Southend United 1-2 Charlton Athletic: Addicks edge former boss out in dismissal-strewn ill-tempered affair

Charlton ran out late winners over former boss Chris Powell’s Southend in a game soured by a mass-brawl in injury time.

Kysrtian Bielik headed an 87^thminute corner home to earn all three points for the visitors, before Tariqe Fosu, Mark Oxley and Michael Kightly were all shown the red card after an almighty scuffle in injury time.

Lyle Taylor had given the Addicks a second-half lead, only for Theo Robinson to level things up moments later.

It was an even contest in the first-period, with the visitors perhaps edging the real clear-cut chances.

The Shrimpers’ Stephen McLaughlin’s early free-kick rebounded off the Addicks wall as the hosts started brightly.

Charlton repeatedly found space down the Southend right and it was from there that Nicky Ajose’s low ball in was side-footed at goal by Lyle Taylor from eighteen yards out – former Addick Michael Turner there to block it.

Lewis Page had a soft penalty shout waved away after going down easily in the area – referee Brett Huxtable not convinced by the full-back’s dramatic fall, before Powell saw his side waste their best chance of the half midway through it. Jason Demetriou dragged wide from the edge of the area after good work by Tom Hopper.

Home stopper Oxley was then called into action as Karlan Grant’s centre was headed at goal by Patrick Bauer – the keeper equal to it from close range.

Ajose, making his first league start of the campaign, really should have given his side the lead just before the break. Page’s deep cross found its way to the former Swindon man at the far-post, but he volleyed wide after controlling under no pressure.

A heroic block from Chris Solly prevented the hosts from breaking the deadlock early in the second-half, the Addicks full-back charging down Hopper’s effort.

Bowyer was able to call upon dangerman Fosu for first time this season after injury as he came off the bench ten minutes after the interval – and minutes later his side took the lead in farcical circumstances.

Turner had possession for the blues near his own corner flag but went to ground under little pressure from Grant. The referee waved play on, and the Charlton man simply picked up the ball and squared for Taylor to tap home from a yard out.

The lead only lasted two minutes. Coker’s low shot squirmed through Phillips, with Robinson on hand at to touch home from on the line.

Grant had the ball in the net again for Charlton with fifteen minutes left to play as the game continued at a frenetic pace, but the assistant on the nearside had his flag raised.

Bowyer’s men were in the ascendancy as we neared full-time as scored a winner with three minutes to play. Bielik rose highest to power Cullen’s corner home and send the 1,500 travelling supporters barmy.

But that wouldn’t be the end of the action, as a remarkable brawl ended with three red cards shown. Fosu had been hacked by the corner-flag. He was dismissed for his reaction, with Oxley and Kightly also sent for an early shower after an chaotic end to an entertaining game.