Charlton 2 (Aribo 41, Taylor 51) Portsmouth 1 (Curtis 45).

Kevin Nolan reporting from The Valley.

Seamlessly dovetailing a polished performance with this reverberating result, Charlton delighted the Valley faithful on a chilly evening which was also savoured by Sky's TV audience. Brimming with confidence and controlled aggression, they kept alive their faint hopes of automatic promotion while all but nailing down the consolation prize of a place in the post-season play-offs. Beaten by the Addicks for the second time this season, meanwhile, Portsmouth might well be opponents seeking revenge in the semi-finals.

Starting clearly as they intended to go on, a strong side which lacked only the rested Chris Solly, absorbed an early shot across their bows when Jamal Lowe's dangerously driven cross zipped untouched throught the six-yard area before they took over. An urgent, marauding midfield, with the outstanding Krystian Bielik at its base, dominated possession and promptly reclaimed it whenever the ball was turned over. Bielik was majestic until a suspected hamstring niggle forced him off at half-time, with his replacement Ben Reeves enthusiastically picking up the second half slack.

The loss of the Arsenal loanee -and that of hard running Jonny Williams with a similar injury- were two dark clouds hanging over an abundance of silver linings. But adversity spurred superb Joe Aribo, all quick feet, sharp turns and endless mobility to turn in a nationally televised man-of-the-match display which, as Lee Bowyer ruefully acknowledged, will have alerted the usual jackals to his developing talent. Knowing the price, but not necessarily the value of everything, Roland Duchatelet will be looking forward to the summer sales.

Equally indispensable to Charlton's restlessly driving midfield -the one-for-all, all-for-one unit which Pompey boss Kenny Jackett recognised as the technical difference between these promotion seekers - was Josh Cullen. Still waiting to hear whether he or John Marquis will be credited with the Addicks' goal at Doncaster last week (his optimism, if not his judgement, is touching), Cullen seemed certain to open his account when Aribo and Williams combined to set him up with a point blank chance. The scurrying busybody's shot was on target but rebounded off Igor Vetokele's unhelpful back on the goalline. Shame Marquis wasn't around to lend a hand -or head.

So Cullen's search for his first Charlton goal continues but it was from another midfielder that the breakthrough came. At the end of an intricate passing sequence, Cullen's ball in to Aribo's feet was controlled, shielded, then drilled on the turn across Craig MacGillivray into the bottom right corner. Encouraged by management to get into the penalty area more often, the 23 year-old's finishing was exemplary.
After undergoing a first half going-over but hanging on grimly, Pompey promptly equalised a minute before the break with their first effort on goal. A right wing corner was curled in left-footed by Lee Brown to the far post where Ronan Curtis' well-timed leap between Bielik and Ben Purrington generated the elevation he needed to power an unstoppable header inches below the crossbar. The young scallywag then added insult to injury by shushing the home fans with a cautionary finger to his lips. The nerve of the guy!

With Bielik failing to re-appear following the interval and Williams soon to join him in the infirmary, Curtis' fine equaliser threatened to turn the tide but the Addicks were having none of it. Within six minutes of resumption, they reclaimed the lead under scruffy but no less telling circumstances.

Aribo's persistence on the left earned him space to drill over a low cross which cannoned off Matthew Clarke to Reeves, whose hastily prodded effort fell kindly to Lyle Taylor alongside him. With the natural predator's instinct for the right place at precisely the right time, Charlton's blonde bombshell made it sixteen for the season from four unencumbered yards. His eagerly awaited goal was reward for a selfless, energetic demonstration of defending from the front.

With a one-goal lead to protect for almost the entire second period, Charlton's vaunted defence coped coolly until, with 10 minutes remaining, weary cracks began to appear. Jackett's shrewd introduction of Brett Pitman in an unusually withdrawn role had its effect and it was the veteran's angled pass which freed Lowe to roll an inviting ball across goal where Curtis failed, by agonising inches, to tap into an open goal. Patrick Bauer's heroic block on Pitman was the visitors' last throw of the dice before The Valley stood to salute a side which wades through regular setbacks to make its point - or three. Bowyer's got something going on over in S.E.7. It goes on again on Tuesday evening when Nigel Clough brings Burton Albion down to try their luck. The cracks will be papered over by then.

