Blackburn Rovers blew Charlton away 2-0 as theyacquitted themselves better to the windy conditions at The Valley.

First half strikes from John Buckley and Tosin Adarabioyo in-front of a capacity crowd was enough to take the points against an Addicks side who failed to get started.

Captain Jason Pearce was lucky not to see red in a first half where Charlton’s backline looked uncomfortable playing against the wind.

Defeat, and results elsewhere, leaves Lee Bowyer’s men five points above the drop zone in 19th.

From the off

It was the visitors who got to grips with the blustery condition quickest with the Charlton backline being deceived more than once with the flight of the ball.

The Addicks, Pearce in particular, were let off in the 17th minute.

Amari’i Bell was sent tumbling inside the box when through on goal. Referee Andy Davies however adjudged Pearce was the recipient of an earlier foul much to the delight, and surprise, of most inside The Valley.

Blackburn did however take their deserved lead on 30 minutes.

Buckley, allowed to cut in from the right got a shot away on the edge of the box which took a wicked deflection leaving Dillon Phillips wrong-footed.

With their tails-up and with a strong wind behind them, Rovers added a second five minutes later.

A questionable free-kick was swung-in by Stuart Downing from the left and met by Adarabioyo to side-foot home.

Sweeping Changes

Bowyer added Matt Smith to the midfield at the break, reverting to a 4-4-2, and the improvement was instantly visible.

Aided by with the wind, the Addicks looked threatening.

Taylor forced Christian Walton into a fine save from a long-range free-kick, while Tomer Hemed saw his goalbound header blocked.

It was better from the hosts as Rovers struggled to deal with the conditions.

Despite the possession and territory Charlton found it difficult create anything of note.

Taylor saw another free-kick whistle past the post while Josh Cullen’s strike drew a superb save from Walton with ten minutes to go.

And that effort proved to be Charlton’s last chance as they fell to defeat.  

TEAMS:

Charlton: 3-5-2 Phillips, Doughty, Matthews, Pearce (Smith 45’), Lockyer, Sarr, Cullen, Davis, McGeady (Bonne 70’), Hemed (Green 60’), Taylor SUBS: Amos, Oztumer, Purrington, Bonne, Green, Oshilaja, Smith

Blackburn: Walton, Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Armstrong (Chapman 72’), Travis, Johnson, Samuel, (Brereton 80’) Bell, Downing, Buckley (Bennett 83’) SUBS: Leutwiler, Graham, Chapman, Davenport, Brereton, Bennett, Carter

Attendance:25,363, (Away: 2063)