Charlton showed how much of a different side they are to last season in their 1-0 win at Wycombe according to Lee Bowyer.

Jason Pearce’s strike on 34 minutes was enough to take three points back to The Valley in a physical encounter at Adams Park.

The Addicks boss saluted the character, versatility and togetherness of his side who are now unbeaten in nine.

“These are the ones that get you promotion,” he said.

“If we’ve got a chance and we nick that second spot it’s because of nights like tonight.

“We’ve built that character since I’ve came in and took over, and it’s what we needed.

“It’s OK being a nice footballing side, or a long ball side, but we are doing both.

“Nights like tonight, we would’ve never won this game last season, we’d have got beaten.

“But we stuck together, shown character, fight, what we have is unique.

“And with our fans again, they’re unreal -they keep the players going.

“They obviously realise how important they are.”

“Fans love seeing you play nice football but I guarantee they appreciate nights like tonight.

“Tonight was a battle, and we came out on top.”

The three points mean Charlton go within four points off Sunderland who moved second after picking up a draw against Burton, although they have a game in hand.

Bowyer believes this won’t be the only movement in the table in the coming weeks.

“This is the pressure time.

“There’ll be a lot of changes between now and the end of season.

“We’ve not changed position but we are closing the gap, and if we win all five games then we’ve got a chance.

“If they want to hand it to us we have to be there to take it.

“Do we need luck, of course, but that’s out of our control.”

Charlton host league leaders on Saturday.