Portsmouth suffered only their second defeat of the season on Tuesday night. Brave Charlton bounced back in the best possible way from Saturday’s defeat at Blackpool.
Two first half goals from Karlan Grant and Nicky Ajose were enough to secure the points for Lee Bowyer’s side, though Andre Green did pull one back for Pompey near the end.
Team wise, Chris Solly, Toby Stevenson and Tariqe Fosu all dropped to the bench, with Anfernee Dijksteel, Naby Sarr and Ben Reeves coming in.
Kenny Jackett’s side are a well drilled unit and put plenty of crosses into the box, but in Patrick Bauer and Jason Pearce, they found two defenders who can deal with an aerial bombardment.
In the second-half, Pearce had to head one effort off the line, and George Lapslie bravely blocked a goal bound effort with his face. Jed Steer played his part too.
There was a price to pay though. Grant had to be replaced in the first-half, Krystian Bielik required lengthy attention and a shirt change before he could carry on.
Ben Reeves was replaced early in the second-half – though that may have been a tactical switch – and both Lyle Taylor and Pearce were hobbling towards the end.
Taylor’s injury was the result of a Ben Thompson challenge that saw the Pompey player red carded, but Pearce appeared to run his knock off.
It remains to be seen who recovers in time for AFC Wimbledon’s visit to The Valley on Saturday.
The Addicks were backed by 899 vocal fans, and Fratton Park was it’s usual cauldron of noise.
Referee, John Brooks, did well to turn down two loud appeals for the hosts, Grant touched in Taylor’s driven cross shot at the far post midway through the opening period, and substitute Ajose doubled the visitors’ advantage just before the break.
Green netted a consolation for Portsmouth near the end.
Bowyer was obviously delighted, and said this after the final whistle.
”It was a real man’s performance and a real team performance. They were passionate and had togetherness and I think we deserved the three points.
“We controlled the game in the first half, limited their chances and obviously took ours. We kept the ball well and in the second half we had to dig deep.
“They’re top of the league and they’re good at what they do. They had the crowd behind them and we had to work hard, but that’s what we have here. We have players that can play and who can all stick together and fight as one.
“We picked up another couple of injuries tonight and that’s what’s hurting us at the moment. But to come here and do what we’ve just done just shows the togetherness of the squad and how good they are.
“Our crowd didn’t stop singing the whole game.
“So to come here again and get another result is fantastic and I’m just over the moon for everybody.
“It’s important to be in amongst it. You have to be around it at this stage of the season and you can’t let anyone get too far ahead. Portsmouth had won eight on the spin before tonight and you can see why they have.
“We’re in amongst it and this was our game in hand. We’re fifth now and we’re nearly halfway through so there’s a long way to go and a lot of points to play for, so we’ll get even better as the season goes on,” said Bowyer.
Charlton: Steer; Dijksteel, Bauer, Pearce , Sarr; Bielik (Solly 80), Lapslie, Aribo, Reeves (Marshall 55); Taylor, Grant (Ajose 35).
Subs (not used): Phillips, Stevenson, Fosu, Hackett-Fairchild.
Goals: Grant 23, Ajose 43.
Booked: Sarr 62 (scuffle), Steer 90 (time-wasting).
Portsmouth: MacGillivray; N Thompson, Whatmough, Clark, Brown (Green 81); Naylor, Evans, B Thompson, Curtis; Hawkins (Pitman 56), Lowe.
Subs (not used): McGee, Walkes, Burgess, Dennis, Close.Goal: Green 88
Booked: Pitman 62 (scuffle), Lowe 64 (dissent), Nathan Thompson 83 (foul ), Ben Thompson 90 (handball), Naylor 90 (foul).
Sent off: Ben Thompson 90+4 (foul on Taylor)
Referee: John Brooks (Leicestershire).
Attendance: 17,891 (899 Charlton).