Crewe 2-1 Charlton: Addicks suffer third-straight League One defeat

First-half goals from Crewe's Oliver Finney and Mikael Mandron condemned Charlton to their third consecutive Sky Bet League One defeat as the Railwaymen secured a 2-1 win.

Substitute Mason Burstow offered Johnnie Jackson's side hope with 10 minutes left.

And Crewe breathed a sigh of relief when referee Rob Lewis ruled out Elliot Lee's deflected stoppage-time effort as they recorded their third win in five games to move within four points of safety.

Lee wasted a simple first-half chance for the Addicks after Jonathan Leko drove the ball across the six-yard box, but the attacker's touch let him down in front of goal.

Charlton goalkeeper Stephen Henderson did well to push away a well-hit half volley from Scott Robertson at his near post.

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But he was unable to hold Mandron's stinging shot and Finney was on hand to bury the rebound for Crewe's 38th-minute lead.

Henderson came off his line to thwart Chris Long as Crewe appealed in vain for a penalty.

But they made it count from the resulting corner taken by Tom Lowery with Mandron jumping the highest to glance a header on into the far corner for the hosts' second.

Dave Richards preserved Crewe's two-goal lead after the restart by pushing out Ben Purrington's header at the far post.

And the relegation-threatened Alex came close to a third when Long drove an effort against the outside of the post.

But Charlton cut the deficit when Burstow followed up with a header after Conor Washington's shot was parried by Richards in the 80th-minute.

Then late drama ensued as Lee's finish was chalked off for offside after a lengthy discussion between the officials.

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