Charlton: Phillips, Dijksteel, Bauer, Sarr, Purrington, Bielik (Reeves 46), Cullen, Aribo, Wiliams (Fosu 58), Vetokele (Pratley 84, Taylor. Not used: Maxwell, Solly, Lapslie, Parker.

Referee: Roger East. Att: 14,451 (3,097 visiting).

AFC Wimbledon 1 (Folivi 24) Charlton 2 (Sarr 51, Vetokele 90).

Kevin Nolan reporting from the Cherry Red Records Stadium.

The exact words used by Lee Bowyer to inspire his insipid side at half-time were no doubt self-edited for public consumption. He had just witnessed 45 spineless, gormless minutes which left them mercifully only one down and still in touch with a game, to which they had contributed nothing but apathy and timid acquiescence.

"We just looked nervous", the rookie manager explained, "and didn't move the ball like we normally do. I told them to be brave and believe in each other." There, in an understated nutshell, is the gist of his interval message. Fill in your own blanks about what was really said. But it worked because as Bowyer further observed "we got there in the end and that's the most important thing."

Nothing in an horrendous first half encouraged hope that the Addicks would haul themselves out of the hole they had dug for themselves. Facing desperate, fully committed opposition who, despite being anchored at the bottom of the table, were coming off two consecutive league wins, they were passive to the point of paralysis. Without a win from their last three visits to this cramped little venue in Kingston, where the locals relish nothing more than cutting big shots down to size, they seemed on course to bottle it yet again. Football is however, as the cliche insists, a game of two halves. And Wimbledon, in failing to press home their early advantage, blew a golden opportunity to put a precious result out of reach.

The first period must be dealt with but briefly, in fairness to the hosts. They moved in front midway through the session when Joe Aribo, a driving force during Charlton's second half rally, began the process by needlessly shoving Scott Wagstaff in the back. Anthony Hartigan's free kick was turned back from the left byline by Terell Thomas and alertly nudged home by loanee Michael Polivi. It was no more than the Dons deserved but, significantly, a second goal eluded them. Their visitors, meanwhile, sputtered and spluttered fitfully on the way to an uncomfortable dressing room confrontation with their guv'nor.

Bowyer's rallying cry, if lacking Churchillian or Shakespearean resonance, also turned out to be his last direct contribution to the cause. Two minutes after resumption, he took vocal exception to a heavy challenge on Chris Solly in front of the away dug-out, forcefully making his objections known to referee Chris Kavanagh. A sarcastic addendum sealed his fate and he began the lonely trek across the pitch to the opposite sideline.

From his new vantage point, Bowyer was perfectly positioned to enjoy a truly marvellous equaliser, scored by the newly totemic Naby Sarr, a player whose steady improvement must make Naby the first name on his manager's teamsheet. Sarr stepped up to take the free kick awarded against Thomas for chopping down Lyle Taylor and, from 25 yards, bent an unstoppable delivery into the top left corner. His magnificent strike galvanised the Addicks from their torpor, though he risked expulsion himself later for a brutal assault on Wagstaff close to the right touchline. Rightly booked but possibly lucky to be spared a straight red, his absence through suspension would be disastrous at this critical time. Not only that, he was out of order in setting about popular Waggy, "one of our own" not so long ago.

Gritty and stubborn, the Dons began to run on empty but fought bravely to salvage at least a point from a game which initially promised so much. Charlton's pressure was intense but went unrewarded, due mainly to goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale's dogged defiance, until 79th minute substitute Igor Vetokele broke local hearts with a scruffily scrambled matchwinner. Four added minutes were waiting to be announced when Josh Cullen's short corner found its way to him by means of a brief bout of head tennis (with Sarr's head the loftiest among them), leaving the goal-starved Vetokele to nod home through the goalmouth chaos.

The joy of emerging unscathed from this most tricky of fixtures won't wipe, from Bowyer's memory bank, the nightmare of a first half, during which the disjointed Addicks flirted with premature defeat by the division's bottom club. Maybe he'll just choose to concentrate on the spirit which drove them to win an unlikely victory over perenially awkward customers, their comeback sparked by the insatiable workrate and no little skillof midfield warriors Aribo, Cullen, George Lapslie and Jonny Williams. If he needs his cockles further warmed, he'll dwell briefly on Ben Purrington's coolness under fire from his former colleagues, not to mention the huge influence all over the pitch of the mighty Sarr. He might then allow himself a smile.

