Charlton 4, Bristol Rovers 2

BRISTOL Rovers showed plenty of fighting spirit – but their record against the top sides in League One failed to improve after a battling defeat at The Valley.

Trailing to an early goal from David Mooney and a 15th-minute penalty from Deon Burton, the Pirates battled back to level terms when Jeff Hughes netted a penalty shortly before the interval and Chris Lines headed home early in the second half.

But skipper Nicky Bailey put Charlton back in front from close range midway through the second period and substitute Akpo Sodje killed off the match late on with his second goal in as many games.

Charlton had dominated most of the first half, but the Pirates gave a good account of themselves after the interval and in the end, the Addicks were slightly flattered by their two-goal winning margin.

Rovers made one change from the side that had started the 2-1 weekend win over Gillingham with Darryl Duffy drafted in to replace striker Chris Dickson, who was not allowed to play against his parent club.

Duffy started wide on the left in a 4-5-1 formation with Kuffour the visitors’ lone frontrunner.

Although Carl Regan was available again after serving a one-match suspension, he began the game on the bench with on-loan Pat Baldwin retaining his place at right-back.

But the Pirates were to go behind with less than four minutes on the clock as Charlton made an early breakthrough.

Lloyd Sam provided a cross from Charlton’s right flank and although Mikkel Andersen was able to block Burton’s shot, the ball ran free for Mooney to net a simple chance from close range.

Worse was soon to follow as the Addicks extended their lead after being awarded a 15th-minute penalty.

Baldwin was judged to have fouled Miguel Llera when the two central defenders tussled as another cross came in, and Burton slotted the spot kick to Andersen’s right.

Rovers continued to come under pressure as Charlton took the game to them and the visitors struggled to create any openings of their own until Lines latched on to a loose ball outside Charlton’s box in the 34th minute.

The midfielder, who had scored three goals in his previous four games, let fly with a well struck effort from 25 yards but on-loan Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme was equal to it and made a good save diving high to his left.

Rovers were fortunate not to have the game put out of their reach in the 39th minute.

Sam was again the provider of a good cross which was nodded back across goal by Burton and Jonjo Shelvey looked destined to score from eight yards. But his shot struck his team-mate Mooney just in front of goal and Andersen was able to grasp the rebound.

It was a major let-off for the Pirates – and a minute later they were back in the game from a penalty of their own.

Christian Dailly pulled back Kuffour inside the box and Hughes rammed home the penalty low into the bottom left corner of the net.

Rovers should have been back on level terms in the 52nd minute when Kuffour’s chip found Duffy to the right of the box. The Scot nodded the ball back cross goal but Dominic Blizzard got his feet in a tangle inside the six-yard box and could not force it home, despite having two attempts.

But the Pirates, attacking the end where their fans were gathered, were starting to have their first real spell of pressure and the equaliser arrived in the 56th minute.

Stuart Campbell delivered a good corner from the right and Lines leaped high to meet it with a powerful downward header which bounced up high into the net to maintain his prolific recent scoring spell.

The game was back in the balance, but highly-rated youngster Shelvey was not far away from restoring Charlton’s advantage with a 25-yarder which flew narrowly wide of Andersen’s right-hand post with the keeper at full stretch.

The home side got their noses in front again in the 66th minute when Mooney leaped to get in a header, which bounced down off the bar. Andersen and Mooney both tried to pounce on the loose ball, which ran loose for Bailey to force it home from a couple of yards out.

It was a kick in the teeth for Rovers after their earlier fightback, and boss Paul Trollope made his first change when he brought on Ben Swallow for Blizzard in the 73rd minute.

The Pirates were certainly not prepared to accept defeat and a Duffy shot was deflected away for a corner with Danny Coles heading just over from Campbell’s delivery.

Then a fine diagonal ball from Duffy almost put Kuffour clear on goal, but the striker was just unable to bring the ball under control as he was hustled by Dailly.

Lines went into the book for a foul on Sam in the 83rd minute – and Charlton fans were screaming for the Rovers midfielder to be dismissed.

That stemmed from the fact The Valley’s electronic scoreboard had wrongly attributed Baldwin’s earlier caution to Lines.

But they were placated two minutes later when substitute Akpo Sodje tapped in Grant Banes’ corner to put the outcome beyond doubt.

Charlton: Ikeme, Youga (Omozusi 23), Bailey, Llera, Semedo, Shelvey (Wagstaff 75), Burton, Sam, Basey, Mooney (Sodje 83), Dailly. Subs (not used): Randolph, Racond, Spring, McLeod.

Bristol Rovers: Andersen, Baldin, Anthony, Coles, Hughes, Williams (Wright 86), Blizzard (Swallow 74), Campbell, Lines, Duffy, Kuffour. Subs (not used): Regan, Elliott, Reece, Clough, Evans.