Portsmouth 2 Charlton 1: Neil Allen's verdict - From joy to heartbreak to ecstasy. A Fratton night to savour

The agony, the ecstasy, pure drama, pure Pompey. Fratton Park has claimed yet another iconic moment in its rich history.

It began with a set-piece, yet another set-piece, the bane of Pompey’s season, only this time it was even more painful, more agonising as Harvey Knibbs headed home a 96th-minute corner.

It cancelled out Conor Shaughnessy’s opener, the central defender writing the perfect comeback story just five minutes after being introduced off the bench.

The Irishman had been sidelined for 101 days by a hamstring injury, sustained in the second half against Sheffield Wednesday back in September and not even included in a Blues squad since.

Then, having been surprisingly named on the bench for the Addicks’ visit, he replaced Hayden Matthews in the centre of defence and then headed home Adrian Segecic’s 69th-minute right-wing corner to break the stalemate.

Undoubtedly echoes of the League One title-winning goal against Barnsley in April 2024, arriving from a corner on the same flank at the same end of the ground, albeit this time the header stooping rather than powered home.

It would have been a worthy winner, except it wasn’t, Knibbs made sure of that deep into stoppage time to level following a left-wing corner, and it was late, late heartbreak for the Fratton faithful.

But wait, there was still time for a further goal - and this time it was Pompey.

Minhyeok Yang, who has struggled to make any impression since a burst of three games in October, drove in an angled shot from the edge of the box for a winner. The clock read 98 minutes.

It had been 20-and-a-half years since Pompey last beat Charlton at Fratton Park, arriving in Alain Perrin’s first game in charge in April 2005.

And what a way to achieve it.

Mousinho made three changes to the side which drew 1-1 to QPR on Boxing Day, with Callum Lang, Colby Bishop and Mark Kosznovszky dropping out.

Lang wasn’t included in the match-day squad, while benched Bishop pulled out during the warm-up and was replaced by Luke Le Roux at the last minute.

Coming into the starting XI were Makenzie Kirk, Adrian Segecic and Marlon Pack, with the latter taking back the captaincy.

There was also a welcome return to the squad for Conor Shaughnessy, who was among the substitutes after being sidelined since September with a hamstring injury.

Before kick-off, there was a minute’s applause in memory of Pompey fan Alec Lumb and Charlton supporter Norman Barker, who both passed away in 2025 while at a match involving their beloved clubs.

Regardless of a low-key start to the game for Pompey, the Fratton faithful were immediately in fine voice, right behind their team, including a rendition of ‘John Mousinho’s Blue and White Army’.

Visiting striker Charlie Kelman had two chances in the opening 15 minutes, firing both tamely at Nicolas Schmid, who dealt with them comfortably.

The Blues’ sole attempt was a first-time right-footed shot from Terry Devlin delivered from outside the box, which crashed high into the Milton End.

There was a scare for the hosts on 20 minutes when Schmid’s pass out from the back was intercepted by Kelman to launch a Charlton attack, yet Nathan Jones’ men failed to capitalise and the move petered out.

Not long after, Kirk unleashed a wild shot well wide of the intended target, with Conor Chaplin screaming for the Irishman to square the ball.

Overall, though, it was a drab opening, only lit up by one mesmerising run from Harvey Blair on 30 minutes, which drew applause from a number of home fans, despite the winger eventually being dispossessed.

Regan Poole then cleared an attempt close to the goal-line after a right-wing corner from the Addicks caused problems, with the defender being caught as he did so, winning a free-kick.

With half-time approaching, Blair won a free-kick just outside the box after being pulled down by Reece Burke, but Pack’s dead-ball delivery struck the head of someone in the wall and bounced clear.

There were no changes at the break, although the Fratton faithful will have been hoping for an improvement in quality from their team after a dreadful opening 45 minutes.

Just three minutes into the game, Schmid was called upon to make a flying save from Burke’s close-range attempt following a Charlton corner.

Pompey really should have taken the lead on 49 minutes when Zak Swanson blazed over from 10-yards when presented with an open goal after Devlin’s shot was parried by Thomas Kaminski.

Hitting it hard and low with his favoured right foot would have broken the deadlock, yet the left-back went for power and crashed it into a stunned Fratton End.

Then Kirk attempted a curling right-footed shot from the left, which Charlton’s keeper saved comfortably, as the Blues encouragingly began to stir.

On 61 minutes, Blair raced to the byline down the left and whipped in a wicked ball across goal which was touched out for a Pompey corner.

Pompey made a triple change on 64 minutes, with Shaughnessy, Minhyeok Yang and Mark Kosznovszky replacing Hayden Matthews, Blair and Chaplin.

WIthin five minutes, Mousinho’s men had their lead - and it was that man Shaughnessy.

Segecic delivered a left-footed corner from the right and there was the central defender with a stooping header in front of the Fratton End to make it 1-0.

Charlton poured forward forcing a string of corners, but, with Shaughnessy at the heart of defence, there was far more resilience about the Blues when dealing with set-pieces.

Kosznovszky was forced off in the 85th minute, with the substitute being substituted, with Ibane Bowat replacing the injured Hungarian.

Moments later, the lively Tyreece Campbell curled a right-footed shot from the left just past Schmid’s far post as the game began tense.

With five minutes of time added-on, Franco Umeh was introduced off the bench for his debut, replacing an exhausted Kirk.

Then heartbreak, Knibbs heading home to level - but it was Pompey who had the final say. Finally against Charlton. Stunning.