Bristol Rovers 1 Charlton 0
Charlton’s five-game unbeaten run came to an end with a 1-0 loss at Bristol Rovers.
The home side defended well to frustrate the Addicks before John Marquis struck the winner from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining, his third goal of the season against Charlton.
The Addicks made a push to get an equaliser but Daniel Kanu’s late shot was blocked to safety and Miles Leaburn’s header was cleared off the line by the impressive Lewis Gibson.
Dean Holden made just one change from the side that beat Shrewsbury Town 6-0 at The Valley last weekend, with Steven Sessegnon replacing the injured Sean Clare at right-back in the Addicks’ 4-3-3 formation.
Charlton had the first sight at goal in a very quiet first half with Leaburn’s flicked header, from a Jes Rak-Sakyi cross, going well wide of Rovers’ post.
The home side didn’t fare much better, although just before the half-time whistle Antony Evans forced a fantastic sprawling save from Ashley Maynard-Brewer with a powerful, driven shot from just outside the area that was heading for the top corner before the Australian stopper’s important fingertip steered it beyond the post.
The Addicks started the second half more brightly and six minutes after the break Tyreece Campbell got to the byline and crossed for Leaburn, who directed at goal but wasn’t able to get enough on the ball to trouble goalkeeper James Belshaw.
Bristol Rovers took the lead from the penalty spot with 20 minutes to go. Addicks skipper George Dobson was adjudged to have handled the ball in the Charlton box, with referee Simon Mather immediately pointing to the spot. Marquis, who famously saw a penalty saved against the Addicks at The Valley in 2019, sent Maynard-Brewer the wrong way.
Holden’s side dug in and went again, with Ryan Inniss heading over from Scott Fraser’s deep free-kick.
Substitutes Jack Payne and Kanu combined with the latter going through on goal and seeing his shot across goal well blocked by a Rovers defender.
In stoppage-time Leaburn’s header, from an Inniss cross, was cleared off the line by Gibson with what was to be Charlton’s last chance of the game.
Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Connolly, Gordon, Finley (c), Sinclair (Loft 60), Ward, Gibson, Evans (Collins 60), Bogarde, Hoole, Coburn (Marquis 66)
Subs (not used): Ward, Anderson, McCormick, Gibbons
Goal: Marquis 71 (pen)
Charlton: Maynard-Brewer; Sessegnon (Kanu 88), Inniss, Hector, Thomas; Morgan (Payne 77), Dobson (c), Fraser; Rak-Sakyi, Leaburn, Campbell (Bonne 77)
Subs (not used): Wollacott, Egbo, Mitchell, Henry
Referee: S Mather
Attendance: 9,613 (1,159 from Charlton)
