Defenders score twice in convincing win

Charlton moved up to 10th in the table this evening with a convincing 3-0 win at The Valley over Portsmouth which left pessimists grasping for a narrative.

Goals from Ryan Inniss, the recalled Corey Blackett-Taylor and Eoghan O'Connell made it seven home league games without defeat for the Addicks, their best start at home since 2015.

Pompey's Marlon Pack was sent off red midway through the second half after receiving a second caution.

His side have taken only two points from their past four matches to lose ground on the promotion places in League One, while the Addicks are now within two points of the play-offs.

Portsmouth started brightly enough and former Leamington ace Colby Bishop saw a powerful header from Joe Morrell's guided cross acrobatically tipped over by Jojo Wollacott after just nine minutes.

Eight minutes later they were behind, however, as Inniss notched his first home goal since February, rising highest at the far post to meet Scott Fraser's deep cross from a short corner routine and power home a header from six yards. It was the Addicks' first set-piece goal of the campaign.

Tottenham loanee Dane Scarlett saw furious appeals for a penalty after an apparent tug from O'Connell in the area waved away at the other end and, just before the half-hour, Blackett-Taylor, the only change to the side made by Ben Garner, cut in from the left and ghosted past two defenders before dragging a low shot narrowly past the post.

Just 60 seconds later he was on the scoresheet when Pompey lost possession in midfield, allowing Charlie Kirk to play a perfect slide-rule pass through for Blackett-Smith who held his nerve to outpace Conor Ogilvie and slot low through Josh Griffiths' legs.

Pack curled a free-kick inches wide for the visitors while Jesurun Rak-Sakyi's fierce left-footed strike was smartly turned around the post by Griffiths before the interval.

Pompey boss Danny Cowley made two changes at the break but Charlton came close to adding a third with Blackett-Taylor's stinging angled drive drawing a fingertip save from England Under-21 keeper Griffiths.

Charm merchant Pack saw red for a second booking 25 minutes from time and the Addicks made it 3-0 from the resulting free kick, with the unmarked O'Connell nodding in from close range from another superb Fraser delivery.

It was the 16th goal Charlton have scored in their seven home games in League One, while it was just Pompey's second blank in 18 league games.

Griffiths was called on to deny Alfie Morgan a fourth with a low save to his left late on as Pompey lost consecutive away games for the first time since February.

Official attendance 13,456.

Ben Garner discusses the work Charlton have done to improve at set pieces: https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/charlton-athletic-boss-reveals-how-giant-extension-lead-has-helped-them-add-set-piece-goals/