Portsmouth 1 Charlton 2

The Blues were undone by lapses for two disputed first-half goals as their eight-game perfect record came to a close.

A rousing second-half fightback delivered an 88th-minute effort from sub Andre Green, but not the leveller Kenny Jackett's side ploughed forward for.

There was a sense of injustice about the manner of defeat among the home crowd, who were left infuriated over a number of decisions from ref John Brooks - who harshly sent off Ben Thompson in stoppage time.

And they saluted a second-half onslaught from their team which somehow failed to deliver a return.

The Blues were left to reflect on a sloppy first 45 minutes, however, which gave them a mountain to club on a night of high-octane football.

The visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute when Lee Brown appealed for offside on the left but the ref played on, allowing Lyle Taylor to deliver a low cross and Karlan Grant to apply the close-range finish.

There was Pompey frustration five minutes later as decent play from Jamal Lowe allowed Gareth Evans to cross, but Ben Thompson's header took the ball away from the on-rushing Ronan Curtis.

The home side were finishing the half the stronger side, but were undone by another lapse two minutes before the break, as Curtis stopped when claiming the ball was out of play -  allowing George Lapslie to cross and sub Ajose to poke the ball home.

Pompey's half was summed up when Curtis and Lowe got in each others' way from Evans' cross in stoppage time.

Then a half to forget for Curtis was topped when he failed to take a golden chance a couple of yards out from Lowe's cross.

Pompey started the second half on the front foot with a sense of injustice among the home crowd palpable.

But it was Ajose who had a clear sight of goal after 52 minutes when Clarke failed to clear, but fired wide.

Then Lowe and Ben Thompson twice had shots fly off target as Pompey piled forward.

The ball somehow then stayed out of the net from a Blues' corner as Clarke's header was saved and then Lapslie kept out Curtis' acrobatic follow up, with the home fans claiming handball.

Pompey's charge continued from there but they just couldn't find a way to force the ball home, with Curtis' first-time effort saved by Steer in the 70th minute.

The Blues' incessant pressure finally reaped a goal two minutes from time as sub Green turned in Evans' cross.

Then Lapslie again cleared off the line as Clarke powered a header at goal from a corner.

Six minutes of stoppage time was indicated as the charge continued.

But there was to be no way through for Pompey, who then saw Ben Thompson harshly given a straight red after a challenge on Taylor.