There was no shock result at the Valley when Sky Bet Division Championship side Charlton Athletic hosted Premier League Chelsea in the third round of the FA Cup.
After playing three consecutive league matches with the same starting line-up, Nathan Jones made four changes for the cup tie. Extra intrigue was provided with Liam Rosenior taking charge of Chelsea for the first time. Only three of the team who started in their midweek defeat at Fulham were included in his debut first eleven.
Wing back Tyreece Campbell had the first opportunity of the match as the Addicks started in lively fashion. However, having found space on the left hand side of the penalty area, he blasted wide of the near post.
Once they had settled, Chelsea started to impose themselves and a header by Jorrell Hato was well claimed by Charlton goalkeeper Will Mannion.
Jamie Gittens then had a shot beaten out by Mannion, then he was not troubled when Andrey Santos fired past the post from the edge of the area. Tosin Adarabioyo went for an optimistic effort from thirty five yards that he couldn’t keep down before Gittens was too high with a drive from the edge of the area.
Mannion was in action twice more, first when making an excellent save from Josh Acheampong before he got down well to turn another Gittens attempt round the post. However, the Addicks custodian was well beaten in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Marc Guiu’s header fell into the path of Jorrell Hato and he lashed it high into the net.
Neither side made changes at the break and the hosts again started well. A Chelsea clearance hit Charlie Kelman but, fortunately for the Blues, it ricocheted wide.
They made the most of their escape by scoring in their next attack. Facundo Buonanotte slung in a free kick and Adarabioyo got in front of his man to head home at the near post.
Campbell created a chance for Lloyd Jones but he headed just wide before Alejandro Garnacho fired inches beyond the far post having cut in from the left.
As the hour mark approached, Charlton pulled one back. Jones’ header was saved brilliantly by Filip Jorgensen back it came back out to Miles Leaburn and he made no mistake as he crashed it home.
Five minutes later, Chelsea restored their two goal lead when Garnacho created an opportunity for Buonanotte. Although Mannion beat his shot out, it fell kindly to Guiu and he tucked it away.
Mannion did well to block an effort by substitute Enzo Fernandez, then Estevao burst through and the Addicks’ goalkeeper made another excellent save when pushing it over. Liam Delap turned a low Fernandez cross wide and Mannion continued to be busy, first when beating out an Estevao shot, then when tipping over from Fernandez.
It wasn’t all one way though and when Jorgensen left his goal to stop a deflected shot from going out for a corner, he was temporarily caught out of possession. Macaulay Gillesphey shot first time from wide on the left but the Chelsea goalkeeper recovered to claim it.
In the first minute of time added on, the visitors added a fourth when Fernandez found Pedro Neto who took his time before slotting it home, then Mannion was deemed harshly to have brought down Estevao in the penalty area and Fernandez converted from the spot.
That was tough on Charlton who had worked so hard, however, their priority is to ease their way away from the relegation zone and they can now try to do so without further distraction.
Charlton Athletic: Mannion; Bree, Gough, Jones, Bell (Olaofe 74), Campbell (Knibbs 82); Carey, Coventry (Anderson 66), Docherty (Rankin-Costello 66); Kelman (Gillesphey 66); Leaburn. Subs not used: Maynard-Brewer, Berry, Apter, Fullah.
Goalscorers: Leaburn (57)
Yellow cards: Docherty (31 foul)
Chelsea: Jorgensen; Acheampong, Adarabioyo, Badiashile; Buonanotte (Fernandez (69), Caicedo, Santos, Hato (Fofano 84); Gittens (Estevao 66), Guiu (Delap 69), Garnacho (Neto 84). Subs not used: Sanchez, Essugo, Pedro, Chalobah.
Goalscorers: Hato (45+5), Adarabioyo (50), Guiu (62), Neto (90+1), Fernandez (90+4)
Yellow cards: Badiashile (5 foul)
Referee: Christopher Kavanagh
Assistant Referees: Ian Hussain and Dan Cook
Fourth Official: Ruebyn Ricardo
Attendance: 26,475 including 3,317 away supporters.
Images courtesy of Keith Gillard