THE Brewers fell to their first away league defeat of 2019 as play-off chasing Charlton Athletic edged a tight encounter at The Valley.

in an open and end to end game both sides traded early penalties, Lyle Taylor firing home from the spot after six minutes and Lucas Akins scoring his 39th EFL goal for the club - according to stats sites Soccerbase, Transfermarkt and Opta - from another penalty to equal Billy Kee's record for the club.

Ben Reeves scored what proved to be the winner on 33 minutes heading home Taylor's cross but despite Albion having penlty of pressure in the second half they could not quite find that opening that would have given them a deserved equaliser, ultimately leaving South London empty handed.

After Friday nights win away at Coventry City it was an easy decision for boss Nigel Clough to select an unchanged side and bench for the equally tricky looking trip to The Valley.

Albion were in on goal insided the opening seconds, Marcus Harness racing onto a loose ball ahead of Naby Sarr and bursting into the box only to be denied by a last ditch challenge from Patrick Bauer as the winger decided whether to cross or shoot.

The Addicks quickly flew up the other end of the pitch and after Lyle Taylor had screwed a shot wide a better chance fell to Tarique Fosu, the midfielder hitting a rising shot against the underside of the crossbar. The quick start from Lee Bowyer's promotion chasers was rewarded when Taylor was adjudged to have been brought down by John Brayford inside the box and the striker picked himself up to nonchalantly fire low into the opposite corner to Brad Collins dive.

The game was very open as both sides looked to play an attacking game and Albion were back on level terms with a penalty of their own on 19 minutes. David Templeton was encouraged by space opening up for him to drive towards the edge of the box and when his centre was seemingly handled by Bauer referee Thomas Bramall had no hesitation in pointing to the spot for the second time. AKINS confidently stepping up to fire beyond Dillon Phillips.

Charlton certainly looked lively whe they strung passes together and Templeton was required to show some defensive discipline on 28 minutes managing to get a decisive deflection onto Chris Solly's shot to make sure it went out for a corner.

The home side were back in front on 33 minutes though with a well worked goal, Taylor drifting out wide to the right and delivering an inch perfect cross for REEVES to head home at the back post.

Albion finished the half on top but couldnt quite create a clear opening, the nearest coming when John Cullen got in a good challenge to prevent Marcus Harness getting a shot away as the first half ticked over into added time.

Half time: Charlton Athletic 2-1 Burton Albion

The home side were quick out of the blocks at the start of the second haslf and only a piece of resolute defending from Brayford, standing his ground, prevented Fosu from getting a final touch to another dangerous cross from Taylor inside the six yard box.

Albion began to find their feet after the break and Akins twice had opportunities to get shots away to try and test Phillips but his first effort was blocked and the other wide of the target.

At the other end it was vital that the back door was kept shut as Charlton looked for the third goal that would almost certainly put the game to bed and with both Josh Parker and Taylor waiting inside the six yard box for a tap in skipper Jake Buxton had to extend himself to divert a low cross out at the expense of a corner.

Liam Boyce was thrown on just before the hour mark in place of Templeton and the striker very nearly picked out Fraser with an astute pass inside the box but the Scot could not quite gather it into his path to get a shot away.

And Boyce was quickest to react to a Harness cross on 74 minutes, a near post header flashing just wide of the near post.

Harness, perhaps carryring a knock, made way for Will Miller on 77 minutes, the former Spurs man looking to use his pace to cause some late problems for the Charlton defence.

A mistake from left back Ben Purrington suddenly allowed Albion to raid down the right on 78 minutes and Phillips got something on the ball as Boyce lashed a low shot across his goal after Akins had seized possession.

It was Albion pressing in the closing stages and Miller did well to get up and meet a looping cross from Allen but under pressure from his marker he could not quite steer his header on target.

Josh Clarke came on for the closing minutes as John Brayford moved to centre back when Jake Buxton went off but despite having their hosts pinned back in the closing stages the Addicks did enough to snuff out Albion's late pressure and send the Brewers back home for the first time this year with nothing to show for their efforts.