Another exhilarating display by the Addicks who beat another of the teams fancied for promotion on Tuesday evening.

Nick Pope came in for the injured Stephen Henderson and the young custodian had a difficult night. His kicking was wayward and a late faux-pas gave Derby hope.

Chris Solly’s knee was not risked, so Joe Gomez made his league debut on the right side of defence.

Charlton again put on an easy-on-the-eye display, as did the Rams.

The Addicks went ahead after 11 minutes with a glorious move. Johann Gudmundsson played a cross field ball to Jordan Cousins on the left.

Cousins played it into George Tucudean in the area, Tucudean swivelled and fired beyond Lee Grant’s right hand to give the hosts the lead.

Derby got themselves back into the game and levelled just past the half-hour mark, when the ball was pulled back from the byline for Jamie Ward to fire high into the net from the edge of the area.

Tucudean took a knock which saw him substituted at the break but the big Romanian had one more  vital contribution to make.

He got into the area, twisted, turned and was brought down by Richard Keogh.

Yoni Buyens smashed the resultant penalty into the roof of the net to restore Charlton’s lead on the stroke of half-time.

Tucudean was replaced by Franck Moussa at the interval and Steve McClaren sent his team out early.

The Rams certainly flew out of the blocks but it was the Addicks who continued to enjoy the better chances.

Moussa scuffed a good chance when Johnnie Jackson set him up and Igor Vetokele was denied by Grant.

Gudmundsson tried his luck from range and, after Moussa was brought down, Jackson fired a 25-yard free-kick narrowly over.

Charlton looked to have sewn the game up 12 minutes from time. Moussa broke down the left and delivered a deep cross to beyond the far post.

Jackson played it back in, Lawrie Wilson headed it on and Vetokele had the simplest of headers from close range to make it 3-1.

The Addicks had a great chance to increase their lead, but Vetokele shot straight at the keeper after a sweeping move involving Gomez and Wilson.

Instead Derby reduced the arrears five minutes from the end when a Ward shot went through Pope’s legs and trickled over the line.

Charlton held their nerve though and saw the game out safely.

Both the results and style of Bob Peeters’ team is making a trip to The Valley a real joy these days.


Charlton: Pope; Gomez,  Ben Haim, Bikey, Wiggins; Gudmundsson (Fox 89), Buyens, Jackson, Cousins (Wilson 64); Vetokele, Tucudean (Moussa 46).

Subs (not used): Phillips, Morrison, Harriott, Church.

Goals: Tucudean 11, Buyens 45 (pen), Vetokele 78.

Booked: Buyens 73 (foul).


Derby: Grant; Christie,   Buxton, Keogh, Forsyth; Dawkins (Russell 69), Bryson, Hendrick (Best 77),  Hughes (Mascarell 46). Martin, Ward.

Subs (not used): Roos, Naylor, Eustace, Whitbread.

Booked: Bryson 35 (foul).

Referee: Michael Bull (Essex).

Attn: 15,317 (1,434 Derby).