Charlton beat Luton 3-1 at The Valley on Saturday afternoon. It was a well deserved and much needed win.

With Barnsley and. Wigan both winning as well, it was essential for the Addicks to maintain their cushion from the bottom three.

Lee Bowyer made three changes to the team that lost to Blackburn a week ago with Deji Oshilaja, Erhun Oztumer and Andre Green coming in for Jason Pearce,‎ Aiden McGeady and Tomer Hemed who all dropped to the bench.

The Hattters were backed by a sizeable following who made Lyle Taylor their pantomime villain. Never a good idea, Taylor likes nothing more than silencing the boo boys.

Shortly after an abusive chant, Taylor put Charlton ahead when David Davies found him on the edge of the box, Taylor swivelled and put a diagonal shot into the bottom corner of Simon Sluga’s net.

However the lead lasted for just two minutes. Ryan Tunnicliffe drove a precise shot just inside Dillon Phillips’ far post to restore parity.

The Addicks should have retaken the lead just after the restart. Taylor put in a hard, low cross but Green somehow managed to steer the ball wide from six yards.

The game changing moment came after 55 minutes with George Lapslie’s introduction from the bench. His shot from the edge of the box was handled and Andre Mariner pointed to the spot. Taylor sent Sluga the wrong way to put Bowyer’s side in front again.

Phillips had to make a smart save from substitute George Moncur before Lapslie completed the scoring two minutes from time.

Bowyer was thrilled with his team’s performance and had this to say after the game:

“They (the team) got a little bit braver in the second half after a nervy first half I thought, so it was a lot better. 

“We moved the ball better and showed what we can do in the second half and created a good number of chances.

“On another day, we would have probably scored another couple. Andre’s (Green’s)  one was five yards out, it’s harder to miss! But it was a great run from him and a great ball from Lyle. 

“Josh’s (Cullen’s) chance saw a great block from their fella and that was going for the top corner, I was right behind it. 

“Overall the most important thing is that we got the three points and move on. It’s an important week.”

Charlton go to Hillsborough on Wednesday, then have another blockbuster match at Huddersfield on Saturday.

George Lapslie returned after a lengthy absence and changed the game.

Here are Bowyer’s thoughts on the young midfielder:

“George brings you energy and willingness and fight and he’s improving in possession as well. I brought him on to go and do exactly what he did; to win the ball back and get in the box.

“I said to him ‘You’ve got a license to go there’, thankfully he got in there and nicked a goal and that was it, it was game over then,”‎ said Bowyer who then gave his thoughts on two-goal Lyle Taylor:

“It was a great finish (for the first goal), I see him do that every day in training.

“The penalty, he does what he does. He’s cool, calm and collective and I thought his work rate was outstanding as well. 

“I thought his ball retention was excellent and that was something I have been on at him for to be honest. 

“Against Blackburn he was weak and I thought that at Stoke his ball retention wasn’t very good. 

“It’s not like him but today he was very good and he deserved his two goals. I don’t think that they could handle him all day.”

Bowyer concluded by giving his thoughts on the tough weak ahead:

“We know what we’ve got to do and what we have got to get to. All I care about is what we do now until the end of the season. 

“It’s going to be tough, Hillsborough is a tough place to go and play. Now the most important thing is the preparation. 

“We’ve got to turn up on Wednesday night and make sure we’re ready.”

Charlton:‎ Phillips; Matthews, Lockyer, Sarr, Doughty; Oshilaja (Lapslie 55), Davis, Cullen, Oztumer (Bonne 78); Taylor, Green (Pearce 88)

Subs (not used): Amos, Smith, McGeady, Hemed‎.

Goals: Taylor 34, 61 pen, Lapslie 88.‎

Luton: Sluga; Bree (Bolton82), Pearson, Carter-Vickers, Potts; Rea (McManaman 70); Tunnicliffe, Mpanzu, Berry; Collins, Cornick (Moncur 70).

Subs (not used): Stech, Cranie, Hylton, Shinnie‎.

Goal: Cornick 36‎

Referee: Andre Marriner‎

Attendance: 18,969 (2,785 Luton)