Understandably Pearson made just the one enforced change after the excellent performance against Bristol with Surman coming in at left back for the injured Vignal.
Fortunately the back line was well organised and resilient with Saints unable to retain any real possession inviting pressure from a neat passing Charlton side with two real threats up front in Lita and Iwelumo.
Midfield was a concern with Licka and Euell failing to get behind the Charlton defence and Idiakez unsuited to a midfield battle leaving Safri with a heavy workload. Viafara may have been a better option away from home to replace Licka or Idiakez.
Understandably with possession at a premium Saints struggled to create enough chances, not helped by Wright-Phillips' wastefulness on the ball.
Verdict
Despite a battling effort Saints were second best for much of the game and owed the point to a big slice of luck with a comedy own goal. Charlton will feel hard done by having dominated the second half and failed to get a penalty despite two good shouts for fouls on Lita.
They also had several chances to win it with a world class save from Wright and a sliced shot from Thomas when clean through, plus two dangerous late set pieces on the edge of our box. However, football is all about goals and Saints could indeed have won it after our freak opener and a hard working first half that restricted Charlton to few real chances on goal.
Charlton outpassed Saints at St Mary's and even without the imperious Andy Reid still had far too much possession and movement in midfield for Saints to impose ourselves. Fortunately, the real stars for Saints were in defence with the two Wrights and Lucketti in excellent form and Safri protecting well in front of the back four.
Results once again largely went for us meaning that this could prove a vital point come the end of the season. The game against Burnley is a massive opportunity to pull clear with Blackpool also now pulled into it after their loss.
Huge praise should go to the excellent travelling faithful who packed out the entire South Stand and outsung a largely quiet home following watching their chances of the play-offs slipping away. As well know all too well, it's not always the best teams that go back up.