Trundle strikes to put Bristol City ahead at half-time

CHARLTON ATHLETIC 0, BRISTOL CITY 1 (half-time)

Under pressure to make home advantage count following a below-par start to the season, the Addicks came flying out of the traps against Bristol City and almost forged a lead in the first minute. Right-back Yassin Moutaouakil carved City's defence wide open with a perfectly-weighted through ball and Adriano Basso had to be alert to save Darren Ambrose's shot at the second attempt.

City had to withstand an early bombardment and Brazilian-born keeper Basso was again called into action moments later, displaying safe hands as he fell upon Kelly Youga's angled drive.

The visitors responded in positive fashion, Michael McIndoe engineering space on the left flank and swinging over an inviting cross which reduced Charlton's defence to rubble. When it seemed he had only to make a clean connection to score, centre-back Liam Fontaine somehow contrived to steer his header wide of a gaping target from six yards out.

But most of the action was taking place at the other end of the pitch and Basso again came to City's rescue when holding a fierce shot from livewire winger Hameur Bouazza, who cut in from the right to leave Scottish full-back Jamie McAllister trailing in his wake, while leading scorer Andy Gray was inches away from his fifth goal of the season with a first-time volley which flashed inches wide.

And the former Burnley forward came closer still to breaking the deadlock in Charlton's next attack, turning his marker and toe-poking the ball goalwards, only to see it come back off the post.

At times it seemed only Basso stood between the home side and the goal, City's keeper diving full-length turn palm an Ambrose piledriver behind for a corner.

When City took the lead on 27 minutes, it was against the run of play and thoroughly unexpected. Dele Adebola had just seen his header saved by Nicky Weaver when he collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and opted to pass to Lee Trundle, who stepped inside Martin Cranie and picked his spot with slide-rule precision from 15 yards to register his second goal of the season.

Bristol City were galvanised by the goal and Lee Johnson almost doubled their lead eight minutes before half time, unleashing a venomous drive from 20 yards which forced Nicky Weaver to make a one-handed save low to his right.