Four takeaways from Charlton’s tempestuous 1-0 win at Burton Albion: A chaotic triumph on the road

Johnnie Jackson’s superb run continues as Charlton edged out Burton Albion in a chaotic game that saw both sides end with 10 men. Here’s Louis Mendez’s four takeaways from the Pirelli Stadium.

A FOOTBALL MATCH THREATENED TO BREAK OUT

What a wild ride that one was. The record books will display a slender away win for the Addicks but that was anything but straightforward. The first-half will go down as one of the most fractious I’ve ever seen as referee Trevor Kettle dished out two red cards, a succession of yellows and oversaw a contest that was out of control. There was even a row on the touchline as Johnnie Jackson and former Charlton layabout Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink argued the toss over another decision. It’s almost easy to forget Ben Purrington notched the only goal of the game shortly after the dismissals, such was the chaotic nature of the first period. The temperature simmered down after the break and despite ceding the vast majority of possession, Charlton saw the game out fairly comfortably – to the raucous approval of a large travelling contingent.

CAN’T BE LONG NOW

All aboard the Jackson Juggernaut. There may still be a few who are undecided if it’s time for Thomas Sandgaard to make a decision but there can’t be many more compelling arguments for Jackson to be given the full-time managerial role at The Valley than the three wins and one draw he’s mustered since taking over. Players have been queuing up to throw their weight behind the caretaker boss. You’d be forgiven for forgetting just how poor this side was less than a month ago. The organisation that Jackson and Jason Euell have drilled into them seems to come so naturally now and is reflected in the three clean sheets they’ve acquired. The time for that decision to be made must be edging ever closer.

KETTLE REACHES BOILING POINT

The major talking point of any game refereed by Trevor Kettle is normally Trevor Kettle – and this was no different. I had some sympathy for the official during the first-half yesterday as it was so chaotic but he failed to keep a lid on things and dished out a few soft yellow cards unnecessarily that kept frustration levels threatening to boil over. The red cards incident was a bizarre one. There are legitimate claims Charlton should have had a penalty for Deji Oshilaja’s initial tug on Jayden Stockley. Jackson felt a pair of yellow cards would have sufficed for the ensuing grapple. Once everyone piles in like they did though, Kettle will always tend to err on the side of red.

SKIPPER STEPS UP

A man-of-the-match performance from the skipper Jason Pearce. Burton were always going to throw caution to the wind and balls into the area late on but Charlton dealt with pretty much everything and Pearce was at the heart of it. Some expressed concern when Sam Lavelle was lost to long-term injury last month but Pearce has stood up to the task over the last few games. Special mention as well for Sean Clare, who slotted into an unfamiliar role at right-sided centre-half and impressed.

PHOTOS: KYLE ANDREWS