Pratley hit ‘priceless’

DARREN PRATLEY gave Charlton’s hopes of beating the drop another huge boost.

The 35-year-old midfielder (above) ensured it is six points out of six since the restart for Lee Bowyer’s Addicks with a priceless first-half winner.

Veteran Pratley doesn’t score often these days and this was a second of the season, but he has notched against QPR for Bolton and Swansea before.

And his 12th-minute header from Josh Cullen’s delivery squirmed in past Liam Kelly who could not prevent the ball from going in via a post.

But defeat for Rangers could spell the end of their faint and fading hopes of sixth and the final play-off spot.

Bowyer said: “I was not happy with the thought over the summer we could have gone down on points per game, there was always a lot of football left in the season.

“We are by no means out of it yet and things can change quickly – we have just had a good start since coming back and we deserved to win this.”

Charlton had already had one corner when they took the lead from a suckerpunch, with Cullen swinging over the set-piece from the right and Pratley towered above defenders to head in.

Rangers goalkeeper Kelly got a hand to it, but could not keep the ball out.

After the break the visitors looked more energised. Ryan Manning got forward from left-back to fire wide with his right foot, but failed to find the net.

Rangers’ boss Mark Warburton said: “I am very disappointed. It was a better performance than against Barnsley, but you can’t lose games from a set-piece like that.”

CHARLTON

QPR