Burton Albion 1-2 Charlton Athletic: Late Jason Pearce goal steals fourth straight win for Addicks

Charlton laboured to an unlikely victory at the Pirelli Stadium as they came from behind against Burton Albion.

The hosts had taken the lead midway through the first half as Lucas Akins fired home from the spot. Karlan Grant levelled up in the same manner minutes later, before Jason Pearce plundered a late winner after a second-half in which the home side enjoyed the majority of the play.

The Addicks stretched their winning run to four league games and maintain their top six place.

Both sides dragged efforts wide in the opening exchanges, with Liam Boyce cutting in and firing wide of the near-post for the Brewers, with Lyle Taylor guilty of the same crime minutes later.

Naby Sarr was then bailed out by goalkeeper Jed Steer as he inadvertently diverted a deep cross towards his own goal, with Steer reacting to pluck the ball out of the air.

The hosts did lead midway through the half. Krystian Bielik was adjudged to have felled Boyce, with home skipper Akins stepping to send Steer the wrong way from the spot.

The South Londoners, who were far from their fluid best in the first-period, were level within seven minutes. Grant cut inside in the Brewers’ box and was wiped out by Kyle McFadzean. The Addicks striker dusted himself off and buried the penalty into the bottom corner, albeit via the hand of home stopper Bradley Collins, to score his 10th goal of the season.

Former Sheffield United midfielder Stephen Quinn was just inches away from re-establishing the home side’s lead but his dipping volley dropped just past Steer’s far-stick.

Charlton captain Jason Pearce did well to charge down Devante Cole’s drive, as the half ended with Bowyer’s side probably pleased to go into the break on level terms.

The Addicks nearly edged ahead ten minutes after the interval. Tariqe Fosu and Joe Aribo linked up well down the left, before the latter squared for George Lapslie. The Addicks youngster took aim from 18 yards out but Damien McCrory charged his effort down.

A last-ditch challenge from Sarr denied what looked certain to be a second Brewers goal as Scott Fraser bore down on goal, with Steer saving well from Boyce soon after as the winger cut in from the right and fired towards goal.

Jamie Ward was introduced from the bench for Bielik with a quarter of the game to go as Bowyer looked for a way to win the game.

The Addicks nearly stole a lead against the run of play as Aribo slipped Taylor in, but the striker’s effort was blocked by the keeper before his centre from the rebound was hacked away from near the line.

Substitute Marcus Harness sent two dangerous balls into the Charlton goalmouth in quick succession ten minutes from time, with the visitors only just surviving as the second one was flicked just wide of the far-post.

And the South Londoners stole all three points right at the death. Pearce bundled a corner home at the far-post in-front of the visiting supporters as they celebrated an unlikely victory.