A bumper 25,545 crowd attended Charlton’s annual Football For A Fiver match. The game was made extra special because of the return to The Valley of club legend, Chris Powell, now manager of Huddersfield.

Powell was given a rousing reception by all four sides of The Valley when he made his way to the dug-out ahead of kick-off. The crowd again paid tribute to Powell with a minute’s applause when the clock showed that three minutes had elapsed, in recognition of the former manager’s shirt number.

Less pleasurable for Powell would have been the Addicks’ own ‘3’ tribute, Guy Luzon’s team netted three times without reply. The win returned Luzon’s side to the top half of the table.

Tal Ben Haim was sidelined with an injury and young Joe Gomez was preferred to Andre Bikey as Roger Johnson’s partner in central defence.

It was not an easy afternoon for the youngster but he was fortunate to have the vocal Johnson next to him, to talk him through the game. He will have learned much.

Jordan Cousins’ back had recovered sufficiently for him to return to the engine room at the expense of Lawrie Wilson.

Perhaps surprisingly, Simon Church replaced Callum Harriott on the bench.

Powell was a legendary player in his three spells at The Valley and you would be hard pressed to find a nicer person.

These attributes may cloud the judgement of some when assessing Powell as a manager. A great motivator – his players would run through brick wall for him – tactics are not his greatest attribute though.

At The Valley, Powell was often over cautious and his teams were seldom easy on the eye.

Huddersfield looked much like Charlton did under Powell. They huffed and puffed but fashioned few genuine chances, though Stephen Henderson was called upon to make one outstanding save to his left after 70 minutes.

Without injury victim, Nahki Wells, Powell was shorn of his most potent danger, the diamond who could grab a goal from nowhere.

Charlton had much the better of the early exchanges, but it was the visitors who were the first to get the ball in the net after half-an-hour. Ishmael Miller’s header was ruled out for a clear foul on Henderson, and three minutes later, the hosts were in front.

The lively Tony Watt was brought down in a central area, some 25 yards from goal. Up stepped Johann Gudmundsson to thunder home the free-kick. Another gem from Gudmunsson’s catalogue of set pices.

Powell’s time at the Valley often saw his side come out fired up for the second period, but it wa, again, Luzon’s side that had the early momentum.

Three minutes after the restart, Watt doubled the Addicks’ advantage. Played in on the left by Igor Vetokele, Watt drifted in before steering a clever reverse strike inside Alex Smithies’ right-hand post.

Charlton were playing some delightful stuff now and Smithies was by far the busier of the two keepers.

When called upon, the Addicks’ back line was resolute and gave their forward players a platform to build on.

Watt netted a stunning third, nineteen minutes from time. Collecting the ball on the right, the young Scot slalomed past a couple of defenders before hitting an unstoppable left-footed shot.

Not the return Powell would have wanted, but he will concede that on the day, the better team won.

Luzon seems to have come to grips with the English game now, and has set his team up superbly in recent games.

Next up is Nottingham Forest, who lost their unbeaten record on the same day Charlton tasted defeat for the first time this season.

Like the Addicks, Forest then struggled for a while and parted company with manager, Stuart Pearce.

Dougie Freedman has revitalised things at the City Ground, and Forest have won four out of their five matches since changing managers.

It should be an entertaining game, one the Addicks will go into full of confidence.

Charlton: Henderson; Solly, Gomez, Johnson, Fox; Gudmundsson (Wilson 54), Cousins, Buyens, Bulot, (Diarra 75); Vetokele, Watt (Eagles 81).

Subs (not used): Dmitrović, Bikey, Lepoint, Church.

Goals: Gudmundsson 33, Watt 48, 71.

Booked: Cousins 36 (foul), Gomez 40 (foul).

Huddersfield: Smithies; Edgar (Smith 64), Hudson, Wallace, Robinson; Scannell, Hogg (Coady 64), Butterfield, Bunn (Lolley 73); Miller, Vaughan.

Subs (not used): Murphy, Carroll, Gobern, Majewski.

Booked: Robinson 89 (dissent).

Referee: James Linington (Isle Of Wight).

Attn: 25,545 (2,151 Huddersfield).