Ben Purrington’s first-half header was the difference as Charlton edged an action-packed contest against Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Both sides were forced to play the majority of the match with 10 men, with Trevor Kettle dismissing both Jayden Stockley and Deji Oshilaja moments before the opener following an incident in the Brewers’ 18-yard box.
The Caretaker Manager made two changes from our last Sky Bet League One outing against Rotherham United, restoring former Brewer Sean Clare and Josh Davison to his starting XI in place of international Addicks Chris Gunter and Conor Washington.
Charlton started sprightly in Staffordshire, administering the first opening within eight minutes through Diallang Jaiyesimi, whose left-footed drive from range was blocked by Ryan Leak.
Ben Purrington recycled the resulting corner, delivered by Elliot Lee, before crossing for the latter at the far post. The Luton Town loanee flicked down for Davison, though the forward could only fire wide.
Lee was involved again soon after, this time swinging in a deep corner for Stockley who found Alex Gilbey, but Ben Garratt was equal to the midfielder’s headed effort.
There was a flashpoint on 18 minutes, though, as referee Trevor Kettle changed the complexion of proceedings, dismissing both Stockley and former Addick Oshilaja following an off-ball altercation.
The all-important breakthrough arrived moments later, with a Lee set piece the catalyst once more. Having worked a neat short corner routine with Lee, Jaiyesimi saw his inswinging cross glanced on by Akin Famewo for the obliging Purrington, who nodded home from six yards.
Craig MacGillivray was forced into his first stop of the afternoon four minutes after the interval, thwarting Joe Powell’s venomous strike at his near post after the Brewers midfielder had driven into the Addicks’ box.
After a scrappy second period, both sides enjoyed a chance apiece 12 minutes from time. First, the hosts countered, spearheaded by Powell who picked out Harry Chapman, but the substitute’s pull back was struck tamely by Thomas O’Connor. Purrington’s cross-turned-shot then had Garratt scrambling in the Brewers’ goal, though the stopper was able to palm it away at full stretch.
O’Connor passed up another opportunity soon after, this time heading harmlessly at Charlton’s number one having latched onto Aaron Amadi-Holloway’s hung-up cross following a long throw-in.
Burton Albion: Garratt; Shaughnessy, Leak, Oshilaja (c); Akins (Chapman 73), O’Connor, Mancienne (Lakin 68), Powell, Borthwick-Jackson (Blake-Tracy 15); Hemmings, Amadi-Holloway
Subs: Balcombe, Gilligan, Maddox, Patrick
Booked: Hemmings 41 (simulation)
Sent off: Oshilaja 18 (off-ball incident)
Charlton: MacGillivray; Clare, Pearce (c), Famewo; Jaiyesimi (Elerewe 83), Gilbey, Dobson, Lee, Purrington; Stockley, Davison (Blackett-Taylor 68)
Subs: Henderson, Arter, Watson, Morgan, Kirk
Booked: Lee 28 (foul on Hemmings), Jaiyesimi 31 (dissent), Famewo 45+4 (time-wasting), Arter h/t (dissent)
Sent off: Stockley 17 (off-ball incident)
Goal: Purrington 20
Referee: Trevor Kettle
Attendance: 3,555