Charlton dealt a huge psychological blow against probable play-off rivals Pompey with a well-earned 2-1 victory at The Valley.

Joe Aribo and Ronan Curtis traded blows in the opening half before Lyle Tylor’s strike shortly after the break gave the hosts three-points in front of a television audience.

Lee Bowyer recently said his side are out of the running for the top two places but a win against fourth placed Pompey will serve as a huge confidence boost for a team that had won just once in six previous outings.

The win closes the gap between the sides to two points, with Charlton now sitting a healthy eight points above seventh placed Peterborough.

Confident Start

Charlton dominated early possession and looked to attack at every opportunity.

Krystien Bielik in the middle of the park snuffed out any counter attack and looked to get his side on the front foot.

When they did find themselves bearing down on both Taylor and Jonny Williams were guilty of wasting chances early on.

Josh Cullen was denied the opener on 20 minutes in comical fashion after his ‘tap-in’ was blocked on the line by the back of teammate Igor Vetokele after Williams’ cut-back.

On 41 minutes the home-side broke the deadlock and it was thoroughly deserved.

Aribo turning and unleashing an effort to Craig MacGillivray’s far corner from ten yards out following some neat play from Cullen and Bielik in the build-up.

The lead lasted just four minutes as a rare Pompey foray into Charlton’s half resulted in a corner which Curtis headed home much to the delight of the travelling support who had little to cheer about up until then.

READ: Dijksteel and Aribo the priority in contract talks

Early Blow

Bowyer’s men were forced into a change at the break as the influential Bielik was replaced by Ben Reeves.

And it was Reeves who had a huge hand in Charlton’s second on 50 minutes, moments after Curtis had a goal chalked off for the visitors for offside

Some fine work by Vetokele and Aribo down the left found Reeves in the box, whose persistence managed to wriggle the ball across the goal line to Taylor who tapped in from a yard out and restore their deserved lead.

No-one can deny the visitors didn’t come for the win and going behind Kenny Jackett brought on Dion Donohue and James Vaughan.

With the game opened up it was Charlton who nearly extended their lead with Bauer forcing MacGillivary into a decent save from 12-yards out.

Pompey should’ve been level with ten to go as substitute Brett Pitman’s cross found Jamal Lowe whose volleyed cross was agonisingly just out of reach of the oncoming Curtis.

The visitors huffed for the closing stages but driven by Sarr and Bauer the Addicks held out for a crucial win.