Tottenham boss David Pleat tried to put a brave face on another defeat that left his team on the verge of the relegation zone as they went down 1-0 to Charlton.
"We can see the red light and the danger," said Pleat. "We are all aware of the situation but if we play like that again then we will be okay.
"I thought that we dictated the pace but we couldn't finish them off in the second half." Spurs had the majority of the chances in the first half but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from the impressive Dean Kiely in the Charlton goal ensured the match was goalless for just over an hour.
Jonatan Johansson should have put the visitors ahead when clean through but Kasey Keller saved his first shot and he chipped the rebound just past the post.
Frederic Kanoute had the best opportunity for the home side when he almost converted Rohan Ricketts' cross but was denied by another superb save from the in-form Kiely.
But it was the visitors who took the lead just after the hour through second-half substitute Carlton Cole, who steered home Paolo Di Canio's corner with a powerful header that rattled the underside of the bar before going in.
The home side continued to throw everything that they could at the Charlton goal but the visitors never really looked like conceding a goal.
Moreover, Charlton looked very dangerous on the break with both Cole and Di Canio looking full of running.
"We couldn't get going in the first half," said Charlton boss Alan Curbishley. "Once we scored I thought we would get two or three because we love it when teams come on to us.
"I am delighted with the result and with Carlton's performance in particular. He took his goal well and I was very impressed."