The Addicks extended Cardiff’s winless home run to six matches on Saturday. It was the South Londoners’ fifth win in their last six games and Guy Luzon appears to be waving a magic wand at the moment.
Charlton’s only other visit to the Cardiff City Stadium ended in a 0-0 draw, a result that was enough to confirm the Bluebirds’ promotion to the Premier League.
It was a night of high emotion in South Wales, this time the atmosphere was far more subdued, particularly in the last fifteen minutes when the Addicks scored twice to wrestle the points from the Bluebirds.
It was a warm, sunny afternoon in South Wales and Luzon made four changes from the side that beat Forest 2-1 on Tuesday evening, but the result was to be the same.
Chris Solly, Roger Johnson and Johann Gudmundsson returned in place of Lawrie Wilson, Alou Diarra and Callum Harriott. Igor Vetokele was restricted to a place on the bench. Christophe Lepoint replaced the Angolan in attack.
The move was not a success and Chris Eagles replaced Lepoint just past the hour mark. Stephen Henderson was another whose afternoon ended prematurely. The keeper required two lengthy bouts of treatment to the ankle he injured when collecting a corner. Henderson was eventually replaced by Marko Dmitrovic at the interval.
The first half was infinitely forgettable, with little to excite either set of fans.
That changed eleven minutes after the break when Cardiff took the lead. A cross from the left was headed back from the far post by Kenwyne Jones.
Federico Macheda was on hand to stab the ball past Dmitrovic.
Charlton gradually clawed their way back into the game and a period of pressure paid off after 74 minutes.
Tony Watt was brought down on the side of the area. From the free-kick, Jordan Cousins fired in a shot that was deflected over the bar. Gudmundsson’s flag-kick from the right eventually found its way to Chris Eagles on the edge of the box.
Eagles slipped the ball through to Johnson who teed Tony Watt up. Watt picked his spot to bring the scores level, then celebrated in front of the travelling fans who had been chanting his name all afternoon.
The Addicks had the momentum now, but to win, they would have to turn a defecit round for the first time this season. Nothing is impossible for this group of players at the moment and they got their reward three minutes from time.
A clumsy shove on Simon Church by Sean Morrison left referee, Pat Miller, with no option but to point to the spot.
Yoni Buyens is coolness personified from the spot and despatched the penalty with his usual aplomb.
At the end of the four minutes stoppage time, Luzon joined his players when they came over to acknowledge the fans.
This was not a vintage performance by Luzon’s team but their character and determination can never be questioned.
The head coach would not describe it as a ‘beautiful’ win, but nevertheless, it moved his team on to 48 points.
Charlton: Henderson (Dmitrović 46); Solly, Gomez, Johnson, Foz; Gudmundsson, Cousins, Buyens, Bulot (Church 74); Lepoint , (Eagles 61), Watt.
Subs (not used): Bikey, Diarra, Vetokele, Lennon.
Goals: Watt 74, Buyens 87 (pen).
Booked: Fox 35 (foul), Lepoint 42 (foul).
Cardiff City: Moore; Peltier, Ecuele Manga, Morrison, Connolly; Whittingham, Gunnarsson (Ralls 30), McAleny (Kennedy 62), Noone; Macheda (Revell 84), Jones.
Subs (not used): Wilson, Fabio, O’Keefe, Doyle.
Goal: Macheda.
Booked: Connolly 40 (foul).
Referee: Pat Miller (Bedfordshire).
Attn: 20,488.