Match Reports

country flag League 1 Round 18
Portsmouth 1 - 2 Charlton Athletic
Tue 11 December 2018 19:45

Charlton Athletic

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Charlton Athletic

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Game Report

Highlights

Karlan Ahearne-Grant scored before being taken off injured, while his substitute Nicky Ajose also got on the score sheet, as Charlton overcame Portsmouth with a 2:1 scoreline. The Addics had a 2:0 lead going into the break and survived several scares before Andre Green halved the hosts' deficit with minutes left to play. However, Pompey were unable to make their late pressure count and had midfielder Ben Thompson sent off deep into stoppage time.

Detail

The game was an end-to-end encounter from the beginning. Ronan Curtis and Lyle Taylor recorded notable attempts for their respective sides in the opening 20 minutes.

The deadlock was broken midway through the first half, when Karlan Ahearne-Grant turned home a cross by strike partner Taylor.

The Addics' top scorer was later taken off due to an injury, but his replacement Nicky Ajose doubled the Addics' lead late in the half, when he fired home after Taylor had flicked a cross into his path.

The hosts bossed things after the break and created a string of chances, coming closest when Matt Clarke had an effort cleared off the line.

They finally found a way through on 88, when Green fired home from close range following good work by Jamal Lowe.

Portsmouth had six minutes of stoppage time to find a winner but failed to break the Addics down. They had Thompson sent off in stoppage time, as the visitors held on.

Summary

It was certainly a disappointing way for Portsmouth to have their unbeaten run ended. Pompey remain at the top of the League One table and it will now be crucial for them for this result to not affect them too much. On the other side, Lee Bowyer described this result as his side's best of the season and it is not hard to see why. It was Charlton's fifth win in six and the Addics seem to be hitting top form as the season approaches its halfway point.

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