Charlton fall to Swans defeat

Charlton Athletic 1

Swansea City 2

Charlton Athletic missed their chance to go into the top two in the Wednesday Championship fixture against Swansea City who beat them 2-1 to top the table themselves.

It was a dream start for Charlton and it took the Addicks just two minutes to open the scoring. Adam Matthews ran down the right wing and passed into the box where Jonathan Leko was able to rifle his effort neatly into top right corner against a shell-shocked Swansea side.

Swansea City found their way back into the game oi the 17th minute through Yan Dhanda. The former Liverpool youngster netted his first goal of the season from the centre of the box, his deflected effort just beating Dillon Phillips.

Swansea City took the lead through Andre Ayew in the 64th minute after a Swansea corner. Matt Grimes pinpointed a pass to Ayew who was able to thump home at close range.

The first half was an evenly contested affair. There was an extended period of pressure from Charlton Athletic after Swansea levelled the game and possession started to favour the Addicks who ensured the Swans had difficulties getting out of their own half.

The two goals aside, neither team tested the opposing goalkeeper and both Phillips and Freddie Woodman had a quiet first half in goal.

The last five minutes of the half were a tad shakier for the south-east London side as Swansea once again began to grow into the game. A few misplaced passes from goal scorer Leko allowed the Swans to halt any Charlton build up play.

Swansea started the second half the better side and Jay Fulton forced a fine reflex save out of, Phillips. Ayew pounced on the loose ball, putting it in the net but it was ruled offside and the Ghanaian international was denied a goal.

Moments after Ayew did get his goal, Chuks Aneke, who has just replaced Leko as part of a double Charlton change, went down in the box alongside Joe Rodon but penalty appeals were waved away by referee Peter Bankes.

The home side controlled the game after the goal but they struggled with registering a shot on target and their dominance in possession was wasted. Tensions continued to rise and a coming together between captain Pearce and Borja Baston saw both men yellow carded.

Charlton threw everything at Swansea as they looked to salvage a point deep into stoppage time but the Swans held on and replaced Leeds at the top of the table.

There was an attendance of 15,741 and 1,222 travelling Swansea fans for this Wednesday night fixture at The Valley.

Charlton made four changes from their win against Leeds on the weekend. Adam Matthews, Jason Pearce, Sam Field and Erhum Oztumer all came into the side to face Swansea.

Charlton Athletic were still without their top goal scorer for the season Lyle Taylor but Leko’s impressive strike and Bonne’s goal against Leeds at the weekend will give them renewed hope that they can continue to challenge in the top half this season.

Charlton will take on Fulham away from home on Saturday in another difficult fixture that could see the latter knock Swansea off the top of the table if other results go in their favour.

Charlton Athletic: D. Phillips, A. Matthews, B. Purrington (OFF), T. Lockyer, J. Pearce, C. Gallagher, J. Leko (OFF), M. Bonne, J. Cullen, S. Field, E. Oztumer (OFF)

Subs: B. Amos, D. Oshilaja, J. Williams (ON), J. Forster-Caskey (ON), C. Aneke (ON), D. Pratley, N. Sarr

Swansea City: F. Woodman, J. Rodon, M. Van Der Hoorn, J. Fulton, M. Grimes, B. Baston, B. Celina (OFF), Y. Dhanda (OFF), A. Ayew, C. Roberts, K. Naughton

Subs: E. Mulder, D. John, T. Carroll (ON), W. Routledge, S. Surridge, B. Wilmot (ON), J. Garrick

Referee: Peter Bankes