Super-sub Tyreece Campbell scored the only goal to give Charlton Athletic a well deserved victoty over Stoke City in their Sky Bet Championship match at The Valley.
Conor Coady had the first chance for the Addicks when he hooked wide after Lyndon Dykes had knocked Greg Docherty’s hoisted cross into his path. Harry Clarke then powered a header from a Sonny Carey corner onto the bar.
Dykes was next to have an opportunity when he got in behind and lofted it over Stoke goalkeeper Tommy Simkin but having to lift it so high meant that it floated towards the goal allowing Ashley Phillips to get back and head it off the line.
Lloyd Jones then could only volley wide at the far post when another deep Carey corner picked him out before Clarke sent in a cross that Kayne Ramsey headed straight at Simkin.
Having missed those chances, the Addicks were almost made to pay when Jesurun Rak-Sakyi got in behind the right side of the Charlton defence and hit a shot that clipped the bar on the way over.
Chambers then crossed to Jones who headed wide before the visitors had another chance just before half time. Sorba Thomas’ diagonal cross again gave Rak-Sakyi a clean sight of goal but he blasted over when he should have at least forced Thomas Kaminski into making a save.
After the break, Matty Godden had a shot deflected away before Chambers swung in the resulting corner and found Jones, however the angle was too tight for him to force it home.
Lamine Cisse hit a twenty-five yard effort for Stoke straight down Kaminski’s throat before Charlton manager, Nathan Jones, brought on Campbell. He soon gave Stoke a warning when he cut in from the left and shot towards the bottom corner drawing a fine diving save out of Simkin.
Thomas found space for Stoke but fired high and it was over and out for him as he was one of three to be withdrawn as Mark Robins made a triple substitution.
Ten minutes were left on the clock when the deadlock was finally broken. Dykes headed on a long pass forward sending Campbell through. His first touch looked a little heavy but he recovered to poke it wide of Simkin before planting it into the back of the net.
Although an onslaught from Stoke might have been expected, it wasn’t forthcoming and Charlton’s resolute defence kept the visitors at bay with Kaminski not being bothered again.
As this game was brought forward from the weekend, Charlton are next in action when they complete their floodlit home game trilogy next Tuesday when entertaining Portsmouth.
Charlton Athletic: Kaminski; Clarke, Ramsay, Jones, Bell, Chambers; Coady; Carey (Coventry 84), Docherty; Godden (Campbell 61), Dykes.
Subs not used: Mannion, Gillesphey, Berry, Kelman, Rankin-Costello, Sichenje, Fevrier.
Goalscorers: Campbell (80)
Yellow cards: Coady (49 ungentlemanly conduct), Godden (55 ungentlemanly conduct)
Stoke City: Simkin; Lawal (Talovierov 41), Phillips, Wilmot, Cresswell (Bocat 75); Seko, Nzonzi; Rak-Sakyi (Mnhoef 56), Rigo (Jun-Ho 75), Thomas (Smit 75); Cisse.
Subs not used: Fielding, Pearson, Otegbayo, Curley.
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: Thomas (49 ungentlemanly conduct), Nzonzi (55 ungentlemanly conduct), Seko (78 foul), Manhoef (82 foul)
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Assistant Referees: David Harrison and Mark Russell
Fourth Official: Ruebyn Ricardo
Attendance: 14,836 including 1,112 away supporters.