Charlton: Phillips, Sarr (Dijksteel 85), Bauer, Sarr, Purrington, Aribo, Cullen, Lapslie (Vetokele 79), Williams, Taylor, Marshall (Fosu 61). Not used: Maxwell, Pearce, Reeves, Pratley.
Booked: Sarr, Williams, Marshall.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Att: 4,532 (750 visiting).

Charlton 1 (Reeves 60) Southend United 1 (Humphrys 22)

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

An official foul count of 11-14 and a 3-2 majority of the five bookings incurred by Charlton might suggest that this violent encounter was nothing more than a spirited, six-of-one, six-of-another dust-up between old foes. But it would be wise to read between the lines of those statistics.

There was clearly coastal resentment still simmering from the overtime brawl which marred the Addicks' 2-1 win at Roots Hall on September 1st because Southend wasted little time in dragging this game into similar disrepute. Their tactics were neanderthal and could well have been cribbed from Accrington Stanley, who made no bones recently of identifying Charlton's danger men and taking brutal steps to neutralise them. Stanley's hatchet men, however, stopped short of the kind of outright assault launched by the Shrimpers' 18 year-old academy graduate Dru Yearwood on Johnny Williams midway through the first half.

Yearwood's malevolent reducer took things too far and earned the kid a straight red from referee Simon Hooper. With his side already leading through Stephen Humphrys' deflected strike, his indiscretion should have earned him managerial irritation. Instead, Chris Powell pointed out in vindication that Yearwood had "slipped" into the challenge. Presumably, Timothee Dieng was similarly off balance when he chopped down Williams, then accidentally slipped into Hooper's notebook for poleaxing Ben Purrington. Southend are definitely not modelled on their manager, a firm but scrupulously fair left back it was our pleasure to watch in Charlton's colours.

With Williams and, to a lesser extent, Josh Cullen, targeted for special attention, the home side's bright start quickly faded. Ben Reeves had forced keeper Nathan Bishop to save his waspish shot with his legs but it was the visitors who shocked their hosts by grabbing a surprise 22nd minute lead. Loanee Humphrys made space for a speculative effort from outside the penalty area, which benefitted from a wicked deflection off Naby Sarr as it soared over wrongfooted Dillon Phillips' despairing grasp. It was a blow from which the Addicks, despite their numerical advantage, never completely recovered.

During the interval, Lee Bowyer responded to the unpromising situation by switching to three at the back, sacrificing blameless left back Purrington in favour of Josh Parker's influence up front. Charlton's solitary signing during the the January transfer window, Parker's impact was instant and it came as no surprise when the Addicks equalised on the hour mark. Mark Marshall had been re-deployed on the right flank, from where he tormented Sam Hart but produced a succession of disappointingly misdirected crosses, among which was sandwiched the beauty he delivered for Reeves' equaliser. Not noted for his heading ability, the diminutive midfielder's glanced effort had just enough oomph on it to squeeze past Bishop and crawl over the goalline off a post.

The stage was clearly set for Bowyer's relieved men to take over and demolish their depleted opposition. Despite Naby Sarr's inspiration, Parker's injection of urgency and the non-stop running of Williams and Cullen, however, they ran into stubborn resistance from a side who found novel ways to waste time. There were occasions when the littered bodies of stricken Shrimpers, attended by a puffing Billy Bunter-shaped physio who needed oxygen himself by the time he arrived at the scene, rivalled the carnage caused during Napoleon's retreat from Moscow. In between the theatrics, it should be said, 10-men United defended stubbornly and bravely. With Powell as their manager, you would expect no less; their cynicism, on the other hand, just has to be self-taught.

A late flurry of chances at both ends, during which both goalkeepers distinguished themselves, enlivened a bitter clash. Bishop was first to make his mark with fine saves to turn aside Krystian Bielik's blockbuster at full length and Parker's artfully directed header from Reeves' resultant corner. Phillips responded by instinctively blocking substitute Michael Klass' point blank shot but was helpless to intervene as Klass' low crosshot whistled narrowly wide of the far post.

