Charlton Athletic ... 3 Blackburn Rovers ... 2: Charlton's rise and Blackburn's demise are running parallel and after contrasting starts to the season, the expectations of both are being reappraised.
Charlton had lost their first four home games but are unbeaten in the three since, although this victory, following on from their success at Manchester City, means they have won two in a row for the first time since the turn of the year.
Blackburn are now winless in four games. Manager Graeme Souness claims that refereeing decisions are not going their way and, while it may not have changed the outcome of this match, the Scot was furious that a first-half challenge on Andy Cole was not rewarded with a penalty. It is difficult to disagree with him.
Cole turned past Jon Fortune and moved towards the byline where the defender lunged at him. The referee awarded a goal kick, suggesting he realised Fortune failed to connect with the ball. He did, however, chop down the striker.
It was the main talking point of a half which struggled to get going.
The torpor gave little indication of the half that was to follow. In the first minute Egil Ostenstad's header hit a post, and a flat game began to sparkle. Paul Konchesky, on as a half-time substitute for Fortune, curled a tremendous free-kick past Alan Kelly's right hand.
Blackburn equalised within a minute. Cole slipped a precise pass to Thompson, who shot across goal and into the far corner.
In the 73rd minute Konchesky's corner found the unmarked Richard Rufus and he sent a looping header over Kelly.
Euell capped a tremendous performance with a spanking, swerving drive from 25 yards.
CHARLTON: Kiely, Fish, Rufus, Fortune (Konchesky 45), Young, Parker, Kishishev, Powell, Euell, Lisbie (Bart-Williams 86), Bartlett.Subs Not Used: Rachubka, Brown, Svensson.Booked: Euell, Lisbie. Goals: Konchesky 59, Rufus 74, Euell 90.
BLACKBURN: Kelly, Neill, Short, Johansson, Curtis (Grabbi 78), Thompson (Gillespie 87), Todd, Dunn, Duff, Cole, Ostenstad (Yorke 62). Subs Not Used: Robinson, Jansen. Goals: Thompson 60.
Referee: U Rennie (S Yorkshire)
