellow carded when he brought down Bouba Diop after an unseemly tangle just outside the Fulham penalty area.

But it took a marvellous double save by Niemi to deny Charlton a share of the spoils in the 89th minute. First he tipped over a volley from Marcus Bent and then cleared a header from Hreidarsson with his feet.