Charlton 2-0 Swansea

A SECOND minute header from new skipper Mark Hudson set Charlton on their way to a winning start to the campaign against Swansea.

Hudson rose unmarked to head home Jon Jo Shelvey's corner.

Lloyd Fan did well to prevent the ball going out of play for a throw in on 15 minutes and went on a run which took him into the area before delivering a cross that just failed to find Jerome Thomas.

Nicky Weaver was called into action mid-way through the first half to keep out Ferrie Bodde's 30 yard free kick, and Guillem Bauza was unable to make a decent connection with Marcus Painter's cross four minutes later as the visitors began to gain control.

Shelvey's second corner of the game almost produced a second goal, but Sam's volley was pushed behind by Swansea keeper Dorus De Vries.

Thomas Butler almost drew Swansea level on the stroke of half time when his low shot from the left hand side of the area produced a good save from Weaver.

Bauza was unfortunate not to equalise within two minutes of the restart when his well struck shot from 18 yards sailed agonisingly off target.

Swansea were reduced to ten men on 69 minutes when captain Garry Monk picks up his second yellow card in the space of three minutes, the latter one for a nasty looking challenge on Matt Holland.

Sunstitute Jason Scotland unleashed a powerful shot ten minutes from time which Weaver didn't appear to know too much about, although he was still able to keep the effort out.

But the outcome was put beyond doubt five minutes later when Andy Gray headed home Grant Basey's left wing free-kick to make it 2-0.

And Luke Varney could have added a third in injury time but his shot was well blocked by De Vries.