A sparkling Charlton performance saw Lee Bowyer’s team cruise to an emphatic 3-0 win. Macauley Bonne, Naby Sarr and Conor Gallagher scored the decisive goals.
The win propelled the Addicks up to seventh, just four points from the top, and brought Derby’s five match unbeaten run to a shuddering halt.
Bowyer opted for three central defenders – Tom Lockyer, Darren Pratley and Naby Sarr – with Chris Sollly and Jake Forster-Caskey deployed as wing backs.
Macauley Bonne was the lone striker ahead of a five man midfield.
Jonathan Leko came in for Jason Pearce in an otherwise unchanged team from the one that drew at Fulham a fortnight ago.
The Addicks signalled their intentions as early as the third minute. Jonny Williams sprayed a magnificent crossfield ball for Chris Solly to deliver a dangerous cross.
Charlton did not have to wait long for their opener though. Just three minutes later Sarr found Forster-Caskey with a delicate through ball.
Forster-Caskey delivered the perfect low cross for Bonne to thunder home his third goal in four games.
The second goall arrived three minutes after the restart when Sarr rose unopposed at the far post to nod home a left-wing corner.
But the Addicks saved the best till last. Conor Gallagher fired home a spectacular goal of the season contender from 25-yards.
There was much to enthuse about. Charlton dominated an experienced Championship team from start to finish, and Dillon Phillips had no more than routine saves to make all afternoon, though he did have to be on his toes to smother a Mason Bennett effort near the end.
Daren Pratley was imperious in his defensive role, and Bonne has seized his chance with both hands.
The only downside was losing Jonny Williams to a first-half knee injury.
A purring Lee Bowyer delivered this vedict after the final whistle:
“That’s probably the best all-round performance we’ve had this season from start to finish. It was excellent. I think tactically we got it right.
“Our keeper didn’t really have a save to make in the first half. In the second half they had one chance and he came out and smothered it. We limited their chances today and I think in and out of possession we were excellent.
“I knew we had to be at our best today, we have a good bunch who give me everything. This was a brand-new formation for us, we’ve never played this one before and it worked.
“The fans have been behind us, they didn’t stop singing. It’s great. We scored three good goals – three different types of goals,” said Bowyer who paid this tribute to Conor Gallagher:
“The kid’s doing so well, I don’t know how much more I can praise him. It’s not just what he brings in possession, his work-rate… he’s everywhere. He’s literally everywhere. He just does not stop working for the team and we’re lucky to have him. He’s a great player and Chelsea have got a good one there.
“He’s only 19 and he’s got so much to learn about the game but he’s fearless and he leaves everything out on the pitch and he can play, the kid can play.”
But despite the win putting his team within touching of the top, Bowyer was still keeping his feet very much on the ground:
“We’re what, 12 games in now? Which is not many, we’re a quarter of the way and we’ll just keep working hard, that’s all we do. We did the same last season.”We keep working hard and like I said before we’ll do the most important things and get the points on the board and if we’re safe, we’ll re-evaluate. We’re taking each game as it comes and try and grind out each three points.”
Charlton: Phillips; Solly, Lockyer, Pratley, Sarr, Forster-Caskey; Leko, Cullen, Gallagher (Kayal 77), Williams (Field 31); Bonne (Hemed 75)
Subs (not used): Amos, Oshilaja, Pearce, Kayal, Oztumer
Goals: Bonne 6, Sarr 48, Gallagher 67
Booked: Forster Caskey (65)
Derby: Roos; Boyle, Davies, Clarke, Malone; Shinnie, Bielik (Holmes 60), Waghorn (Jozefzoon 60, Lawrence, Paterson (Bennett. 76); Martin
Subs (not used): Hamer, Wisdom, Dowell, Lowe
Booked: Waghorn (56), Shinner (64)
Referee: Stephen Martin
Attn: 19,408 (2,999 Derby)