Charlton, similar to Lyle Taylor’s penalty run-up, ambled to a 2-1 victory over mid-table Burton at The Valley.
First half goals from Taylor and Ben Reeves gave the Addicks the points despite a Lucas Akins penalty momentarily levelling the tie.
Lee Bowyer, serving his last match watching from the stands would’ve seen his side maintain a strong grip on their play-off spot without getting out of second gear.
Eleven points above seventh placed Peterborough, Bowyer will be pleased with the winning momentum the victory will serve, if not the performance.,
There was action early with chances at both ends in the opening two minutes.
Marcus Harness nearly capitalising on Naby Sarr’s poor touch was denied by a strike on goal by Pat Bauer, before Tariq Fosu’s effort came back off the bar.
On six minutes The Addicks did get their goal.
Taylor ambled up to convert the soft penalty he won after being up-ended by John Brayford, his 17th of the season.
Burton were level on 19 minutes and it was from the spot too.
Akins sending Dillon Phillips the wrong was from 12-yards after referee Thomas Bramall had no hesitation that David Templeton’s effort struck Bauer’s arm. Pretty harsh on the defender.
Charlton looked suspect on the counter but Clough’s men didn’t have the quality on the ball to find the killer pass, and they got punished on 33 minutes.
Bowyer’s side re-took the lead with a counter attack of their own when an unmarked Reeves powered home a header at the back post from a vicious Taylor cross.
Charlton were content to soak up pressure in the second half and other than Fosu nearly getting on the end of another inviting Taylor cross early on, it wasn’t until the hour a real threat on Burton’s goal.
Neat play between Ben Purrington and Josh Cullen freed Joe Aribo whose effort was wildly cleared over their own bar by Kyle McFadzean.
A scrappy second half saw the visitors have the lions share of possession without carving any real opportunity.
Liam Boyce added to an already physical front line led by Akins, but Sarr and Bauer looked comfortable both in the air and on the deck.
Burton managed a late effort through substitute Will Miller, but his headed effort sailed well clear over the bar before Bramall brought a lacklustre second half to an end.
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