And there you have it -two points lost or one gained, a step forward or two steps back - depends on your point of view. It's no doubt a relief to Bowyer that Charlton are done with Accrington Stanley and Southend United for the season. Those two worthies are due to meet each other in a fortnight's time. It remains to be seen whether they actually get around to kicking off or whether they reach agreement to phone in the result and spare everyone the bother of going through the painful motions of watching them kick lumps off each other. It could turn ugly.

Charlton: Phillips, Solly, Bielik, Sarr, Purrington (Parker 46), Cullen, Marshall (Lapslie 90), Reeves (Hackett-Fairchild 81), Williams, Vetokele, Fosu. Not used: Maxwell, Dijksteel, Pratley, Stevenson.

Southend: Bishop, Bwomono, White, Moore, Hart (Turner 70), Yearwood, Kightly (McLaughlin 63), Mantom, Dieng, Humphrys (Klass 85), Cox. Not used: Smith, Lennon, Kelman, Hutchinson.

Referee: Simon Hooper. Att: 12,389 (1463 visiting).

Charlton 1 (James 51 o.g.) Sunderland 1 (O'Nien 2).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

Should Charlton not make at least the play-offs at the end of this difficult season, their failure won't be blamed on a lack of spirit. The point for which they dug deep in this sizzling promotion clash left no doubt about their character and ability to go toe-to-toe with League One's best teams and not fear the outcome.

Rocked by a second minute Sunderland goal, the Addicks were battered by cockahoop visitors, who could -and should- have been home and dry by half-time. Stubbornly, they hung in, rode their luck occasionally and stayed in the game. After the break, a rejuvenated team emerged and it was the Black Cats' turn to squirm. Until, that is, virtually the last kick, which substitute Duncan Watmore spooned haplessly over the bar from 10 unmarked yards. Defeat so late would have been catastrophic, if not unfamiliar.

Facing visitors who have been beaten only twice this season, Lee Bowyer's men made the worst possible start. Caught cold as Sunderland made inroads on the left flank, they were statuesque onlookers while Lynden Gooch's clever hold-up play made space for Reece James to cross dangerously to the far post. Arriving late, Luke O'Nien expertly cushioned a right-footed volley across Dillon Phillips into the top left corner. It was the best of starts (by Sunderland) and the worst of starts (by Charlton).

As the home side wavered, Scottish veteran Aidan McGeady and American youth product Gooch plotted further damage. Stylish McGeady's long range strike skimmed the bar while Gooch's quickwitted dummy set up ponderous centre forward Charlie Wyke to fire hopelessly off target. Before the break, Gooch's viciously angled drive crashed off the crossbar to Wyke, who involuntarily shovelled the rebound over the top. A third chance was provided for Wyke by Krystian Bielik's header, intended for Phillips but disastrously under powered. As the striker painstakingly sorted out his feet, Patrick Bauer made up the ground to save Bielik's face with a timely block.

Mainly concerned with surviving a one-sided first half, Charlton's attacking contribution included a full-blooded effort from Albie Morgan, which almost cut Tom Flanagan in two and a crisp shot from Bielik, which whistled narrowly wide. But as the interval neared, there were unmistakeable signs of recovery. McGeady's wiles were being steadily blunted, combative Gooch's cage was rattled once or twice and the Addicks restored equilibrium with their usual accurate passing, to which fearless teenager Morgan, Bielik and talented Naby Sarr made accurate contributions. There were also encouraging hints that Lyle Taylor was entering one of his unplayable moods. The Mackems were clearly in for a less comfortable second half.

Six minutes after the break, the subtle change in momentum was confirmed by Charlton's equaliser. Drifting to the right, Taylor made a tortured mess of Jack Baldwin's marking, twisting outside the baffled defender to cross hard and low with his right foot. Keeper Jon McLaughlin was given no chance as the ball cannoned past him off James. Scorers of all three Charlton goals in a 3-1 defeat in February 2003, the Black Cats have been bricks about bashing goals into their own net.

