Charlton ensured their return to the Championship began with a win as they saw off Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
A Dillon Phillips own goal would cancel out Ben Purrington’s first-half opener before Lyle Taylor replenished the Addicks’ lead 13 minutes from time.
Charlton, who have won away from home on the opening day for the first time in 14 years, host Stoke City at The Valley next.
Jake Forster-Caskey made his first competitive start in more than a year, since May 2018 against Shrewsbury Town, after he missed most of last season through injury.
Tom Lockyer also made his debut since he joined from Bristol Rovers as Connor Gallagher, a loan signing from Chelsea, was on the substitutes’ bench.
The visitors were put under pressure early and often as Sam Gallagher, a £5 million arrival from Southampton, threatened to send Blackburn into the lead.
Bradley Dack, a former Charlton youngster, failed to punish a misplaced Jason Pearce pass before Lewis Travis was denied from close range.
Charlton would weather the storm and hit back when Purrington started, and finished, a slick attacking move as he fired home Williams’ cross on 42 minutes.
It was the defender’s first goal since he joined the Addicks permanently from Rotherham United in the summer and second in back-to-back competitive games.
Blackburn equalised seven minutes into the restart when Anfernee Dijksteel’s headed clearance off Charlton’s goal line rebounded off Dillon Phillips and in.
By now, the hosts had smelled blood. After Adam Armstrong tested Phillips from range, Amari’i Bell delivered a teasing cross before having a go himself.
Despite Rovers pushing for the lead they went behind for the second time when Taylor flicked home Pearce’s header from a corner on 77 minutes, his first in the Championship.
Charlton could have killed the game off four minutes from time but Forster-Caskey was denied by goalkeeper Christian Walton at close range.
The victory is Charlton’s first away from home on the opening day of the season since August 2005, when they defeated Sunderland 3-1 at the Stadium of Light.
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