Ahead of Saturday’s clash against Bristol Rovers at Memorial Stadium, we have searched the Valley Pass archive to find five of the Addicks’ best match-ups against the Pirates from the last 30 years.
Charlton 3 Bristol Rovers 1 (November 24th 2018)
The most recent of Charlton’s greatest games against Bristol Rovers was the 3-1 victory at The Valley earlier in the season. Jamie Ward opened the scoring, striking home his first goal for the Addicks. Ward sped away from the defenders with a touch down from his chest, before dinking a chip shot over the Pirates keeper. Rovers’ Joe Martin levelled the scores with a wonder-strike straight into the top corner.
The Addicks fought back to claim all three points, though, with Joe Aribo popping up at the back post to head in a scrappy goal just before half-time. Karlan Grant sealed the win as he reacted to Tariqe Fosu’s stoppage-time clearance before racing clear and scoring into an open net.
Charlton 4 Bristol Rovers 1 (August 25th 1992)
Robert Lee slid in with his first goal of the season after a pin-point ball forward from Colin Walsh. Lee then went on to set up the Addicks’ second with a cross into the box that went straight on to the head of Alex Dyer to cushion home. Rovers pulled back a goal with a thumping full volley from Andy Reece.
Alan Pardew smashed home a penalty to make it three after Lee was taken out by the Pirates keeper inside the box. Pardew nearly had a second when he riffled the ball against the bar but he didn’t have to wait long before he headed home a cross to make it four.
Charlton 4 Bristol Rovers 2 (November 24th 2009)
David Mooney put the Addicks in front with a fourth-minute tap-in after the ball was parried by the Rovers keeper. Deon Burton doubled the lead after being fouled inside the box, slotting the ball into the bottom corner from the penalty spot. Bristol pulled themselves back into the game late in the first half through a Jack Hughes penalty.
Ten minutes into the second half, the Pirates equalised with a headed goal from Chris Lines. When Mooney was denied a second by the bar, Nicky Bailey was on hand to poke home for the Addicks as they regained the lead. The win was secured late on as Akpo Sodje netted his second goal in two games for the club.
Charlton 4 Bristol Rovers 1 (January 2nd 2017)
The Pirates took the lead through Jermaine Easter, after Patrick Bauer slipped just inside the Charlton half, allowing the forward to break and round Dillon Philips to slot in the opener. Josh Magennis equalised for the Addicks just before half-time with a simple, unmarked header in the box. Charlton took the lead through another open header from Magennis just after half-time.
Jorge Teixeira extended the Addicks’ lead with a six-yard tap-in, as the Bristol Rovers defenders stood and watched. Magennis completed his hat-trick, splitting open the defence and curling his shot beyond the keeper.
Bristol Rovers 1 Charlton 5 (November 22nd 2016)
Ademola Lookman put the Addicks in front with a looping shot from outside the box that sailed past the Pirates goalkeeper Kelle Roos. Magennis extended Charlton’s lead when he poked the ball in after Adam Chicksen had turned a far-post cross from Lookman back across goal.
Five minutes after half-time, Patrick Bauer's downward header from a Lookman corner eluded the Rovers goalkeeper. Chicksen made it four late into the second half with a right-footed shot from the edge of the area that took a slight deflection. Nicky Ajose completed the victory with a 30-yard strike five minutes from time. Rovers nicked a goal back through an injury-time penalty from Matt Taylor. The win for the Addicks was their first at Memorial Stadium since 1993.
Article by Harry Arnold