Charlton 1-0 Walsall

Addicks boss Chris Powell made a trio of changes from the side which started Saturday’s 1-0 win at Oldham.

Danny Hollands and Scott Wagstaff both failed to finish that game after being sent off, so in came returning skipper Johnnie Jackson and Bradley Pritchard.

Bradley Wright-Phillips was back, with Lee Cook dropped to the bench.

N’Guessan almost grabbed his third goal in as many Valley games with a stinging long range effort, which Walsall keeper David Grof had to save inside the opening 20 seconds.

Jackson glanced a header just wide from Dale Stephens’ fourth minute corner before Florent Cuvelier placed a drive behind at the other end.

Ben Hamer did well to tip over Alex Nicholls’ stinging ninth minute shot and Sam Mantom tried his luck with a low 40 yard shot as Walsall threatened again.

Jackson’s 25th minute effort from just inside the box had to be tipped over by Grof as the ball fell to the Addicks captain after Rhoys Wiggins had burst into the area.

Charlton took the lead 10 minutes before half-time when they were awarded a free-kick out on the right, which was swung in by Jackson.

Grof came off his line to try and catch it but was beaten to the ball by N’Guessan, who headed home his third goal in as many Valley games.

Jackson headed wide from N’Guessan’s inviting 42nd minute cross after getting in in front of Lee Beevers before Jackson took one touch to many in first half stoppage time after beating a trio of Walsall defenders.

Hamer had a a lucky escape five minutes into the second period when he failed to catch Emmanuel Ledesma’s cross but fortunately Jon Macken put the loose ball behind instead of in the back of the net.

Wright-Phillips should have done better after Jackson put him through with a low 54th minute pass but the striker’s shot lacked conviction and was well off target.

Chris Solly picked up a yellow card for a late tackle on Ledesma before Ledesma followed him into the notebook after fouling Dale Stephens.

Beevers had a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside after getting on the end of Ledesma’s chip, with Charlton’s fans becoming increasingly anxious with the score only 1-0.

Danny Haynes replaced Wright-Phillips on 78 minutes and Grof reacted we’ll to punch clear N’guessan’s 83rd minute shot.

N’Guessan made way for Cook three minutes later and Matt Taylor came on for Jackson in stoppage time.

There were four minutes of that, during which Hamer had to get down low to save Ledesma’s 94th minute shot.

But that was as close as Walsall came and Charlton held on for another three crucial points in their quest for the League one crown.

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Charlton: Hamer, Solly, Wiggins, Cort, Morrison, N’Guessan (Cook 86), Pritchard, Stephens, Jackson (Taylor 90), Wright-Phillips (Haynes 78), Kermorgant. Subs not used: Sullivan, Hughes. Att: 15,253.