Charlton 3-1 Bristol Rovers: Addicks cruise to victory

Saturday 24 November 2018 18:41, UK

Jamie Ward, Joe Aribo and Karlan Grant were all on target as Charlton collected a third straight League One success with a 3-1 home victory over struggling Bristol Rovers.

Ward's early opener was cancelled out by Joe Martin's stunning 30th-minute equaliser.

But Aribo's header just before the interval put the promotion-hunting Londoners back in front.

Grant wrapped it up in stoppage time when he was put clear on goal to complete the simplest of finishes.

The hosts broke the deadlock in the 10th minute.

Jed Steer's long clearance was latched on to by Ward, who burst through on goal before coolly lofting the ball over advancing Rovers keeper Jack Bonham.

Rovers should have been back on terms but Tom Nichols was just unable to apply a vital touch to Stefan Payne's dangerous low cross.

However, they did not have long to wait to draw level as Martin drilled an unstoppable left-footed effort from 20 yards beyond the reach of Steer on the half-hour.

With their tails now up, Liam Sercombe tried his luck with a long-range volley that flew just off target and then Steer produced an excellent reaction save from Ollie Clarke.

Nicky Ajose was denied at the other end by Bonham moments later and saw a free-kick deflected inches wide of the post just before the break.

Rovers' hopes of going in level were cruelly dashed on the stroke of half-time as some sloppy defending was punished by Aribo's close-range header to restore the Addicks' advantage.

Patrick Bauer headed wide after the restart and Ajose was just behind Ward's inviting pull back on the hour as Charlton looked to move further clear.

Steer had to be alert to deal with Sercombe's volley at the other end and the Rovers midfielder blazed an effort well off target four minutes from time to sum up a disappointing second-half display from the visitors.

And Charlton wrapped it up deep into injury time as Grant capitalised on Bonham's decision to go up for a corner when he was set clear to fire into an empty net.