Charlton boss Alan Pardew admitted he was delighted after 10-man Addicks revived their play-off bid at Plymouth thanks to Leroy Lita.Goalkeeper Nicky Weaver was sent-off in only the third minute but despite that on-loan Reading striker Lita scored in the 65th and 76th minutes to clinch a 2-1 victory after Jermaine Easter had given the hosts the lead on the hour.

"It was a simple scenario we had to win. We took a few gambles and for the first time in a long time we got a break for the second goal - and I thought we were due that," said Pardew.

The victory meant Charlton boss could be sympathetic with Weaver for his sending-off after handling the ball outside his area to deny striker Easter as the ball bounced over them.

"I think he just had an instinctive reaction to swipe at it, I said to him he should have let them score at least we would have had 11 men on the pitch," added Pardew.

"It's unlike Nicky but the wind was tricky and it was the first ball through so I excuse him that."

Pardew was forced to rejig, introducing 21-year-old debutant goalkeeper Rob Elliot, who previously played on loan at Accrington and Notts County.

Easter scored from close range after Gary Teale nodded Gary Sawyer's left-wing cross into the striker's path and he gave Elliot no chance from six yards.

Five minutes later Lita levelled, looping in a header after Zheng Zhi headed on Ben Thatcher's left-wing free-kick from just inside the home half.

Lita then took his tally to three goals in two matches when he swooped to score after home keeper Luke McCormick spilled Chris Iwelumo's far-post header from Greg Halford's free-kick.

Pardew said: "To lose the goalkeeper was a real test of our character and the players deserve all the plaudits - they were outstanding.

"We felt relatively comfortable at half time although we were a man short, we felt we controlled the proceedings, we were slowing the game down but played some terrific stuff and I thought we had a threat with Lita all day today and he got both goals. He was excellent."

Rookie Elliot made a superb stoppage-time save to deny Argyle substitute Jamie Mackie as Plymouth boss Paul Sturrock gambled with four forwards.

Sturrock refused to completely write off ninth-placed Plymouth's hopes but admitted: "It was a must-win match for us and at the end of the day we didn't win.

"Now it's a question of seeing how high we can finish and see where we go from there. We have got four games to go and I will be looking for us to get four wins.

"I felt in the first half we allowed them to dictate the pace and were naïve. We responded better in the second half and created more chances and then Jermaine scored. But we knew Lita was a danger."

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