Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Charlton Athletic: Championship newcomers win at Ewood Park

Lyle Taylor’s improvised finish earned Championship newcomers Charlton Athletic a battling victory over Blackburn Rovers.

Taylor flicked the ball in for the winner, from Jason Pearce’s powerful header following a corner, with just over 10 minutes remaining.

The Addicks had to withstand strong Rovers pressure before then, but led just before the break thanks to Ben Purrington’s close-range finish.

Rovers continued to dominate possession in the second half and equalised when debutant Bradley Johnson’s header was cleared off the line but rebounded off goalkeeper Dillon Phillips for an unfortunate own goal.

Further home pressure went unrewarded and Taylor ensured victory for Lee Bowyer’s side on their return to the second tier after a three-year absence.

Bowyer almost left the club in the summer before agreeing a new one-year contract.

The spirited opening-day win was the perfect way to mark their Championship return and at least briefly forget the off-field discontent and protests against owner Roland Duchatalet which have become commonplace.

Charlton have been up for sale since 2017 but were disciplined, organised and together on the pitch in the face of a strong home display.

Rovers, who included Johnson as one of four debutants, came close to taking a first-half lead through another new face, but former England winger Stewart Downing mis-kicked from close range after good work by Sam Gallagher.

Taylor then went close for the visitors, who led when Purrington, a scorer in the Wembley League One play-off final win over Sunderland in May, grabbed his second Charlton goal by converting a Jonny Williams cross.

Resolute Charlton defending was undone when Anfernee Dijksteel headed Johnson’s goalbound effort off the line and into the net via the helpless Phillips.

Rovers further upped the pace in search of a winner but it was Taylor who grabbed the crucial goal before Charlton hung on for all three points during seven minutes of added time.

Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray:

“I thought there was a lot of good stuff today. A lot of domination of the game, but ultimately the frustration was the quality in the box, the final pass, the clinical side of the game to create and score chances.

“There’s the frustration. Our Achilles heel from last year was there again I suppose.

“They didn’t have to work too hard, particularly the second goal. We sit here with a defeat because of our inability to defend a corner. At 1-1, there was only going to be one winner.”

Charlton boss Lee Bowyer:

“I said ‘go out there today and give me everything and prove to everyone that this is where you should be’.

“A lot of people are doubting us and obviously we’re favourites to go down, but with the group I have, they just keep fighting and battling, and we have quality as well.

“We didn’t play as well as we can in possession, we gave it away more than normal. Defensively we were solid, tactically, we got it right.

“There’ll be times we lose at home and away, but it won’t be through lack of effort.”