Neither side managed to assert any pattern early on. Morais was lucky when he lost possession to Euell but the former Charlton transfer record purchase overhit his pass and Chelsea escaped.
Ma Kalambay showed high confidence when he came forward to the edge of his area to punch out a free-kick. Watt was outstanding with his defending both in the air and on the ground, so Chelsea were tight at the back.
Just after the 20 minute mark Kneissl set up Hollands for a shot which lacked punch, and then raced on to a Woodards cross but failed to find his usual finish and Randolph blocked. Hollands' follow-up was wide.
Chelsea's best moments came from Watt's passing — it is very improved — and whenever the ball found Kneissl whose movement was constantly troubling Charlton. At the back Ma Kalambay continued to dominate his area.
There was no better penetration in the second-half despite some foraging Hollands runs, so on the hour coach Mick McGiven sent on Joe Tillen for Jimmy Smith and Chelsea switched to a 4-3-3 with Oliveira in midfield alongside Morais and Hollands, and up front Woodards was on the right with Tillen on the left and Kneissl through the middle.
Chelsea were having slightly the better of the game when Euell beat the offside trap and found himself alone in the area. Ma Kalambay stood up well and Dean Smith had the time to get back and get in a great block as he shot.
Smith was one of two players — Hudell was the other — who had played in the youth team on Saturday, so fit again Mancienne was sent on in his place. Oliveria came the nearest to opening Charlton up with a good turn on the edge of the box which took him past two defenders and his cross was only just ahead of Tillen.
With two minutes left Sam got away up Charlton's right and fired for the near post but despite good strength the ball was a good height for Ma Kalambay who dived to turn it round his near post. While the team was waiting for the corner Watt was booked for an off the ball incident.
In stoppage time Chelsea came the closest of either side to winning the game. Hollands blocked a clearance, chased well and found a great first touch to keep the ball from the goalkeeper whom he then went round, but was just a little too wide and Randolph got back to touch his shot round for a corner.
Mick McGiven said afterwards: “You don't get many chances against the top of the table team, and we had the best at the end, and if we'd have been able to take one of the ones in the first-half we'd have opened up the game. So I was pleased with what we created.”
Chelsea: Yves Makabu-Ma Kalambay; Dean Smith (Michael Mancienne 74), Adrian Pettigrew, Steven Watt, Ben Hudell; Nuno Morais; Jimmy Smith (Joe Tillen 60), Danny Hollands (c); Filipe Oliveria; Danny Woodards, Sebastian Kneissl.
Charlton: Darren Randolph; Barry Fuller, Lawrie Wilson, Mark Rickets, Adam Gross; Alistair John (Nathan Ashton 71), Jason Euell, Stacy Long (c), Lloyd Sam; Alex Varney (Adam Cottrell 74), James Walker.
by Neil Barnett