Charlton 1 (Buyens 57,pen) Blackburn Rovers 3 ( Rhodes 15,78 Conway 18)
Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.
Charlton’s modest but perfectly timed three-game winning streak at The Valley was broken by in-form Blackburn, who beat them for the third time this season with something to spare.
And that something to spare was the force of nature that is Jordan Rhodes. Scorer of both goals in Rovers 2-0 win at Ewood Park back in November, Rhodes again delivered the goods with two more strikes which more or less decided the issue further south.
With 149 goals in only 277 league games prior to kick-off, Rhodes wasted little time in rounding off his total to an impressive 150 by opening the scoring after just 15 minutes. His goal, from Charlton’s point of view, was a double disaster but provided us with yet another example of the clinical finishing this sharpshooter has made his trademark.
What possessed the normally impeccable Chris Solly to add a gratuitous touch to a ball which was proceeding out of play for a Charlton throw will be a matter for the right back’s conscience but the visitors were ruthless in turning his absentminded error to advantage. Tommy Spurr’s quick throw picked out Rhodes on the move and the danger man brushed past the challenge of an off balance Tal Ben Haim, drew a bead and beat Stephen Henderson with a low drive in off the far post. Apparently Rhodes’ lack of blistering pace has deterred serious interest from the Premier League. Their bleeding loss.
Badly shaken by the early setback, Charlton were rocked by a second goal just three minutes later. And if the opener could be traced to indecisive defending, Craig Conway’s excellent strike was the result of an inexplicable howler of Roger Johnson’s making. Apparently hypnotised by Yoni Buyens’ routine pass, Johnson’s hand was first attracted to the ball, then hastily withdrawn as he froze on the spot. Nipping in behind the stricken centre back, Conway matched the quality of Rhodes’ finish with a crisp, low shot into the far corner.
Two down against more than useful opponents, the Addicks pulled themselves together and chased an already lost cause. Never reluctant to carry the fight, Tony Watt continued his aggressive form, his well judged pass releasing Igor Vetokele to clip the bar from an awkward angle. Before the interval, the confident Glaswegian closed down a careless back pass but was crowded out by goalkeeper Jason Steele and a posse of panicky defenders. He’s a rare handful and difficult to discourage.
Early inroads into Rovers’ lead were vital to the home side’s chances and 12 minutes into the second half, the visitors showed vulnerability of their own. Gamely chasing Jordan Cousins’ ball over the top, Vetokele was mown down by Steele, who escaped with a yellow card due to the close proximity of several colleagues. As deadly a penalty taker as any seen in a Charlton shirt recently, Buyens cleverly changed his high-and-clipped technique, sent Steele the wrong way and gave him no chance with a sidefooted shot into the bottom right corner. All six of the playmaker’s goals have been scored from the spot, while Johann Berg Gudmundsson proved himself, in Buyens’ absence at Leeds in November, to be a 12-yard expert in his own right. That’s seven successful penalties for Charlton this season. They have yet to concede one.
With their arrears now manageable, the Addicks briefly called the tune. Frederic Bulot was a thorn in Blackburn’s right flank, his measured cross after stepping inside right back Adam Henley on the left touchline perfectly flighted for Vetokele at the far post. A carbon copy of the top scorer’s wonderful goal at Wigan seemed certain as Vetokele leapt prodigiously but this time powered his header against the crossbar.
No longer sure of themselves, Rovers were ripped apart shortly afterwards by Vetokele’s cute pass which sent Watt sprinting clear of centre back Alex Baptiste to confront an advancing Steele. Choosing his moment to shoot, the talismanic Scot beat the keeper but also the left hand post by two feet. After his brief flirtation with infallibility, Watt had revealed himself to be human after all. It’s unlikely Rhodes would have fluffed the chance.
Speaking of whom, Blackburn’s goal machine sealed the issue 12 minutes from time. Almost in slow motion, he dispassionately headed home substitute Chris Taylor’s deflected cross as Charlton’s defence stood watching helplessly. When a late Watt effort was scrambled off the line, it was clear this was not to be their day. So still two more points needed for unofficial security…..piece of cake. They don’t play Blackburn every week.
Charlton: Henderson, Solly, Ben Haim, Johnson, Fox, Cousins, Buyens (Church 83), Gudmundsson, Bulot (Eagles 73), Vetokele, Watt. Not used: Dmitrovic, Wilson, Gomez, Bikey, Diarra. Booked: Fox.
Blackburn: Steele, Henley, Baptiste, Henry (Spearing 70), Spurr, Conway (Taylor 21), Williamson (Evans 63), Cairney, Marshall, Rhodes, Brown. Not used: Eastwood, Songo’O, Lenihan, Gestede. Booked: Brown, Steele.
Referee: C. Breakspear. Att: 14,888 (703 visiting).