Both sides struggled to get to grips with the game in the first twenty minutes. It was cagey and scrappy with, perhaps, Blackburn edging it through being marginally the better at keeping possession and forcing the home side into little errors.
With an injury to Josh Edwards a change was made on about 24 minutes, with Macauley Gillesphey coming on and A’mari Bell moving forward into the wing back position. Blackburn’s press, which had until then been effective, was not prepared for Gillesphey’s cross field diagonals. His impact was immediate, helping Charlton into the ascendancy with probing balls forward that pegged the Blackburn defenders back and allowed Charlton to push up.
On 31 minutes, a James Bree free kick was expertly driven to the back post where Gillesphey headed back across the keeper and into the back of the net. Another goal for the mercurial left back and the second assist in as many games (2 for 2!) for Bree. From then on, for the rest of the half, Charlton pressed forward looking for the second. There were chances for Blackburn too, but little that troubled the home side.
James Bree and Sonny Carey had moments (particularly, one where Carey raced back to rescue the ball from a decent counter attack), getting the better of their opponents a number of times and combining well. Tyreece Campbell caused Blackburn some issues himself right before the halftime whistle, getting ahead of his marker on a couple of occasions, but he was unable to find the team’s second. The half finished one nil to the home side.
Blackburn made a change going into the second half, taking off the player that injured himself in injuring Edwards.
The home side started brightest in the second half and never looked back. Openings were numerous, with Tyreece Campbell having a positive impact before being subbed. Greg Docherty had a couple of pops as did Sonny Carey. Olaofe on for Campbell and Miles Leaburn on for Charlie Kelman.
On 70 mins some great interplay in the Blackburn box, resulting in a Sonny Carey shot, that was deflected onto Reece Burke who managed to only pop it over from close range.
A bit of good defending saw Greg Docherty covering and taking the ball back before clearing far up the pitch to Tanto Olaofe. His control and shielding provided an opportunity for Sonny Carey. Olaofe teed it up and Carey drilled the ball with ferocious power into the back of the net from twenty yards. And we all let out a breath of relief!
The cherry on the cake came through a break with Docherty on the overlap on the left, finding James Bree cutting into the box from the right to slot it past the on-rushing defender and hapless goal keeper.
The referee had a stinker for the most part but it was a professional performance from the Addicks and some stand out individual performances that made the difference. Conor Coventry (with Greg Docherty) gave dangerman Todd Cantwell no space whatsoever.
There were opportunities for a handful more goals today but we came away three to the good and a clean sheet; but most importantly, another three points.
Charlton 3 Blackburn 0
Over to you.
Comments
Jones is a ridiculous manager and we have a ridiculous team.
Oh actually, it seems Guns are firing, it all makes sense to me now... Do you know why? - Its because Blackburn Rovers... YOU'VE... BEEEN... SUNK!! - And Nathan Jones is at the f**king helm!!
When I looked at our opening fixtures, I looked at this match as a pointer as to where we were at. Absolutely delighted with our start,
Bree excellent, so good to see Macca slot in as if he's never been away.
Tanto looked the business and Coventry bossed Cantwell.
But for me, the MOTM is Doc. So heartening to see the club captain play like that.
He looks better a level up. Two weekends in a row we can sit back and enjoy being back to at least where we belong.
COYRs
Thought they were bright and the more threatening side but they practically gave up the game after conceding the first goal.
We should have been multiple goals ahead before Sonny Carey finally made the points safe. And Bree’s goal at the end was the icing on the cake.
Coventry was brilliant but Greg Docherty take a bow, you are everything we demand from a Charlton captain and more.
7th after 7 games, superb.
What a result. Nathan Jones is a top manager.
We've put together a team of experienced unfashionable players with Championship experience, sprinkled with a touch of potential and its slowly beginning to show... This is a team that knows what its about, the likes of Burke, Kaminski and Bell, they had a shit year last season, and they're showing that it wasn't the norm for them.
We've got a long way to go this season, and for large parts, we've looked a team that would need weekly showings like the trip to Sheff Utd, a smash and grab goal to cling on to - But today, we truly showed that we can compete at this level, and like Nathan Jones said at Wembley, we're truly not here to make up the numbers.
That second half was a true warning to the rest of the Division, yes there will be games to come where we play like how Blackburn did today, we've already shown it with QPR. But that second half wasn't just the performance of a team grinding out a win, it was a team doing it convincingly, and that is a warning to the rest of the Division to take us seriously.
Last of the promoted teams from League One, but we're above the rest.
Joint best Defence in the League at this stage of the season. We're starting to get our attack together as well, and the Valley once again is a f**king fortress.
What isn't to love about this side?
Birmingham 11th
Millwall 10th
Charlton 7th
What a great Saturday it’s turned into.