Charlie Kelman celebratingImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Charlie Kelman joined Charlton from London rivals QPR in the summer

Charlton Athletic claimed a much-needed win over Oxford United at The Valley to end their six-match winless run in the Championship.

After a goalless first half in which Oxford goalkeeper Jamie Cumming made several key saves, the hosts finally broke the deadlock late on through two substitutes.

Tyreece Campbell teed up fellow substitute Charlie Kelman, who turned smartly on the edge of the box before firing low into the corner.

Despite there being nine minutes added on, the U's were unable to find a way past Charlton, with Nathan Jones' side managing to hold on for a timely three points.

Charlton striker Tanto Olaofe mentioned earlier in the week how his team's 1-1 draw at Birmingham City could be a "turning point" after a difficult spell in which the Addicks suffered five straight losses in the league, plummeting them to 17th in the table.

Oxford have also had a tricky few weeks and went into the game having won just once in their past nine matches.

Charlton had the better of the first half, with Olaofe and Sonny Carey both denied by Cumming with wideman Carey particularly causing Oxford problems down the left hand side.

Gary Rowett's Oxford did threaten after the break, with Michal Helik going close twice from set pieces, but Campbell's introduction turned the game.

The 22-year-old injected pace and purpose into Charlton's attack when he came on for Rob Apter on the 73rd minute, and his clever touch created the space for Kelman's decisive strike.

Oxford pushed forward late on and won a series of corners during the lengthy period of added time but a resolute Charlton defence held firm to get themselves back to winning ways for only the second time since late October.

'A deserved win' - Charlton reaction

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones told BBC Radio London:

"It's a big home win and it was deserved. Without being disrespectful, we should have been ahead earlier. We didn't demonstrate the clinical killer instinct we needed, but when we needed it, we did, and then we were able to see it again.

"It is a perfect return [for Charlie Kelman], but that's what we've been saying. We brought a load of quality in and now we want to see it because Charlie was playing through injury.

"It was a tendon injury that wasn't picked up, so he was not firing on all cylinders. That's healed now, and he's looked a different animal the last two or three weeks in training."

Media caption,

Nathan Jones: 'A massive result!'

'We lack a bit of quality' - Oxford reaction

Oxford United head coach Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Oxford:

"I mean, it's another game that, you could put pilot into 10 games a season where the game's there, there are some good moments, some good bits of control, but we lack a little bit of quality.

"Then one moment from the opposition - I couldn't say Charlton had cut us open or done anything to really open us up massively - but they score with their one moment of quality.

"We have moments ourselves, we just can't quite find that quality. I think that's the game, it's pretty simple really."

Player of the match

Number: 23 C. Kelman
Average rating 8.51
Number: 23 C. Kelman
Average Rating: 8.51
Number: 5 L. Jones
Average Rating: 8.05
Number: 2 K. Ramsay
Average Rating: 8.04
Number: 7 T. Campbell
Average Rating: 7.93
Number: 6 C. Coventry
Average Rating: 7.47
Number: 30 R. Apter
Average Rating: 7.42
Number: 1 T. Kaminski
Average Rating: 7.33
Number: 11 M. Leaburn
Average Rating: 7.31
Number: 14 S. Carey
Average Rating: 7.27
Number: 10 G. Docherty
Average Rating: 7.18
Number: 28 J. Bree
Average Rating: 7.12
Number: 18 K. Anderson
Average Rating: 7.02
Number: 3 M. Gillesphey
Average Rating: 6.90
Number: 36 K. Gough
Average Rating: 6.89
Number: 22 I. Olaofe
Average Rating: 6.51

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

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