Charlton notched up their first win since Boxing Day with a thrilling 2-1 win against fellow relegation strugglers, Barnsley, at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.
Goals from Lyle Taylor and Andre Green gave the Addicks a two goal cushion before Cauley Woodrow halved the arrears after the interval.
Lee Bowyer’s team had to ride their luck at times, and defended stoically to see the game out.
Charlton looked comfortable for an hour or so, but when the Tykes changed their shape to match that of their hosts, they came in to the game far more.
The win saw the hosts leapfrog Huddersfield and Stoke into nineteenth place in the table.
There were heroes all over the pitch. Dillon Phillips was solid, and one save in the first-half that was truly world class. Alfie Doughty was a constant threat on the left, and Darren Pratley was ubiquitous.
Josh Cullen controlled the midfield, Jonny Williams caused panic every time he ran at the Barnsley defence, Andre Green was sharp and Lyle Taylor showed why he is so coveted.
The Addicks took the lead after 9 minutes. Williams was fouled midway in the Barnley half. Cullen chipped the ball forward, Jason Pearce headed it on, and Taylor exquisitely glanced it beyond the keeper, and into tha back of the net.
Charlton dominated the opening period – though Phillips did have to make that wonder save – and they got a deserved second deep into stoppage time.
Doughty recycled a right-wing corner, Naby Sarr swung his left leg and failed to connect and. Green reacted quickest to drill home from 12 yards.
Barnsley were in the match far more during the last 30 minutes, and Cauley Woodrow fired home after 72 minutes to set up a grandstand finish.
Bowyer’s team managed the game well, though there was one almighty scramble 16 minutes from time. The Tykes hit the bar and then saw the rebound cleared off the line.
A vital three points for the Addicks. Next up is another cup final when they travel to Stoke on Saturday.
Post match, a very proud Bowyer had this to say about his team’s performance:
“I’ve just said to the players there, it should have been a bit more comfortable at times and a bit more pretty.
“You can tell that some of the players who have just come back are a bit rusty. We didn’t pass it how we normally would. But the most important thing at this stage of the season is the three points.
“It doesn’t matter how you get it. You have to dig in sometimes and grind out results and that’s what we’ve just done.
“We were coasting first-half and then they changed to match us up again and that happens a lot to us!
“Then Barnsley came into the game through a bit of sloppiness from ourselves. The most important thing is three points and now we can move on.
“This is what this league does, you’ve just got to keep going and going and fighting and who knows where it will take you, but I don’t care about other teams, I just care about my team.
“I know that with the players that have come back fit and the players that we have brought in will keep us in good stead you know.
“The fans were unreal again tonight. They never stop singing. They see that the players were tired and they got behind them again…
“They just kept singing and singing and we got over the line. I’m really pleased with the way that things went today,” said Bowyer who added these thoughts about Taylor:
“Performances like that are why I spoke to the chairman and said that we need to keep a hold of Lyle. He got stuck in there, he started to cramp up a little at the end. But that’s what he brings us.
“I thought the two up top were good. Andre (Green) had some bad news earlier this week so he missed training on Tuesday, so to turn out that performance… I thought the two front men were outstanding.
“Jason Pearce was good – a leader. I thought Darren Pratley covered everything and Josh Cullen covered everything.
“Dillon Phillips made an unbelievable save in the first half, an unreal save. That’s what you have to do sometimes. You have to push yourselves into areas that your body doesn’t like going to. That’s what my lads do. I’m proud of them.”
Charlton: Phillips; Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce , Sarr, Doughty (Purrington 90); Cullen, Williams (Forster-Caskey 57), Pratley; Green, Taylor (Hemed 68).
Subs (not used): Amos, Field, McGeady, Oztumer.
Goals: Taylor 9, Green 45.
Booked: Lockyer 33 (foul).
Barnsley: Radlinger; Williams (Simoes 69), Sollbauer, Andersen, Odour (Ludewig 69); Brown, Thomas, Halme, Mowatt, Chaplin (Sckmidt 86); Woodrow.
Subs (not used): Walton, Williams, Dougal, Styles
Goal: Woodrow 71
Booked: Sollbauer 22 (foul), Andersen 41 (foul), Chaplin 61 (dissent), Williams 62 (foul), Simoes 90 (dissent).
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire).
Attn: 19,870 (1,083 Barnsley).