Charlton 1 Bristol City 2
Despite plenty of late chances, the Addicks fell to defeat to Bristol City at The Valley.
Lyndon Dykes’ equaliser on the half-hour cancelled out Scott Twine’s opener but Noah Eile’s fortuitous goal 10 minutes into the second half and some heroics from goalkeeper Radek Vitek, proved enough for Roy Hodgson’s side to come away with three points in his first game in charge.
Harry Clarke had first sight of goal in the second minute when the ball came back to him from a long throw but he swiped at his shot which went high and wide of the target.
Emil Riis then had an excellent opportunity to give Bristol City a lead in the third minute when he hit the post after getting in behind the Charlton defence to go one-on-one with Will Mannion.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Max Bird slipped a clever through ball just out of reach of a sliding Lloyd Jones to Twine who controlled well and finished neatly.
The Addicks began to get into the game, causing most problems from set-pieces.
Mannion was forced into action in the 28th minute, diving to his left to keep out Bird’s long-range effort.
Charlton’s equaliser came two minutes later, when Clarke found Dykes with a quick throw near the halfway line, that Bristol City felt should have gone the other way. Dykes played a lovely interchange with Charlie Kelman, who eventually cut back cleverly for his strike partner, who made enough contact to guide the ball across goal and in off the far post to the delight of the Charlton faithful.
Just before the break Clarke drove a left-footed shot from outside the area just over the bar.
The visitors started the half brightly, with Neto Borges driving forward from defence and eventually getting the ball back in the Charlton area but his harmless effort cleared the crossbar.
Eile restored the visitors’ lead 10 minutes into the second half, poking home a scrappy goal after Mannion was unable to gather Twine’s low, deflected free kick.
Charlton nearly struck back immediately when Kayne Ramsay tucked a ball inside to Sonny Carey, whose shot on the half-volley went just wide of goal.
Mannion then got down well to his left to keep out another low shot from Twine.
Bristol City were able to stay ahead thanks to two very good saves from Vitek. The stopper got down to his left to keep out Ibrahim Fullah’s well-placed curler. He then did even better to deny Matty Godden from close range after the returning striker got on the end of a Lloyd Jones knock-down.
Jayden Fevrier then found Tyreece Campbell at the back post but the Jamaican international couldn’t quite keep his shot under control. With minutes remaining Dykes then headed over Amari’i Bell’s dinked cross from the left.
At the other end Sinclair Armstrong was denied by an excellent Kayne Ramsay tackle and then Will Mannion.
Vitek saved from Rankin-Costello as the Addicks piled on the pressure. Godden was next to come close dragging just wide.
Charlton were unable to find a way to get their second. Elsewhere, results mean the Addicks are eight points above the relegation zone with six games remaining ahead of Easter Monday’s trip to Vicarage Road to take on Watford.
Charlton: Mannion; Ramsay, Jones, Bell; Clarke (Godden 79), Coventry (Rankin-Costello 79), Carey, Docherty (c) (Fevrier 86), Chambers (Campbell 64); Dykes, Kelman (Fullah 64)
Subs (not used): Kaminski, Gillesphey, Coady, Knibbs
Goal: Dykes 30
Assist: Kelman 30
Booked: Ramsay 60 (foul on Riis), Clarke 70 (foul on Bird)
Bristol City: Vitek, McCrorie (Morsy 46), Pring, Randell, Bird (Earthy 83), Twine, Knight (c), Sykes, Riis (Armstrong 86), Neto Borges, Eile
Subs (not used): Thomas, Burgzorg, Horvat, Bell, Naylor, Ezendu, Earthy
Goals: Twine 11, Eile 55
Assist: Bird 11
Booked: Twine 30 (dissent), Pring 30 (dissent), Sykes 90+4 (timewasting)
Referee: Ben Toner
Attendance: 20,925 (2,409 from Bristol)
