Hughes keeps Charlton's survival hopes alive

Charlton boss Alan Pardew. Bryan Hughes has given Charlton renewed hope of avoiding relegation as his last-minute goal sealed a 2-1 win against 10-man Aston Villa.

Bryan Hughes has given Charlton renewed hope of avoiding relegation as his last-minute goal sealed a 2-1 win against 10-man Aston Villa.

Alan Pardew's side had trailed to Gareth Barry's first half penalty Saturday but Darren Bent equalised after the interval and, after Barry was sent off for a professional foul, Hughes struck in stoppage time to close the gap to safety.

Pardew, who replaced Les Reed on Christmas Eve, is Charlton's third manager of a torrid season and the London club, unbeaten in Pardew's first two matches, will be starting to believe they can climb out of the bottom three.

Villa, in contrast, have gone nine matches without a win and the early promise shown at the start of the season is quickly becoming a fading memory.

Martin O'Neill's side didn't take long to get into their stride though and Barry's astute pass picked out Craig Gardner but the midfielder's shot was well off-target.

Pardew had been cruelly denied a win his first match in charge against Fulham in midweek, but he could have no complaints about the way his side responded to Villa's early dominance.

Darren Ambrose led the fightback in the 19th minute as he tormented Aaron Hughes with a dynamic run that ended with a blistering long-range shot which crashed off the crossbar.

Ambrose had scored his first goal of the season in that draw against Fulham and the confidence gained from that was apparent in the first half here.

He tested Villa keeper Gabor Kiraly with a low drive after good work from Danish winger Denis Rommedahl.

Gavin McCann created a great chance for Gabriel Agbonlahor in the 38th minute with a long raking pass. But the Villa youngster could only direct his header harmlessly into the ground with just Scott Carson to beat.

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill watches his team during a game in September 2006. Bryan Hughes has given Charlton renewed hope of avoiding relegation as his last-minute goal sealed a 2-1 win against 10-man Villa.

The goal that Villa's more incisive attacking play warranted finally arrived in the 40th minute when referee Rob Styles ruled that Hermann Hreidarsson's lunge on Barry was worthy of a penalty.

Barry stepped up to slam the spot-kick past Carson for his sixth successive penalty this season.

Conceding a goal just before half-time can be a devastating blow but Charlton emerged after the break with renewed determination not to be beaten.

They were rewarded in the 57th minute when Bent ran onto Talal El Karkouri's pass and directed a diving header past Kiraly for his 10th goal of the season.

The match swung in Charlton's favour when Barry was shown a striaght red card for tripping Rommedahl on the edge of the area in the 60th minute.

Marcus Bent was close to putting Charlton ahead soon after when he hit a post from close range and Ambrose had his follow up cleared off the line by Aaron Hughes.

But Charlton snatched their fourth league win this season, and their first in six matches, when Bryan Hughes nodded home from close range in the 90th minute after Hreidarsson had headed back across goal.