Fans got their first glimpse of the revamped Valley on Tuesday night and very impressive it was too.

Facilities outside have also changed. The fish and chip van in the West Stand car park has been replaced by a French style rotisserie outlet, serving chicken and new potatoes.

Charlton live lead commentator, Peter Finch, was almost apoplectic
when he failed to find his usual burger van.

There are placards of past Valley heroes outside the ground and the catering outlets within the ground have also had a major facelift.

Bob Peeters retained five of Saturday’s starting line-up – Stephen Henderson, Andre Bikey, Yoni Buyens, Jordan Cousins and George Tucudean.

Saturday’s substitutes, Morgan Fox, Callum Harriott and Franck Moussa were all rewarded with a start.

The game was effectively over midway through the opening period.  A goal bound Callum Harriott shot was handled  by Magnus Okuonghae.

A penalty and, more significantly, a mandatory red card for the Colchester skipper was to prove too big a hurdle for the visitors to overcome.

Yoni Buyens converted the penalty,  firing  high into the roof of the net.

The Addicks were a yard faster than their opponents all night and the added bonus of a playing with an extra man for three-quarters of the match, Charlton had far too much in their locker for Colchester.

The hosts had chances aplenty and converted another three after the break.

Lawrie Wilson notched a brace in four minutes early in the second half.

First he was played in by Moussa and fired across Chris Lewington into the far corner.

The second was almost an exact replica, with Cousins  the provider this time.

Lively substitute, Johann Gudmundsson, twice tried his luck from range and both times Lewington failed to hold onto the ball.

On the second occasion, another substitute, Simon Church, was on hand to tap in from close range.

The Addicks have far sterner tests than this coming up, but their performance and easy on the eye style, will have impressed all who witnessed it.

Charlton: Henderson; Gomez,  Morrison, Bikey, Fox; Wilson, Buyens (Gudmundsson 63), Cousins, Harriott; Moussa (Vetokele 60), Tucudean (Church 72).

Subs (not used): Pope, Ben Haim, Nego, Pigott.

Goals: Buyens 23 (pen), Wilson 55, 59, Church 89.

Colchester United: Lewington; Clohessy, Okuonghae, Eastman, Gordon; Gilbey, Moncur, Vose (Bean 29), Sears (Szmodics 63); Massey (Holman 46), Ibehre.

Subs (not used): Curtis, Walker, Thompson, Kent.

Sent off: Okuonghae 23 (handball).

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Attn: 5,752 (472 from Colchester).