Charlton lead at half-time

Blackburn 0 Charlton 1

Herman Hreidarsson grabbed the half-time lead for Charlton in dramatic fashion at Ewood Park.

The Icelander hurled himself at a Paolo di Canio corner and headed the ball past Brad Friedel to put the visitors in front after 33 minutes.

Steven Reid forced a fine low save out of Dean Kiely while Andy Cole hit the side netting as Rovers pressed forward in vain.

Rovers won a dangerous free-kick on the right edge of the Charlton box in the 25th minute when Stuart tripped Steven Reid.

Barry Ferguson’s dangerous set-piece found the head of Cole but the front man could only direct the ball down and behind for a goal kick.

Then Vratislav Gresko crossed straight into Kiely’s arms as Rovers continued to put on pressure without looking like breaking the deadlock.

Charlton had fashioned next to nothing until the 33rd minute when Stuart’s shot was deflected wide by Todd for their first corner.

Di Canio whipped in the set-piece from right and the unmarked Hreidarsson produced a dramatic diving header to fire the visitors in front.

Reid came close to an equaliser six minutes later when he hammered a 30-yard shot which Kiely got down well to his left to turn around for a corner.

And moments later Cole charged clear and lashed a left-foot effort into the side-netting.

Charlton came close again on the stroke of the interval when Hreidarsson beat Reid and Thompson on the left before hitting a cross which almost reached Johansson at the far post.