AN early Jason Euell strike proved enough to deny high-flying Middlesbrough a return to third in the Premiership on Sunday.

The former England Under-21 international struck after just five minutes to end Boro's four-match winning streak.

Charlton had lost all four of their opening fixtures on home soil but it was certainly no happy Valley for Steve McClaren's men.

Boro, who returned 2,000 of their allocated tickets for the clash screened live on Sky Sports, were made to pay for a poor opening half hour against Charlton, who had started the day propping up the rest of the top-flight.

The Teessiders rallied in the second half and created some excellent opportunities to equalise - most notably a close range diving header which Carlos Marinelli failed to convert.

But Charlton's resolute defending from their three-man back-line deserved to claim all three points.

This was a Boro side who never really reached the high-level of performance that has seen them win rave reviews up and down the country from a host of top managers.

But Boro are still in a lofty position and perhaps it is the reality-check that was needed to ensure the squad and fans did not get too carried away after their impressive start.

In-form Szilard Nemeth, still in buoyant mood after scoring for Slovakia against England eight days earlier, was recalled to the starting line-up at the expense of Croatian Alen Boksic.

There was not even a place on the bench for Boksic, who had shone in Boro's last match - a 2-0 win over Bolton - he was understood to have been struck down with a foot injury.

The former Lazio and Juventus striker's season has so far been a non-starter and he is yet to secure a regular first team place this season after picking up niggling knocks.

Charlton, meanwhile, included former Boro star Robbie Mustoe, who left in the summer on a free transfer after spending nearly 12 years in the North-East.

Charlton forward Shaun Bartlett set the tone with just 44 seconds on the clock when he entered the referee's notebook for a lunge on George Boateng - an early sign of the fiery tempo that was to follow.

Shortly after Franck Queudrue brought down Charlton's John Robinson 30 yards out and from the resulting free-kick Euell opened the scoring.

The former Wimbledon man rose in between two Boro defenders and headed Claus Jensen's nice free-kick over Mark Schwarzer.

How the score stayed the same until half-time only the Addicks will know.

Boro were wasteful in possession and a fluent Charlton should have been at least three up but they made a mess of a number of good chances.

Mustoe, so desperate to prove McClaren wrong, was the first to go close when his shot deflected just wide off Gareth Southgate.

Then Euell's effort from five yards went over the bar after Bartlett had headed a Robinson far post pass back across goal.

And lively midfielder Scott Parker's mazy run for Charlton saw him progress into the box before unleashing a powerful drive just the wrong side of Schwarzer's right-hand upright.

Alan Curbishley's side is renowned for good, passing football and they caused the visitors plenty of problems.

But one crunching, but fair, tackle from Queudrue on Parker just before the half hour mark was the point in the first half that changed the flow of the game.

Referee Neale Barry and his two officials all had to help calm the furious Charlton players who were demanding at least a booking but the man in the middle was right to ignore the protests.

And all Queudrue received was a chorus of boos from the home crowd every time he touched the ball.

Boro then enjoyed their best spell of the opening period but their failure to create a promising opening ensured Charlton still held the upper hand.

Schwarzer pulled off a great save to deny Bartlett, who connected with Robinson's cut back and then Ugo Ehiogu made a last ditch block to ensure Euell did not get a second from the rebound.

Boro made a few more purposeful runs at the Charlton back-line, with Joseph Job at the hub of most, but Curbishley's men were standing firm.

And South African front-man Bartlett and England Under-21 international Parker both missed opportunities when it looked easier to score.

This forced McClaren into action and he made a triple substitution. Marinelli, Noel Whelan - booked within a minute of entering the fray - and Colin Cooper all came on for Nemeth, Maccarone and Robbie Stockdale.

And shortly after Jonathan Greening's stinging 30-yard drive was tipped onto the post and behind by Dean Kiely.

From the resulting corner, Marinelli somehow directed a diving header over the bar from five yards and then the Kiely had to be alert to hold the South American's shot.

And Charlton held firm to claim a hard-earned victory.

Read more about Middlesbrough here.