FA Premiership/Charlton Athletic 1 Blackburn Rovers 0: An El Karkouri free-kick with five seconds left of stoppage time earned Charlton three points and lifted the team off the foot of the Premiership.
Charlton created plenty of chances before the late winner finally arrived. Hermann Hreidarsson was guilty of their most eye-catching miss, heading a second-half corner over the bar when totally unmarked.
Charlton's home form this season belies their lowly league placing, only Arsenal and Manchester United having won here before last night.
Slowly, new manager Les Reed's team is taking shape. Radostin Kishishev made his first start last night while Lloyd Sam was given his debut alongside Darren Bent in attack.
Blackburn's bid for a fifth successive victory over Charlton was boosted when Stephane Henchoz passed a late fitness test but the visitors were outplayed.
Darren Bent set up youngster Sam with an inviting cross after 31 minutes but he side-footed over from eight yards.
Blackburn rarely threatened, Morten Gamst Pedersen heading Brett Emerton's cross wide in the 16th minute while Scott Carson saved from Shabani Nonda.
After 49 minutes Bent was denied the opening goal when he fired straight at Brad Friedel but El Karkouri finally eased the home fans' frustrations with his timely late intervention.
CHARLTON: Carson; Young, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Traore (Diawara, 26); Kishishev,Faye, Hughes; Reid; D Bent, Sam (M Bent, 71) Subs not used Myhre, Holland, Rommedahl
BLACKBURN ROVERS: Friedel; Neill, Ooijer, Henchoz, Gray; Bentley (Tugay, 45); Emerton (Peter, 62), Savage, Pedersen (Gallagher, 45); Nonda, McCarthy Subs not used Brown, Mokoena.
Referee: C Foy.