The attacking boot was on the other foot now and an unmarked Darren Pratley (or was it Bauer?) wastefully headed Morgan's right wing corner wide at the far post. A relatively subdued Karlan Grant was also badly off target when meeting an excellent cross from improving right back Anfernee Dijksteel on the volley. Given a timely shot in the arm by new arrival Jonny Williams' aggressive contribution, meanwhile, the Addicks' superiority was answered by some shameless timewasting from the Wearsiders, in which McLaughlin played a lollygagging part. Yet it was the visitors who closed strongly with Watmore causing local hearts to pop up in local mouths as met a left wing cutback but drove wildly over the bar. Shame he wasn't facing his own goal. He might have been more clinical. But there you go...

Charlton: Phillips, Dijksteel, Bauer, Sarr, Solly, Bielik, Morgan (Williams 68), Pratley, Fosu, Grant, Taylor. Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Marshall, Clarke, Ajose, Hackett-Fairchild, Stevenson.

Sunderland: McLaughlin, McGeough, Baldwin, Flanagan, James, O'Nien, Gooch (Watmore 67), McGeady, Maja (Maguire 84), Power, Wyke. Not used: Ruiter, Ozturk, Sinclair, Mumba. Booked: Baldwin, Power.

Referee: Stephen Martin. Att: 16,317 (3125 visiting).

Charlton 2 (Reeves 6, Fosu 39) Gillingham 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

With table-topping Portsmouth's scalp dangling from their belt, Charlton harnessed the momentum generated by that famous victory to carry them into two pivotal pre-Christmas home games. And on successive Saturdays, they delighted The Valley by removing a couple of painful pebbles which have hobbled them in the recent past.

First up on the Addicks' things-to-put-right agenda were Wimbledon who turned up last week (or failed to turn up, more to the point) securely muzzled and offering their bellies to be affectionately tickled. Pallid imitations of the attack dogs who revelled in snarling their defiance at strangers, they obediently came to heel. Already being outclassed by 10-men Charlton, their fading hopes evaporated when Mitchell Pinnock's transparent effort to balance the books by getting Patrick Bauer sent off backfired into his dismissal for simulation (con-eth the hour, con-eth the Don). Fangless and docile, Wimbledon's bite was even feebler their bark.

Twice conquerors of Charlton in the league last season, next up were Gillingham who traditionally raise their game for this fixture. The pre-kickoff loss of 14-goal striker Tom Eaves was a blow to their chances but understandably drew little sympathy from their hosts, themselves the victims of a seemingly endless catalogue of long-term injuries. To be fair, though, Eaves' absence was a profound blow to the visitors, not to mention a useful boost for Lee Bowyer's buoyant side.

Setting off brightly, the Gills delivered a first minute scare when Jed Steer, under possibly illegal pressure in dealing with Darren Oldaker's corner, dropped the ball at Connor Ogilvie's feet. Jabbing awkwardly at the chance, Ogilvie steered it against the base of the left hand post. The visitors were to come no closer to scoring though they stuck to their footballing principles, went booking-free and played some neat, if ultimately toothless, stuff. Their game plan was, unhappily, ruined by the sloppy concession of a sixth minute lead.

Lanky goalkeeper Tomas Holy was the instigator of his team's downfall, his careless throw-out alertly intercepted by Anfernee Dijksteel inside the visitors' half. The right back's pass found Ben Reeves, whose surgical exchange with Tarique Fosu played him through an outmanoeuvred rearguard. From six yards, the clever playmaker used his weaker right foot to beat Holy, with appeals for offside undermined by the presence on the goalline of a blue-striped defender. It was Reeves' first goal of the season and should have been followed by his second when, with his favoured left foot, he shot weakly at Holy after further good work by Fosu.

Operating from a withdrawn position behind main strikers Lyle Taylor and Nicky Ajose but always eager to join them, Fosu was frequently unplayable. Cutting in from the left on to Joe Aribo's pass, he unleashed a powerful drive which cannoned off the underside of the bar. Clearly in a mood to go it alone, he brilliantly doubled Charlton's lead before the interval.

Moving from left to right outside the penalty area, Fosu accepted Aribo's short pass before using his teammate's tall presence as a screen to elude Mark Byrne's pursuit. From 25 yards, a stuttering touch set up a powerfully curled drive which gave Holy no chance on its way into the top right corner. His stunning effort brought the house down and effectively ended this routine game as a serious contest.

