Joahnn Gudmundsson dragged a lucklustre Charlton side from the jaws of a fifth game without a win after his second half display inspired a superb comeback against Leeds at the Valley on Saturday.

The Icelandic winger had a hand in goals by Tony Watt and Yoni Buyens that cancelled out Steve Morison’s opener.

With their season effectively over and nothing but pride at stake they put in a stagnant performance against a Leeds side lacking in confidence and surrounded in controversy.

Neil Redfearn’s team have now lost five games in a row and six of his players informed him of late injuries before travelling on Friday that the manager was unaware of.

Steve Morison’s fantastic volley in the 40th minute put the away side deservedly ahead though after they put Charlton under a lot of pressure. Luke Murphy fired in his cross from a corner and Morison had the space to volley in with his right foot, despite Henderson’s best efforts.

Tony Watt levelled the scores with an equally superb volley in the 74th minute to score his fifth of the season. Johann Gudmundsson whipped in a deep cross to the unmarked Watt, who hit the ball first time past the helpless Stuart Taylor.

Yoni Buyens converted his penalty in the 78th minute to give the Addicks the lead after Igor Vetokele was brought down in the box. Johann Gudmundsson’s impressive solo run gave him a shot on goal which was saved by Taylor but straight into the path of Vetokele who touched it ahead of the Leeds keeper and earned the spot-kick.

Leeds should have already been a goal up just five minutes before they scored had it not been for Henderson who pushed Billy Sharp’s penalty onto the post. Tal Ben Haim brought down Sam Byram and was lucky not to be sent off as he looked to be through on goal. Sharp stepped up by Henderson was equal to the task and kept the score at 0-0, albeit for only a few minutes.

That was the tone for most of the first half with the away side looking the most likely to score and had had they been more clinical they could have had the game wrapped up by half-time.

The best of these chances went to Luke Murphy in the 22nd minute but he managed to volley over the bar from eight yards. A deep cross from Charlie Taylor found Murphy unmarked at the back post but the midfielder blasted well over.

Charlton’s best chance of the first half fell to Vetokele who acted sharply to flick the ball past the Stuart Taylor in the 33rd minute but agonisingly hit the outside of the post and went wide. A corner from Chris Eagles was punched away by Taylor but only as far as Ben Haim on the edge of the area. Vetokele showed his natural strikers instinct and nearly put the Addicks a goal ahead against the run of play.

The second half sparked a bit more purpose into the Charlton play but failed to take advantage of any chances they created.

Igor Vetokele looked like a striker lacking confidence when he had an early chance in the second half to work Stuart Taylor. Tony Watt made a good driving run at the Leeds defence and slipped in Vetokele but the Angolan striker’s sliced his shot well wide.

Leeds did not create the same level of chances as the first half with their only real chance coming when the Charlton defence backed off the Leeds attack which enabled Rodolph Austin a free shot on goal from 25 yards in the 61st minute but was easily gathered by Henderson.

The win sees the Addicks move up into 10th place with just a trip to Birmingham and a visit from promotion chasing Bournemouth to go.

Charlton: Henderson, Gomez, Bulot, Eagles (Gudmundsson, 45mins), Diarra (Cousins, 11mins), Vetokele (Church, 90mins), Buyens, Solly, Fox, Ben Haim, Watt. Subs not used: Ethridge, Wiggins, Johnson, Lepoint. Attendance: 18,053