Charlton 2 Bolton Wanderers 0
The Addicks made it nine points from nine to start the season on Saturday, beating Bolton Wanderers 2-0 at The Valley with their best performance of the season so far.
Nathan Jones made one change to his starting XI, with Thierry Small replacing the injured Josh Edwards, and the wing-back made an instant impact in the 10th minute.
Ricardo Santos’ loose ball out of defence was seized upon by Small, who fired the ball into the feet of Greg Docherty. The skipper took one touch before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top-left corner past a helpless Nathan Baxter. It was a first Addicks goal for the Scot, and he raced away to celebrate in front of the West Stand.
Charlton were the better side in the first period but the visitors were not without their chances. Will Mannion was called into action twice midway through the half, first to deny Dion Charles on the turn and then, two minutes later, to keep out an Aaron Collins shot from a tight angle.
In the 27th minute, Docherty was involved again when Gassan Ahadme chested down Small’s cross into his path. The captain’s deflected effort from 10 yards out was palmed back to him by Baxter, but Docherty’s second effort was held by the goalkeeper.
Bolton brought on Victor Adeboyejo at half-time and the striker was involved straight away, forcing a save out of Mannion in the 48th minute.
It was a second half short on chances but the visitors had another opportunity in the 68th minute when Alex Mitchell was forced to clear a dangerous Jordi Osei-Tutu cross over his own bar, and Eoin Toal headed well wide from the resulting corner.
The Addicks should have doubled their lead in the 76th minute. After excellent work from Luke Berry to win a corner, Conor Coventry’s out-swinging delivery was met by Chuks Aneke eight yards out, but the substitute could not keep his header down.
Aneke would make amends in the 87th minute, in a goal made by the three substitutes that Nathan Jones had sent on. After Karoy Anderson pinched the ball back in midfield, Aneke sent in a wonderful curling cross from deep, for Matty Godden to send a diving header beyond Baxter. It was a terrific goal, and it sealed a deserved a win.
Next up for the Addicks is a trip to Reading next Saturday.
Charlton: Mannion; A.Mitchell, Jones, Gillesphey; Ramsay, Docherty (c), Coventry, Berry (Anderson 87), Small; Campbell (Aneke 66), Ahadme (Godden 66)
Subs (not used): Maynard-Brewer, Edmonds-Green, Watson, Kanu
Goals: Docherty 10, Godden 87
Assists: Small 10, Aneke 87
Booked: Coventry 8 (foul on Collins), Berry 8 (time-wasting), A.Mitchell 60 (dissent)
Bolton Wanderers: Baxter; Toal, Santos (c), Johnston (Arfield 88); Dacres-Cogley (Osei-Tutu 46), Thomason (Matete 72), Sheehan (Dempsey 66), Schön; McAtee, Collins, Charles (Adeboyejo 46)
Subs (not used): Southwood, Forino
Booked: Schön 61 (dissent), Matete 83 (foul on Godden), Toal 83 (dissent)
Attendance: 14,365 (1,337 away)
Referee: Lee Swabey