Charlton snatched a winner deep into stoppage time to earn a richly deserved three points at The Valley on Saturday afternoon. The win was their first double of the season.
The game was a pulsating affair, but the class of Alou Diarra shone through all afternoon in the frenetic midfield battle.
The Addicks welcomed Igor Vetokele and Jordan Cousins back to the starting line-up, at the expense of the injured Reza Ghoochannejhad and El-Hadji Ba.
Shortly after kick-off, play was held up for four minutes, while the pitch was cleared off stress balls thrown from the stands.
Birmingham went ahead after 33 minutes. David Cotterill’s low ball from the right was wickedly deflected behind Charlton’s back line, for Jon Toral to steer home at the far post.
The Addicks were level six minutes later. Callum Harriott stumbled when put through by Johann Berg Gudmundsson. The ball came out to the Icelander who rifled his shot past Tomasz Kuszczak’s right hand and into the far corner.
Jose Riga’s side created plenty of chances after the break, with Gudmundsson, Vetokele, Morgan Fox, Harriott and half-time substitute, Ademola Lookman, all having decent chances.
David Cotterill brought a good save out of Nick Pope as the game ebbed and flowed.
Just as it looked as though time would run out on them, Charlton fashioned a winner deep into stoppage time.
Lookman swung in a deep right-wing corner, Jorge Teixeira rose majestically at the far post to nod in a richly deserved winner.
Three sides of The Valley erupted into a cacophany of joyous celebration for the three precious points.
Other results were not overly kind to the Addicks. Fulham beat MK Dons, and Neil Warnock’s Rotherham won for the fifth time in their last six games, but Riga’s team can do no more than win their own games. They will travel to Portman Road on Tuesday in good heart.
Charlton: Pope; Motta (Makienok 90), Fanni, Teixeira, Fox; Gudmundsson (Jackson 84), Cousins (c), Diarra, Yun (Lookman 46); Harriott, Vetokele.
Subs (not used): Henderson, Lennon, Solly, Bergdich.
Goals: Gudmundsson 38, Teixeira 90.
Booked: Diarra 57 (foul).
Birmingham City: Kuszczak; Caddis, Morrison, Robinson, Grounds; Cotterill (Solomon-Otabor 74), Davis, Gleeson, Fabbrini (Donaldson 67); Vaughan, Toral (Maghoma 45).
Subs (not used): Legzdins, Kieftenbeld, Buckley, Shotton.
Goal: Toral 33.
Booked: Grounds 81 (foul).
Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).
Attn: 15,742 (3,073 Birmingham).