Aston Villa cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over Charlton at The Valley on Saturday afternoon.
Villa were too quick for Charlton, with local hero, Jack Grealish, running the show. Worryingly for the Addicks, Chuks Aneke – who had a fine game – had to be taken off near the end after picking up an injury.
Chris Solly received a rapturous ovation from both sets of supporters when he was taken off a couple of minutes from the end.
Villa looked the sharper early on, but Charlton gradually got themselves into the game. It was the visitors who took the lead after 38 minutes though.
Grealish slipped the ball to Anwar El Grazi, who held off Solly’s challenge, to flick the ball past Phillips.
Villa effectively ended the game as a contest before the hour mark. First, a well worked move started by Grealish, gave another Birmingham boy, Andre Green, the chance to double the visitors’ lead.
Then,two minutes later, John McGinn was put through and beat Ben Amos from the edge of the area. The keeper may feel he could have done better.
Lyle Taylor reduced the arrears from the spot after 65 minutes. Taylor was brought down from behind, but picked himself up to convert.
He was coolness personified as he took a long WALK up, and though the keeper guessed the right way, Taylor’s strike had too much pace on it.
McGinn notched his second seven minutes from time when he danced into the area and fired home from an acute angle.
Charlton lost the ball outside the box. They will have to be careful not to get caught out too often, the Championship is an unforgiving league.
Aneke and Williams showed plenty of ability. Bowyer will be hoping Aneke’s injury does not sideline him for long.
He will be working round the clock with Steve Gallen, to beef up his squad before next Saturday’s trip to Blackburn.
Charlton: Phillips (Amos 45); Solly (Dijksteel 88), Lockyer, Sarr, Purrington; Oshilaja (Lapslie 67), Pratley (Harriott 67), Forster-Caskey, Williams (Doughty 81); Aneke (Morgan 77), Taylor (Bonne 86).
Subs not used: Pearce, Wiredu.
Goal: Taylor 65 (pen).
Aston Villa: Steer, Taylor (Target 67), McGinn, Grealish, Hourihane (Hause 67), Davis (Hogan 67), El Ghazi (Guilbert 45), Trezeguet (Jota 45), El Mohamady (Green 45), Konsa (Lansbury 67), Mings (Engels 84).
Subs not used: Kalinic, Bree.
Goals: El Ghazi 38, Green 55, McGinn 57, 83.
Attn: 7,532 (2,980 Villa away)
Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey)
TAGS: Charlton Athletic