The second half began with a wake-up call for the Addicks as Brandon Hanlan's header re-directed Dean Parrett's right wing corner narrowly wide of the far post but quickly developed into an effortless containment exercise for the vastly superior home side. There was none of that familiar vulnerability in protecting a lead as this game was expertly managed to its inevitable conclusion. Quietly and efficiently, Steve Lovell's men were put in their place by Bowyer's newly confident troops, among which Krystian Bielik (the only booking on a suitably peaceful Yuletide afternoon) and emergency left back Chris Solly were outstanding.

With Darren Pratley, as a 73rd minute replacement for a battered Aribo, hopefully leading the return to the colours of the wounded warriors, there's cause for hopeful anticipation around S.E.7. And that's quite enough giddy optimism for the time being. No call to be putting the mockers on things. It was good, though, to finally rid ourselves of those stones in our shoes. As Mae West would say, I feel like a new man.  Happy Christmas and God bless us one and all.

Charlton: Steer, Dijksteel, Bauer, Pearce, Solly, Bielik, Aribo (Pratley 73), Reeves, Ajose, Fosu (Marshall 90), Taylor (Hackett-Fairchild 79). Not used: Phillips, Morgan, Stevenson, Sarpong-Wiredu. Booked: Bielik.

Gillingham: Holy, Fuller (O'Neill 66), Lacey, Zakuani, Byrne, Oldaker (Reilly 46), Parrett, List, Parker, Ogilvie, Hanlan (Charles-Cook 71). Not used: Hadler, Garmston, Bingham, Rees.

Referee: Charles Breakspear. Att: 12,836 (1401 visiting).

Charlton 2 (Taylor 60, Marshall 86) AFC Wimbledon 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

It's unlikely that Lee Bowyer will easily forget his first season in management. He has handled one injury crisis after another, the nadir of which were the freak shoulder dislocations suffered by Igor Vetokele and Josh Cullen in the same game at Walsall in November. Even during Charlton's heroic win at whinging Portsmouth on Tuesday, he lost newly prolific striker Karlan Grant and midfield dynamo George Lapslie. At one point or another, he has been deprived of several key members of his slender squad.

The injury cloud which has regularly blighted the Addicks' improving progress has been supplied, happily, with a distinctly white lining. While cleverly juggling his resources, the beleaguered boss has been well served by the various stopgaps, volunteers and rookies who have stepped up to plug the holes. Mutual trust has been the key to survival.

It was no doubt a huge relief to the gaffer that without a midweek fixture to complicate matters, Charlton emerged from this routine win over historically awkward Wimbledon with no new casualties. Almost inevitably, however, Naby Sarr's unforgivable excess of zeal before a minute of this low-key derby had elapsed, handed Bowyer another headache in solving the chronic problem at left back. Nineteen year-old Toby Stevenson may now be offered another chance to deputise for long-term absentee Lewis Page, while Sarr serves a three-game suspension. Don't bet against the kid grabbing a second opportunity to impress the guv'nor.

Less than a minute, during which no Addick barely touched the ball, had ticked by before Sarr launched his boneheaded assault on Tennai Watson close to the right touchline. There was an outside possibility that referee Kettle's card of choice, as he closed in on a pack of baying Dons surrounding the stricken Watson, might be yellow but the victim's heartrending agony and his teammates' vociferous outrage convinced the dithering official that red was his only alternative. For all the wrong reasons, he was right.

With no disrespect to the towering Sarr, he was barely missed. Ultra-professional skipper Jason Pearce shifted to left back, with Krystian Bielik taking over seamlessly alongside the rock-like Patrick Bauer at centre half. With dependable Chris Solly continuing at right back, that might well be the back four which welcomes Gillingham to The Valley next Saturday. It served the Addicks well against the passive Dons who were themselves without key defender Deji Oshilaja and top scorer Joe Pigott.

With the 10 men hosts effortlessly hogging possession but rarely threatening to score, lone forward Mitchell Pinnock evened up the personnel count by picking up two quickfire bookings before the break. Already cautioned for a foul on Ben Reeves, it was unwise to exaggerate his fall under Pearce's innocuous challenge near the 18-yard line. There was minimal contact, or so it appeared, but Pinnock's theatrics and that of his excitable colleagues did him no favour. Like Sarr, his departure made little difference.

