If Stuart Pearce did not already understand the immense frustrations of life in the Manchester City hot-seat, he must surely do now.

Pearce was seemingly heading towards his first victory as acting boss as City led Charlton 2-1 at The Valley with just seconds of injury-time left.

The visitors had created almost all of the chances and had boasted the game's one attacking player of any real class in a rejuvenated Robbie Fowler.

Indeed, Fowler had put City 2-1 ahead just before half-time after Shaun Bartlett had levelled Hermann Hreidarsson's early own goal.

However, even though City had a plethora of chances to put the game beyond reach, that would have been too simple.

Rather than playing the percentage game of keeping hold of possession, they squandered the ball and allowed Charlton to counter-attack at pace.

Luke Young delivered a dangerous cross, which was flicked on by substitute Francis Jeffers, and defender Chris Perry was left unmarked to beat David James at his near post.

It was a game that summed up just why City are so intoxicating to watch and so utterly frustrating to coach.

Kiely had first been required to produce an instinctive save from Kiki Musampa after just three minutes only for City to strike from the ensuing corner.

Dunne rose highest in a packed penalty area and his header was unwittingly deflected goalwards by Hreidarsson, while Danny Murphy failed in an attempted clearance off the goal-line.

Charlton were helped by some hapless defending from City captain Sylvain Distin in drawing level just five minutes later.

Distin failed to either control or clear Jerome Thomas' cross, which also eluded James, and Bartlett was left with the simple task of converting the loose ball.

Back came City, with Charlton's defence in a complete mess without the suspended Talal El Karkouri.

Fowler twice played through Macken but the the City striker's attempted dummy around Kiely only managed to fool himself as he stumbled, before Kiely again denied him with a fine block.

Fowler's next instinctive cross fell to Claudio Reyna, whose first-time drive was deflected just inches wide, while Fowler's own effort suffered the same fate.

With Curbishley animatedly urging Charlton on from the sidelines, the home side finally started to compete in midfield. Not that they were any better at the back, however.

City merely bided their time before Fowler was left unmarked to race in at the far post and thump Joey Barton's corner into the roof of the net.

Charlton were booed off at the half-time break and it was a measure of just how awful they had been that Curbishley made two changes at the break.

On came centre-back Jonathan Fortune for Mark Fish, while Francis Jeffers replaced Jonatan Johansson up front.

Charlton were finally starting to exert some pressure of their own, but Murphy's drive was saved at the near post by James, who also foiled a shot on the turn from Jeffers.

The home side girded themselves for a late push but Jerome Thomas snatched at one chance while Matt Holland, in his 500th club appearance, looped a header against the bar.

City, meanwhile, still threatened as Hreidarsson just blocked Reyna's shot, while Fowler put Macken through a third time only for the striker to turn himself inside and out before missing his kick.

Kiely also had to produce another neat save to deny Musampa but City were made to pay for their largesse in front of goal as Perry completed Charlton's unlikely late recovery act.

Welcome to life as City boss, Stuart Pearce.

Teams

Charlton Kiely, Young, Perry, Fish (Fortune 45), Hreidarsson (Lisbie 76), Konchesky, Johansson (Jeffers 45), Holland, Murphy, Thomas, Bartlett.

Subs Not Used: Andersen, Hughes.

Booked: Young.

Goals: Bartlett 10, Perry 90.

Man City James, Jordan, Dunne, Distin, Onuoha, Reyna, Musampa, Barton, Sibierski, Macken, Fowler.

Subs Not Used: Sommeil, Weaver, Mills, Croft, Bradley Wright-Phillips.

Goals: Hreidarsson 4 og, Fowler 38.

Att: 26,436

Ref: R Styles (Hampshire).