Blackburn Rovers 4 Charlton Athletic 1

CHARLTON?S Premiership survival hopes took a severe blow after a brace from Jason Roberts guided Blackburn Rovers to a comfortable 4-1 win at Ewood Park on Saturday.

Blackburn took the lead after 60 minutes when a long ball forward from Brad Friedel was flicked into the path of Roberts, whose shot was helped into the net by an unfortunate handling error from Scott Carson.

The Addicks survival hopes were dealt a further blow when Ben Thatcher was dismissed for a second bookable offence just four minutes later.

Darren Bent?s diving header gave the Addicks hope on 71 minutes, but their joy was short lived as Blackburn looked to exploit the extra space created by Thatcher?s dismissal.

Rovers retook the lead on 77 minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen?s left sided cross flew into the net after taking a deflection off Herman Hreidarsson.

The third goal came just three minutes later when Roberts bundled home Gamst Pedersen?s cross and the rout was completed when substitute Matt Derbyshire fired home on 83 minutes.

Blackburn had the better of the first half chances with Gamst Pedersen heading over from Brett Emerton?s cross on 23 minutes.

And Charlton goalkeeper Scott Carson was called into action just two minutes later when Roberts strength proved too much for Talal El Karkouri with Carson saving well to deny him the opening goal.

The visitors best first half chance came after 29 minutes when a Darren Ambrose corner fell to Matt Holland, but his weak shot failed to trouble Rovers keeper Friedel.

Charlton: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Thatcher, Ambrose (Rommedahl 79), Song, Holland, Thomas (Zheng 67), M Bent (Bougherra 73), D Bent.
Subs Not Used: Randolph, Hasselbaink.
Attendance: 24,921.

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