In no hurry to lower the boom, the Addicks kept both the ball and their heads. Confronted by visitors with no ambition but survival, they bided their time. "We just had to be patient...we had to keep the ball, move the ball and try and switch it", commented Bowyer. Their overwhelming domination of first half possession (73%-27%) softened up new gaffer Wally Downes' curiously unadventurous side for the second half kill.

Resuming with more intent following the interval, Charlton began to create chances. A short corner routine involving Tarique Fosu and charismatic ex-Don Lyle Taylor (serenaded by opposite ends of the ground for his considerable contribution to both clubs) set up Reeves to blast wastefully off target before Joe Aribo did likewise from an equally promising position. The pressure was hardly white hot but it was no surprise when Taylor shot his new employers in front on the hour.

Aribo's industry inside his own half earned him possession and was followed by a raking pass along the left flank which Nicky Ajose's anticipation and pace made his own near the byline. The wide midfielder's hard low cross was met by Taylor, who stole a step on Watson and deftly flicked home with the outside of his right foot. In deference to his Wimbledon connections, he declined to celebrate, a task enthusiastically undertaken by Charlton fans, who have suffered more than once at the hands of their irreverent South West London neighbours.

Briefly inspired by lively substitute Tyley Burey, the previously negative visitors began to stir, their belated nothing-to-lose attitude causing mild consternation in the home tribunes. Clearly a clinching goal was recommended, a detail Ajose should have taken care of when sent through by Reeves' glorious pass. Having momentarily rounded Joe McDonnell, his hesitation allowed the keeper to recover and superbly block the hopeful effort.

The coup-de-grace had been merely delayed as it it turned out. With five minutes remaining, Bielik's outstanding contribution was crowned by the artfully disguised crossfield pass which sent electric-heeled substitute Mark Marshall away to find a niche for the crisply delivered drive across McDonnell which nestled snugly in the far bottom corner.

That was job done against Wimbledon; it's now time to deal with Gillingham, another of those punch-above-their-weight tormentors who habitually raise their game to face Charlton. It might be all about muck and nettles; if it is, Bowyer's men need to get as down and dirty as their visitors. After which, class should out.

Charlton: Steer, Solly, Bauer, Pearce, Sarr (s/o). Bielik, Aribo, Reeves (Marshall 77), Fosu, Ajose (Dijksteel 71), Taylor. Not used: Phillips, Morgan, Hackett-Fairchild, Stevenson, Warpong-Wiredu. Booked: Bielik, Taylor.

Wimbledon: McDonnell,Watson, Purrington, Nightingale, Thomas, Wagstaff (Burey 76), Hartigan (Jervis 60), Pinnock (s/o), Barcham (Hanson 78), Soares, Wordsworth. Not used: King, Trotter, Sibbick, Kalambayi. Booked: Wagstaff.

Charlton 2 (Grant 12,88) Plymouth Argyle 1 (Carey 9).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

After coming of age just four days before this game, Karlan Grant rubberstamped his 21st birthday with two vital goals to drag Charlton across the line to victory over stubborn Plymouth Argyle at a rainsoaked Valley. Having made his debut as far back as September 2014, the young Academy graduate seems to have been around forever but it's his dramatic improvement during the last few months which has been particularly gratifying for his New Eltham mentors. There was always a bona-fide player lurking behind the often diffident novice and he's finally emerged from his shell. Karlan's a born-again Addick.

A freescoring loan spell with Crawley Town towards the end of last season sent the young striker back to Charlton brimming with new confidence. Hitting the ground running - and- scoring- under new manager Lee Bowyer's nurturing eye since this campaign kicked off, Grant has formed one half of a potent partnership with Lyle Taylor, which guarantees problems for League One defences. Possibly removing the weight of "Ahearne" from his back and going single-barrelled did the trick. Hopefully, it catches on among all the ersatz public schoolboys currently cluttering our teamsheets.

Grant's first goal was particularly timely coming, as it did, just three minutes after the injury-hit Pilgrims had silenced the home tribunes by grabbing a shock lead. He was artfully goalhanging under the crossbar when Jason Pearce's cushioning header of Ben Reeves' outswinging corner from the left reached him; swivelling balletically, he ruthlessly hooked the ball into the net. Though there was a frustrating wait in store for his second goal, the equaliser took the immediate wind from the Westcountrymen's sails. They really needed to consolidate their early advantage until at least the interval. Not that they didn't give a spirited account of themselves during the long struggle separating Grant's goals.

