On Shrove Tuesday, Charlton Athletic put in a flat performance at home to Portsmouth to end their three game Sky Bet Division Championship unbeaten run.
It was far from a dirty match yet nine players were shown yellow cards, seven of which were given to Charlton.
Harry Clarke had a great chance for the Addicks with less than thirty seconds on the clock but he was unable to slot it past Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Scmid who was out quickly to block with his feet. Millenic Alli then cut in from the left for the visitors and his shot was blocked wide of the near post.
Alli and Charlton’s Sonny Carey were both well off target before Jordan Williams headed over for Portsmouth. Addicks’ goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski made an easy save from Colby Bishop before the visitors went ahead.
More than five hours of playing time had passed without Charlton conceding, however, that ended when Ebou Adams found Terry Devlin and he hit a long range effort that moved in the air to deceive Kaminski and go in.
It could have been two when Alli whipped in a cross that only needed a touch by Bishop at the near post but he was unable to apply it. However, the second goal did come ten minutes before half time. A cross by Gustavo Caballero from the right struck Amari’i Bell as he jumped to make the block. Although there were no real appeals by the visitors, referee Leigh Doughty pointed to the spot and Bishop smashed it straight down the middle.
Just before half time, Zak Swanson hit a low shot that Kaminski got down well to save.
Nathan Jones, Charlton’s manager, made three changes at the break including Conor Coventry for his one hundredth appearance for the club, and Jayden Fevrier for his home debut.
Adams went down in the penalty area under a challenge from Kayne Ramsey early in the second period, but this time the referee was unimpressed. However, Portsmouth went three up soon after. Devlin again let fly and his thirty yard effort swerved wickedly, hit the inside of the post, and flew in.
At the other end a Carey corner was half cleared and recycled, Bell knocked it in, and Coventry flicked it over. Fevrier then cut in from the right and fired just beyond the far post.
Nineteen minutes after his introduction, Fevrier scored his first goal for the Addicks. Lyndon Dykes flicked on a Carey free kick and the Addicks’ substitute finished well from eight yards. Sadly, Charlton were unable to build momentum and push on, and Alli was twice off target for the visitors.
One last chance did fall to the home team late on when Luke Berry headed down to Tyreece Campbell but he did not get over it and hooked it high over.
That left Charlton still seven points clear of the drop zone, however, Portsmouth moved to within three points of them having played one game fewer.
Charlton Athletic: Kaminski; Clarke (Fevrier 46), Ramsay, Jones, Bell, Chambers (Kelman 80); Coady (Coventry 46); Carey, Docherty (Berry 80); Leaburn (Campbell 46), Dykes.
Subs not used: Mannion, Gillesphey, Rankin-Costello, Sichenje.
Goalscorers: Fevrier (64)
Yellow cards: Clarke (7 kicking it away), Chambers (14 foul), Leaburn (27 foul), Kaminski (34 dissent), Jones (38 delay of restart), Coventry (54 foul), Carey (74 foul)
Portsmouth: Schmid; Devlin, Poole, Ogilvie; Swanson (Williams 63); Pack, Adams; Caballero (Brown 63), Swift (Bowat), Alli; Bishop.
Subs not used: Bursik, Segecic, Le Roux, Kirk, Singerr, Dia.
Goalscorers: Devlin (22), (56), Bishop pen (35)
Yellow cards: Pack (27 delay of restart)
Referee: Leigh Doughty
Assistant Referees: Callum Gough and Lee Venamore
Fourth Official: Farai Hallam
Attendance: 18,713 including 2,504 away supporters.
Pictures supplied by Keith Gillard.