Lee Bowyer’s Charlton took a huge step towards safety with a 1-0 win over QPR at The Valley.

Darren Pratley’s first half header was enough to give the Addicks a crucial three points in a nervy London derby.

The Addicks had the better of the chances in a tight game but in an attack missing the talismanic Lyle Taylor, they were guilty of lacking a ruthlessness that should’ve killed the tie.

The performance will matter little to Bowyer who’s side now sit four points above the bottom three.

Nervy Start

After a tentative opening ten minutes, Charlton struck.

Rising highest to steer Josh Cullen’s corner in off the post, Pratley’s header settled some of the nerves in and around SE7.

With their tails up Charlton were playing with the swagger of a side in a far loftier position than they currently sit.

Some neat play between Macauley Bonne and Tomer Hemed released the Israeli who slipped just before striking.

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The Addicks duo were leading the line superbly and it was through some great hold up play from Hemed that allowed the increasingly impressive Albie Morgan to release Bonne through on goal.

Bonne this time finding Hoops keeper Liam Kelly equal to his left foot drive at the near post.  

Phillips to the resue

QPR started the second 45 brightly and would’ve been level had it not been for Dillon Phillipp’s heroics.

The Addicks stopper bravely parrying Jordan Hugill’s close range effort after Ilias Chair was given too much time to pick out the hefty forward in the Charlton box.

It should’ve served as a warning but the Addicks continued to push their luck as Phillips was increasingly more involved.

With a brief foray into the Hoops half however, Bonne thought he’d doubled the Addicks lead but his header was chalked off by the linesman’s flag.

Sensing Hemed had run himself into the ground, Bowyer shuffled his pack on the hour, introducing Chuks Aneke whose impact was felt almost immediately.

Offering pace, power as well as a deftness of touch, the forward gave Charlton a foothold in the second half that they’d been lacking.

Aneke, Jason Pearce and Pratley all saw to all but seal the tie come and go, while Deji Oshilaja’s mistake high up the pitch went unpunished by the Hoops.

Charlton kept the Hoops at bay in a nervy final few minutes for what is a huge win in the quest for survival.

Charlton: Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Peare, Oshilaja (purrington 77’), McGeady (Doughty 59’), Pratley, Cullen, Morgan (Field 84’), Bonne (Green 84’), Hemed (Aneke 59’) SUBS: Amos, Purrington, Aneke, Davison, Williams, Doughty, Sarr, Field, Green

QPR: Kelly, Manning, Barbet, Masterson, Rangel (Kane 70’), Ball, Campbell, Eze, Chair (Shodipo 59’), Osayi-Samuel (Oteh 70’), Hugill SUBS: Lumley, Kane, Amos, Shodipo, Oteh, Kakay, Bettache, Gubbins, Clarke