A cagey opening had sprung into life when Graham Carey, Argyle's midfield driving force, headed the visitors in front. The spadework for his chance was provided by Ruben Lameiras' sharp pass out to Joel Grant on the left flank and continued by an accurate cross, delivered right-footed by the Jamaican international and nodded neatly into the bottom left corner by Carey. Painful questions might be asked about the inability of the normally impeccable Chris Solly to close down Grant's space and of momentarily switched-off Lewis Page for allowing Carey to brush past him to steal the yard he needed in making telling contact with the wideman's inviting centre.

A prompt riposte was demanded of the Addicks and Grant's fourth goal of the season cut the mustard perfectly. It was never going to be easy to break Plymouth's toe-to-toe resistance thereafter but the momentum had shifted in favour of Bowyer's eager beavers. Enjoying his best performance in the red shirt, Reeves began to show the class which, to be fair to him, was recognised by Karl Robinson at MK Dons. Alongside him, Joe Aribo, until he faded somewhat, made his usual prodigious contribution, while Josh Cullen's Scott Parker-like quality was again obvious. With pugnacious Jamie Ward beginning to settle in and Billy Clarke on his way back, Bowyer seems satisfactorily stocked in midfield. And up front, of course, in the prolific partnership of Grant and Lyle Taylor he has the means to frighten defences at this level.

It was Taylor, foraging in the right channel, whose shrewd pass played Solly into unaccustomed penalty area territory five minutes from the break. Diligently tracking the adventurous right back's run, Antoni Sarcevic's lunging challenge from behind was both ill-advised and illegal. Handed the opportunity to punish the offence from the spot, Taylor was instead foiled by Matt Macey, who brilliantly fingertipped his shot against the bar. With Grant unable to turn in the rebound from an acute angle, Argyle had been spared to fight on. Grant might find solace in accepting that if there's ever a good time to miss a penalty, it's in an ultimately winning cause.

Prior to the interval, the lanky Macey again distinguished himself with a double save to deny first Ward, then Grant from the ensuing rebound. Ten minutes following resumption, Joel Grant came close to rubbing salt into Charlton's wounds with a shot which deflected wickedly to safety off the bar. But by then the traffic was flowing in one direction, with Page and Aribo denied by emergency blocks before Taylor's electric burst was blunted by Peter Grant's heroic intervention; Grant shot wildly wide with Taylor better placed, then Page's effort looped off Ryan Edwards but harmlessly against the left upright. It seemed that the Pilgrims would be progressing home with a valuable point when, in the 88th minute, their brave defensive wall was breached.

Switching to the left, Reeves stepped inside to launch one more cross towards the far post. Competing with Yann Song'o in the air, Igor Vetokele managed enough contact to keep the ball alive, his touch all Grant needed to bury the matchwinner through a spreadeagled Green army and to break the hearts of 1013 long-distance commuters watching in horror from behind the far goal. Those broken hearts soon joined home hearts in their mouths as substitute David Fox comprehensively beat Jed Steer with a right-footed cannonball which took the paint off the left post, rebounded off the barrier back into the safe part of the sidenet, meanwhile fooling one and all that he had scored. Seconds later, the three added minutes, which served as a rebuke to the visitors for their flagrant time wasting, came to an end and Charlton's latest walk on the wild side was over. Call 'em what you like but don't dare call 'em boring!

Charlton: Steer, Solly, Pearce, Sarr, Page, Cullen, Aribo, Ward (Vetokele 81), Reeves, Grant, Taylor. Not used: Phillips, Dijksteel, Marshall, Morgan, Ajose, Lapslie. Booked: Taylor.

Plymouth: Macey, Smith-Brown, Wootton (Peter Grant 38), Edwards, Sawyer (Wylde 46), Songo'o, Carey, Sarcevic (Fox 53), Joel Grant, Lameiras, Ladapo. Not used: Letheren, O'Keefe, Dyson, Fletcher.

Referee: Dean Whitestone. Att: 10,818 (1013 visiting).