Charlton Athletic scored their second home win of the season with a 3-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at The Valley this evening. Paul Konchesky broke the stalemate after 59 minutes when he curled in a tremendous 25-yard free-kick, but David Thompson's immediate equaliser threatened to deny them. However, another Konchesky dead-ball delivery confirmed victory as Richard Rufus headed in and Jason Euell lashed in a howitzer in the final minute.
Charlton, who had scored just five goals in their previous 11 matches and not scored more than twice in a match all season, were rewarded for fielding three attackers. The conditions did not help the flow of the match, with rain streaming down in south-east London at kick-off. Neither did a blight of injuries in both camps which denied Charlton the influential Claus Jensen and summer signing Gary Rowett, among others, and Blackburn captain Garry Flitcroft and goalkeeper Brad Friedel while Tugay was suspended.
Both sides had chances in a largely forgettable first-half, and Charlton manager Alan Curbishley decided to introduce England Under-21 international Konchesky for the second. Just before the hour the young star made a telling impact when he stepped up to curl a superb 25-yard free-kick into Alan Kelly's top right-hand corner following a foul on Scott Parker.
Charlton's celebrations were short-lived, however, as Blackburn registered an immediate leveller with an equally impressive strike from Thompson. The former Liverpool midfielder flicked on a long clearance from Kelly and took Cole's lay-off in his stride to dispatch the ball past Dean Kiely from 20 yards.
17 minutes from time the London club were back in the lead with Konchesky, on for Fortune, again involved. This time, his deep right-wing corner found Rufus and a looping header from 12 yards arced over the sprawling Kelly and under the bar. Blackburn tested Charlton nerves with a late rally - the home side had all 11 men behind the ball in the last 10 minutes. But Euell relieved the tension in the final minute as he let fly from long distance, his shot beating Kelly for pace.
Filed by Shane Murray
