Coventry City 2-1 Charlton Athletic: Addicks slip to Boxing Day defeat late on

Charlton fell to a Boxing Day defeat as Coventry City completed a league double over the South Londoners.

Jordy Hiwula had opened the scoring just before the break for the home side after a lacklustre first-period from Lee Bowyer’s side.

They improved after the break and drew level through Darren Pratley, but were dealt with a late sucker-punch as Tom Bayliss slid a winner home for the hosts in the final minute of normal time.

The result was Coventry’s first win in ten games in all competitions, with the Addicks unable to claim an eighth win in nine league games.

The home side pressed high in the opening exchanges, refusing to allow Charlton any time to settle on the ball and get into their flow.

Coventry started well but had to be patient before creating the first half, with Conor Chaplin poking wide from Dujon Sterling’s cross after twelve minutes.

Arsenal-loanee Krystian Bielik came close with a header from a Ben Reeves corner on a rare foray forward for the Addicks, before normal service resumed as Luke Thomas danced his way into the Charlton box, driving into the side-netting from a tight angle.

A clumsy challenge from Patrick Bauer on Hiwula on the very edge of the penalty area drew a yellow card for the German from referee Simon Hooper, with stopper Jed Steer tipping the resulting free-kick from Chaplin over the bar.

The South Londoners’ best chance of the period came as Taylor toed Bauer’s nod-down at goal, but Lee Burge reacted well to divert the danger – and the home side would lead minutes later.

Chaplin had the ball at his feet after a slick move just before half-time and lifted it into the centre where Hiwula’s header looped over Steer to give the Sky Blues the advantage at the interval.

Lee Bowyer’s side came close to scrambling an equaliser shortly after the break. The Addicks boss had thrown on second-top scorer Karlan Grant at the interval and it was his flick on that was powered at goal by Bauer, only for the home defence to scramble clear.

The scores were levelled just before the hour-mark. Mark Marshall, who’d only just come off the bench, floated a free-kick into the danger area. Bauer’s flick-on was headed towards goal before Pratley diverted it past Burge to claim his first goal in Charlton colours.

Mark Robins reacted to the set-back by bringing Jonson Clarke-Harris on and he nearly edged the Sky Blues back ahead only for Bauer to charge down his angled drive.

The contest really opened up in the final quarter and it was the visitors’ turn to come close to finding the next goal. Marshall’s long-range shot looped up off a defender and completely wrong-footed the goalkeeper, only to drop agonisingly the wrong side of the crossbar

It would be the hosts who went on to win it late. Bayliss slid the ball home from inside the area as the Sky Blues bagged a 90^th-minute winner against Charlton for the second time this season.