Addicks stunned as Rovers stage amazing comeback

Charlton 2 Blackburn 3

Rovers had looked to be heading out when they trailed 2-0 with only 15 minutes to go. However, substitute Shefki Kuqi gave them a lifeline before a stunning 30-yard effort from David Thompson levelled the tie.

There was still time, though, for a grandstand finale, as David Bentley - on loan from Arsenal - swept home Morten Gamst Pedersen’s low centre to cap an amazing turnaround and leave the Addicks shell-shocked.

Charlton took the lead after 37 minutes when an attack down the right looked to have broken down, but Radostin Kishishev won the ball back bravely. Danny Murphy fed Johansson on the edge of the box, and his quick pass in turn released Ambrose.

The former Newcastle man took a touch before smashing an angled drive into the top right corner from inside the six-yard box.

Blackburn could have drawn level before half-time, but Bellamy scooped the ball over the crossbar from six yards after being picked out by Pedersen from the left.

Charlton started the second half brightly and went two up five minutes in. Murphy latched onto a loose pass out of defence, and promptly weaved his way through the last line of defenders before drawing Friedel and calmly slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner.

The frustration was clearly getting to Bellamy, who was booked for dissent before Robbie Savage was replaced by David Thompson.

Murphy almost created another for Charlton when his low centre from the right was only inches ahead of captain Luke Young, who had stayed up following an earlier attack.

Blackburn then sent on striker Kuqi - and the big Finn had an instant impact when he drilled home from close range on 75 minutes after holding off Talal El Karkouri.

And it was 2-2 when, with the defence standing off, Thompson smashed home a spectacular 30-yard strike into the top right-hand corner to draw battling Rovers level with nine minutes still to go.

There was still time for Blackburn to produce a winner, with Bentley netting from close range to cap an amazing turnaround.

The midfielder picked up a caution for jumping into the crowd in celebration as the small band of travelling Rovers supporters revelled in their unexpected, but deserved triumph.

For Charlton manager Alan Curbishley, though, it is back to the drawing board as he and his team were jeered off the pitch.

CHARLTON: Kiely, Young (Spector 70), El Karkouri, Hreidarsson, Powell (Bothroyd 89), Johansson (Hughes 79), Kishishev, Murphy, Smertin, Ambrose, Bent.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Todd, Gray, Emerton (Kuqi 73), Savage (Thompson 63), Reid, Pedersen, Bentley (Mokoena 90), Bellamy.

Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).