Charlton Athletic 3-2 Carlisle United: Lavelle error costly

Defender Lavelle's underhit backpass allowed May to score his second goal at The Valley - and clinch the points for the hosts.

It meant a tenth defeat in 11 games for Paul Simpson's relegation-bound Blues, who had led in south London before coming from behind.

Luke Armstrong hooked United in front but May levelled before the break. Daniel Kanu then shot the Addicks in front before a Taylor Charters penalty brought the Cumbrians level.

Taylor Charters and Luke Armstrong both scored for United - but it was to no avail (Image: Richard Parkes)

Lavelle's slip, though, proved costly as United and their 872 travelling fans left empty-handed - bottom side United remaining 16 points adrift of safety with ten games remaining.

Simpson handed midfielder Dylan McGeouch his first start since December in place of the sidelined Josh Vela.

That was the only change to the Blues' line-up, while fit-again Josh Emmanuel returned to the squad among the subs.

Hosts Charlton were unchanged, with ex-Carlisle defender Macaulay Gillesphey in their XI, while new signing Connor Wickham was on the bench.

United made a competitive start, seeing plenty of the ball in the opening stages and pressing the home side well.

Jack Armer, in the fourth minute, combined with Armstrong in the box only for Conor Coventry to intercept the lay-off for Jack Diamond.

Thierry Small was involved in Charlton's early attempts, cutting in from the left and drawing a save from Harry Lewis.

Then on 15 minutes United's keeper excelled, a superb save keeping out George Dobson's goalbound header as May crossed into the box.

Four minutes later, Carlisle were ahead.

First, Gillesphey was caught on the ball by Diamond, who combined with Jack Ellis to win a corner. Taylor Charters' low delivery was kept alive by Harrison Neal and when Charters crossed again, Lavelle helped it on and Armstrong managed to hook a shot around a defender and high past keeper Harry Isted.

It was the fifth consecutive away game in which United had scored first.

Daniel Kanu scores Charlton's second (Image: Richard Parkes)

In response, a Terell Thomas header lacked power as Lewis smothered the chance.

Small, on the home left, remained a regular outlet and Ellis had to show good determination to stay with the wide man.

But Charlton's increased pressure eventually told as, from the right, Daniel Kanu miscued a shot into the path of the arriving May, who was ahead of Lavelle as he tucked the shot low to Lewis's right to level the scores.

The home side were now firmly on top and Lewis had to backpedal to turn a floated Dobson delivery over the United bar.

The Blues, though, came close to snatching the lead again on the break in first-half added time when Taylor Charters and Diamond broke from a Charlton corner, the latter shooting across goal and narrowly wide.

United's parity, though, lasted only nine minutes of the second half as the hosts took control.

Kanu was the man to put them in front as he latched onto a clever May pass and got away from Lavelle's attentions to dig a shot high past Lewis.

But nine minutes later and Carlisle fought back - Armstrong held in the box by Gillesphey, ref Tom Nield pointing to the spot and Charters firing confidently into the top left corner past Isted.

United could then have gone behind again soon after but Kanu, free in the box, nodded Watson's header against the left-hand post.

Lewis made a good save from a Conor Coventry shot before Simpson sent on Emmanuel and Sean Maguire in a double change, Charlton introducing Wickham for his debut.

The Blues then went behind in excruciating fashion as Lavelle, facing his own goal, underhit a pass back to Lewis - May intercepted, took it wide of the keeper to the left and then steered it home from a narrow angle at close range.

United brought on Jordan Gibson late on and Maguire had a shot blocked, but they otherwise struggled to create clear chances in their comeback attempt, Wickham seeing a shot saved by Lewis on the break as the hosts held on for victory - and Carlisle's struggles went on.

Charlton: Isted, Thomas, Gillesphey, Edmonds-Green, Dobson, Watson, Small, Coventry, Anderson (Wickham 73), Kanu (Bakinson 86), May (Ladapo 86). Not used: Maynard-Brewer, Hector, Campbell, Asiimwe.

Goals: May 38, 75; Kanu 54.

Booked: Anderson, Edmonds-Green.

United: Lewis, Lavelle, Huntington, Mellish, Armer, Ellis (Emmanuel 73), McGeouch (Gibson 86), Neal, Charters, Diamond (Maguire 73), Armstrong. Not used: Breeze, McCalmont, Butterworth, Robinson.

Goals: Armstrong 20, Charters 63pen.

Booked: McGeouch.

Ref: Tom Nield.

Crowd: 13,978 (872 United fans).