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Addicks dig deep for win

Stoppage-time proved goal-time yet again as Charlton climbed back into second in the Championship on Saturday.

Chinese midfielder Zheng Zhi cracked his side in front two minutes into first-half added time with his fifth goal of the season.

And late substitute Luke Varney raced in from the right to claim the clinching second four minutes into injury-time at the end of the second period to complete the win.

But in between times the visitors had to withstand some heavy North End pressure, and keeper Nicky Weaver made two superb saves to add a fourth straight clean sheet to a fourth successive win.

The big keeper produced a magnificent close-range stop to deny Chris Sedgwick a certain goal 20 minutes from time, and that came either side of equally fine flying saves to foil Paul Gallagher and substitute Simon Whaley.

Weaver was also helped by some heroic defending in front of him amid a wave of second-half pressure before Varney broke away to seal the win.

Preston gave everything for their new boss Alan Irvine, but so did Charlton for their boss to make sure the curse of the new manager would not strike them down.

It was a first win at Deepdale for 53 years with Charlton claiming three points in the North West for the first time in 20 attempts to cut the gap at the top to leaders Watford, who suffered a surprise defeat against Barnsley earlier in the day.

The Addicks were unchanged for the early evening kick-off.

With three successive wins and clean sheets Alan Pardew continued with the 4-5-1 formation and the only change to his matchday squad was the return of Matt Holland to the bench.

The midfielder had safely came through two reserve matches after calf injury and replaced Izale McLeod in reserve.

Pardew was the first opposition manager to lock horns with new Deepdale chief Irvine, the former Everton assistant manager taking charge for the first time for his new club against the Addicks.

The pair knew each other well having played together at Crystal Palace but for the respective teams there had not been a meeting for 28 years.

The Addicks formation again meant Chris Iwelumo ploughed a lone furrow up front with support from the likes of Lloyd Sam, Jerome Thomas, Andy Reid and Zheng behind him.

Jose Semedo protected a backline that included the ever-encouraging Grant Basey and Sodje, always a threat at set-pieces.

For the hosts, hovering just above the relegation zone on goal difference, former Addicks youngster Kevin Nicholls wore the captain's armband.

On a chilly and wet evening in Lancashire it was Charlton who carved out the first goal threat.

A purposeful burst from Thomas down the left saw him find Zheng and the ball was turned behind for a corner.

Reid delivered the ball in from the left and Sodje connected powerfully only for a lunging Zheng to stab the ball just wide from close the right upright.

The hosts responded within a minute when a cross from the left was headed back by Sedgwick only for Andy Carroll to fail to make a solid connection from around eight yards and the ball eventually made its way back to Nicky Weaver.

Thomas curled an effort that was comfortably held by Andy Lonergan and Basey, assuming free-kick duties from Reid, put an effort into the wall.

Sodje bravely dived amongst the boots to head clear as a hoard of white balloons kept appearing behind Weaver's goal and at the other end Sam stepped-over a couple of times before firing well wide on 17 minutes.

Zheng's robust challenge on Sean St Ledger earned him a booking three minutes later but the Chinese midfielder was only denied the opening goal by a wonderful save from Lonergan midway through the half.

Thomas fed the ball back to Basey and the left-back's cross was right on the money with Zheng's header destined for the bottom corner before Lonergan plunged to his left to tip the ball round the post.

Zheng skipped along the edge of the box and saw an effort loop over off a defender on 27 minutes and Fortune got back to make a fine sliding challenge on Sedgwick as he shaped to pull the trigger.

Preston had certainly forced a host of corners in the opening half hour and the hosts went their closest to date on 31 minutes when Nicholls swung in a flag-kick from the left and Weaver couldn't connect amongst a cluster of players leaving Sodje to clear off the line at the far post.

The hosts were certainly getting the ball forward and into the mixer as quick as possible but there was yells of derision from the home faithful as Ormerod strode forward and saw his pass right cut out by Sodje with Gallagher in yards of space over his opposite shoulder.

Iwelumo was patched up on the touchlines after an aerial collision and the striker had just returned to the action when, after some patient passing, Danny Mills slipped the ball through to Sam whose cross shot was cut out by a defender.

The visitors were ending the half strongly and they grabbed the lead in injury time through Zheng.

Thomas manoeuvred the ball in from the left and Iwelumo managed to touch it back to the midfielder who swivelled to crack home a fierce low drive into the bottom corner.

It was the perfect tonic at the end of the half and after a short wait for the late-arriving Fortune the action resumed with no changes.

Zheng saw an early effort loop off Callum Davidson and into the arms of Lonergan while Weaver reacted well to palm away a stinging drive from Gallagher five minutes in and then collect the half-hit rebound.

Lonergan then lost a deep cross from Sam and the hosts eventually cleared the danger and at the other end Sedgwick spooned a 55th minute chance over the bar after Nicholls was held up in the box.

Basey got across well to thwart Ormerod after a slip from Sodje and Sodje rose to cut out a dangerous Nicholls centre as the hosts looked for a way back into the game.

The hosts sent on Simon Whaley for Gallagher and Basey flung himself in the way of a Sedgwick drive.

They were both fine interventions but not as heroic as Weaver's brilliant save to keep out a Sedgwick effort from close range.

The home midfielder must have thought he'd scored when he connected with a tempting Whaley centre but the keeper produced a superb tip over from point blank range.

Irvine sent on Patrick Agyemang for Ormerod moments later and the striker's first contribution was a spectacular overhead kick that flew wide.

Holland replaced Semedo after 73 minutes with the hosts starting to pile on the pressure.

And Fortune and Sodje got in some crucial interventions to maintain the slender advantage.

Holland, effectve in the rearguard action in the closing stages, headed away a corner amid a packed goalmouth before Nicholls slashed a drive over the bar nine minutes from time.

Darren Ambrose replaced Sam moments later and Reid made way for Varney and tossed Holland the skipper's armband.

Sodje got the ball stuck under his feet after a cross from substitute Darren Carter on 86 minutes but Weaver mopped up to spare the defender an own goal.

The Addicks stopper then flung himself to his left to superbly tip away a drive from Whaley two minutes into injury time with the visitors clinging on.

But attack proved the best part of defence for the Addicks as they sealed the win in the last minute of injury time.

Iwelumo picked up a second assist flicking on a Mills throw and allowing Varney to speed away from Davidson and in from the left before shooting under Lonergan.

There was little time for the action to resume as the visitors racked up another win and finally ended their North West hoodoo.

Charlton: Weaver; Mills, Basey, Fortune, Sodje; Sam (Ambrose 82), Semedo (Holland 73), Zheng, Reid (Varney 85), J Thomas; Iwelumo.

Subs (not used): Randolph, Bougherra.

Goals: Zheng 45, Varney 90

Booked: Zheng 20 (foul on St Ledger)

Preston: Lonergan; Halls, Davidson, Mawene, St Ledger; Sedgwick, McKenna, Nicholls (Carter 84), Gallagher (Whaley 64); Carroll, Ormerod (Agyemang 71).

Subs (not used): Neal, Chilvers.

Booked: McKenna 87 (unsporting behaviour)

Referee: K Friend

Attendance: 12,532

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