Rovers’ hopes of lifting the League One title took a blow after they suffered just a sixth defeat of the season at Charlton Athletic.

Jason Pearce’s fortuitous goal after 20 minutes proved the difference as a much-changed Rovers side were beaten 1-0 at The Valley.

Rovers pushed for an equaliser after the break, Dominic Samuel twice going close, including a header which hit the underside of the bar.

But the result, coupled with Wigan’s draw against AFC Wimbledon, leaves Rovers trailing the Latics, who have a superior goal difference,  by two points going in to the final game.

Tony Mowbray made six changes, with only Danny Graham of those left out taking their place on the bench.

That meant a league debut for Jayson Leutwiler in goal, as well as recalls for Paul Caddis, Paul Downing, Amari’i Bell, Jack Payne and Dominic Samuel with David Raya, Derrick Williams, Elliott Bennett, Bradley Dack, Craig Conway and Graham those to be left out.

There was a party atmosphere among the sell-out 3,000 travelling Rovers fans as the game got underway, with the new-look side lined-up in a 3-4-1-2 formation.

The game held plenty of importance for the hosts in their hunt of a top six finish, but space was at a premium in the opening 15 minutes with both sides playing particularly narrow.

An ambitious Charlie Mulgrew free-kick from all of 35 yards was never troubling Ben Amos though Rovers began to get in to their passing stride.

But the hosts were to take a fortuitous lead in the 20th minute. Leutwiler punched away the initial free-kick which fell to Ahmed Kashi. His well-struck effort flicked off the backside of Jason Pearce and in to the corner.

Charlton were pressing Rovers well and knocking them out of their rhythm as the front three of Adam Armstrong, Dominic Samuel and Jack Payne were well shacked.

The goal apart though there was little goal-mouth action at either end, with goalscorer Pearce and defensive partner Patrick Baeur defending their six yard box well, while the hosts’ main threat was coming from set plays.

It was a sixth consecutive first-half in which Rovers hadn’t scored. They were quick out of the blocks in the second and almost levelled through Richie Smallwood. His driving run took him in to the box, with Amos getting a touch to his left foot shot allowing Mark Marshall to get back to clear.

Mulgrew headed wide from the subsequent left-wing corner as Rovers tried to find a foothold in the game.

It was a marked improvement at the start of the second half from Rovers, with Payne forcing a fine save out of Amos after shooting first-time from Armstrong’s pull-back.

A spell of pressure camped around the Charlton area saw Samuel and Smallwood both see efforts blocked as the travelling fans tried to suck the ball in to the net.

Danny Graham and Lewis Travis were sent on as Rovers went in search of an equaliser in the final half hour, moments after Leutwiler had easily saved a Josh Magennis corner from a left-wing corner.

That saw a switch to a back four and three man attack, but Charlton were next to attack, Kashi firing over from the edge of the box after Mulgrew could only half clear an in-swinging free-kick.

Rovers were doing the pressing though as the game ticked in to the final 20 minutes. Pearce was well placed to block a thumping drive from Graham’s well-hit shot as he ran collected an Armstrong pull-back,.

And they couldn’t have gone closer as Samuel met a Mulgrew corner, only to see his header come back off the bar and bounced down on the line before Ben Reeves hacked clear.

Samuel, without a goal since November, was to go close again with eight minute to play. Good play from Travis in midfield saw him play in the forward, his shot across Amos denied by a strong one-handed save.

A strong right-handed save from Leutwiler from Forster-Caskey was needed to keep the score at 1-0 as Charlton looked to find a second goal to make the game safe.

There were seven added minutes as the home crowd began to feel the nerves, but they had enough to see those out and become only the sixth Leaguue One side to beat Rovers this season.

Charlton: Amos, Page (Da Sailva, 50), Pearce, Bauer, Konsa, Marshall, Kashni, Forster-Caskey, Reeves (Aribo, 86), Magennis, Ajose (Mavididi, 79)

Subs: Phillips, Jackson, Lennon, Zyro

Rovers: Leutwiler, Downing, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Caddis (Travis, 63), Smallwood, Evans (Whittingham, 76), Bell, Payne (Graham, 63), Armstrong, Samuel

Subs: Fisher, Tomlinson, Nuttall, Antonsson