Fans got their first glimpse of the revamped Valley on Tuesday night and very impressive it was too.

Facilities outside have also changed. The fish and chip van in the West Stand car park has been replaced by a French style rotisserie outlet, serving chicken and new potatoes.

Charlton live lead commentator, Peter Finch, was almost apoplectic
when he failed to find his usual burger van.

There are placards of past Valley heroes outside the ground and the catering outlets within the ground have also had a major facelift.

Bob Peeters retained five of Saturday’s starting line-up – Stephen Henderson, Andre Bikey, Yoni Buyens, Jordan Cousins and George Tucudean.

Saturday’s substitutes, Morgan Fox, Callum Harriott and Franck Moussa were all rewarded with a start.

The game was effectively over midway through the opening period.  A goal bound Callum Harriott shot was handled  by Magnus Okuonghae.

A penalty and, more significantly, a mandatory red card for the Colchester skipper was to prove too big a hurdle for the visitors to overcome.

Yoni Buyens converted the penalty,  firing  high into the roof of the net.

The Addicks were a yard faster than their opponents all night and the added bonus of a playing with an extra man for three-quarters of the match, Charlton had far too much in their locker for Colchester.

The hosts had chances aplenty and converted another three after the break.

Lawrie Wilson notched a brace in four minutes early in the second half.

First he was played in by Moussa and fired across Chris Lewington into the far corner.

The second was almost an exact replica, with Cousins  the provider this time.

Lively substitute, Johann Gudmundsson, twice tried his luck from range and both times Lewington failed to hold onto the ball.

On the second occasion, another substitute, Simon Church, was on hand to tap in from close range.

The Addicks have far sterner tests than this coming up, but their performance and easy on the eye style, will have impressed all who witnessed it.

Charlton: Henderson; Gomez,  Morrison, Bikey, Fox; Wilson, Buyens (Gudmundsson 63), Cousins, Harriott; Moussa (Vetokele 60), Tucudean (Church 72).

Subs (not used): Pope, Ben Haim, Nego, Pigott.

Goals: Buyens 23 (pen), Wilson 55, 59, Church 89.

Colchester United: Lewington; Clohessy, Okuonghae, Eastman, Gordon; Gilbey, Moncur, Vose (Bean 29), Sears (Szmodics 63); Massey (Holman 46), Ibehre.

Subs (not used): Curtis, Walker, Thompson, Kent.

Sent off: Okuonghae 23 (handball).

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Attn: 5,752 (472 from Colchester).

Fans will get their first chance to watch a match at the revamped Valley on Tuesday evening when Colchester visit South London, though only the lower tiers of the North and West stands will be available to home fans.

Bob Peeters had his squad training on the pitch on Monday. The pitch has been totally renovated over the summer after the problems of recent seasons.

Facilities and the sun bleached seats have also been upgraded. The Valley Review has been redesigned during the summer break and one feature will be the return of the laminate cover.

Charlton have a tough August and Colchester will be the first of three games the Addicks will play at The Valley in the next week.

With important league games against Wigan and Derby coming up, Peeters is likely to field a mainly second string team against Colchester.

Nick Pope will probably be behind a back four of Loic Nego, Joe Gomez, Michael Morrison and Morgan Fox.

Franck Moussa and Callum Harriott were not considered fit enough to start at Brentford but could get a run out in this match. Lawrie Wilson, and possibly Yoni Buyens, could join them in midfield.

Simon Church and Joe Pigott may be the front pairing. Charlton could start with this line-up:

Pope; Nego, Gomez, Morrison, Fox; Wilson, Buyens, Moussa, Harriott; Church, Pigott.

Subs: Henderson, Wiggins, Ben Haim, Cousins, Gudmunsson, Munns, Vetokele.

Charles Breakspear from Surrey will be the referee.

Peeters will be aware of his team’s indifferent record in this competition and will expect whatever team he puts out, to be capable of progressing to the next round.