Rotherham 1-4 Charlton: Charlton boost survival chances

Charlton claimed a valuable three points in their fight to stave off relegation as well as their first victory in over two months by winning 4-1 at fellow strugglers Rotherham on Saturday afternoon.

A brace from striker Simon Makienok and one each from Igor Vetokele and Ademola Lookman was enough to ensure the Addicks went to within a point of Rotherham, and safety, in the Sky Bet Championship table.

It was also the south Londoners first win since November 21st when they beat Birmingham 1-0 at St Andrews and Jose Riga's first since his return to The Valley.

Chris Burke had got Rotherham level before substitute Jonson Clarke-Harris blew their chances of getting back in the game by missing a penalty.

Charlton forged ahead on four minutes after Shay Facey's poor throw-in saw Charlton go on the counter-attack, with Zakarya Bergdich breaking down the left and squaring for Makienok to power in from the edge of the box.

The Addicks kept up the pressure following their lead, as Vetokele then shot from distance but Lee Camp got down well to save.

However, it only took Rotherham until the 11th minute to equalise as Paul Green played the ball to Danny Ward, who in turn slipped Burke in down the right and he slid his shot past Stephen Henderson.

The visitors responded with Johann Berg Gudmundsson testing Camp with a long-range free-kick and at the other end, Burke bent a free-kick just wide of goal.

It took smart work from Camp to deny Charlton another chance as the 'keeper was off his line to clear quickly after Vetokele had been chipped through by Bergdich.

Grant Ward had a great chance to send the Millers in ahead at the break when Joe Newell's cross was only cleared by Harry Lennon as far as Ward, and he skipped inside before blasting wide from just 10 yards out.

But Charlton then stung Rotherham again on 44 minutes with Henderson playing it to Gudmundsson, who split the Rotherham defence in picking out Vetokele to tap in.

Luciano Becchio was brought on by Neil Redfearn for the second half but it was his strike partner Danny Ward who had the first effort of the half, cutting in down the right and curling an effort which Henderson had to palm away for a corner.

Charlton skipper Johnnie Jackson then drilled an effort wide from the edge of the box after Vetokele had made a nuisance of himself in the box.

Joe Mattock's cross almost led to a chance for Becchio but he could not get enough on fellow sub Clarke-Harris' header to divert it goalwards.

Jackson then drew a great save out of Camp from a 25-yard free-kick and, from the resulting corner, Charlton got their third on 69 minute when  Gudmudsson delivered into the box and Makienok rose above the defence to head in.

Clarke-Harris then wasted a golden chance to get the Millers back into the game on 74 minutes, blasting a penalty way over the bar after being tripped in the box by Jorge Teixeira. 

Substitute Lookman then crowned off the win deep into added time with a cool finish as Charlton picked up a vital three points.