Charlton's hot streak continued as they beat Fulham 3-1 to stretch their unbeaten run to half-a-dozen league games and soar into fourth place.
Alan Curbishley's side have taken 16 points from a possible 18, courtesy of five wins and one draw, and now occupy a Champions League qualification spot.
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Fulham midfielder Sean Davis marks his return
to the first team with a goal |
| Sean Davis Stories |
This thumping victory came courtesy of Graham Stuart's first goal for 22 months - sweeping home a loose ball - and a brace from Jonatan Johansson as he hit the net for the first time since March.
The Finn's first was a rasping half-volley and his second a tap-in after an horrendous error by Andy Melville.
This was an entertaining clash between the teams who were seventh and sixth at kick-off.
In the first half, aside from Stuart's ninth-minute strike, both goalkeepers had to be on their toes throughout as spectacular long-range shooting was the order of the day in south-east London.
The floodgates opened after the break as Johansson struck after 71 and 78 minutes, with Sean Davis bagging Fulham's injury-time consolation as he made his first appearance of the season after withdrawing his transfer request.
This result was a sobering one for Fulham boss Chris Coleman, whose side pulled off the shock of the season to win at Old Trafford a fortnight ago but have lost both games since.
Early on today, Louis Saha span Mark Fish and tested home keeper Dean Kiely.
But the side from south of the river went in front with nine minutes on the clock.
Claus Jensen set up Johansson, whose shot was parried by van der Sar straight into the path of Stuart - and he swept home from eight yards.
Charlton upped the pressure and Scott Parker had two cracks at goal - one a sensational 40-yard strike which flew inches over the Fulham bar and one a volley which dipped just wide.
Saha had a chance to pull Fulham level after 26 minutes.
He raced onto Luis Boa Morte's through-pass and reached the ball before Kiely.
However, he stumbled as he skipped past the custodian and the opportunity was gone.
Junichi Inamoto was close to an audacious equaliser moments later, thumping a looping shot goalwards from fully 45 yards which landed on the roof of Kiely's net.
Kiely clawed Zat Knight's header to safety and, at the other end, Edwin van der Sar stretched to fingertip Johansson's cross away from Lisbie at the far post.
Jason Euell was handed an early piece of the action five minutes before the break. Jensen injured his right knee stretching for the ball and was replaced by the forward.
Chris Coleman's visitors forged a decent opportunity after 54 minutes.
Moritz Volz's cross was half-cleared by Radostin Kishishev and Lee Clark thumped an angled volley into Kiely's midriff.
| Match Stats |
Charlton |
Fulham |
| Goal attempts |
12 |
11 |
| On Target |
7 |
7 |
| Hit Woodwork |
1 |
1 |
| Corners |
1 |
5 |
| Off sides |
5 |
0 |
| Fouls |
10 |
12 |
| Yellows |
1 |
2 |
| Reds |
0 |
0 |
| source: www.sportinglife.com |
Van der Sar saved his team when he dropped smartly to his right to stop Lisbie's header from a Charlton set-piece.
And the Addicks powered into a two-goal lead with a stunning Johansson strike with 19 minutes left.
He headed towards Euell, 10 yards from goal, who cushioned the ball back to the Finn.
Johansson connected with a thunderous half-volley, whistling past van der Sar and into the far corner.
And a nightmare error by Melville gift-wrapped Charlton their third after 78 minutes.
He attempted to side-foot the ball back to van der Sar but hopelessly under-hit it, allowing Johansson to poke home his second.
Charlton were rampant now and only the post prevented Euell adding a fourth with a fierce drive.
Substitute Davis grabbed an injury-time consolation for Fulham after Sylvain Legwinski's shot hit both posts.
Charlton Kiely, Kishishev, Fish, Perry, Hreidarsson, Holland, Parker (Powell 80), Jensen (Euell 39), Stuart, Lisbie (Di Canio 85), Johansson.
Subs Not Used: Royce, Sankofa.
Booked: Perry.
Goals: Stuart 10, Johansson 69, 76.
Fulham Van der Sar, Volz, Knight, Melville, Bonnissel, Inamoto (Sean Davis 70), Legwinski, Clark, Malbranque, Boa Morte (Hayles 62, (Pratley 74)), Saha.
Subs Not Used: Crossley, Djetou.
Booked: Inamoto(f,42), Legwinski(f,67)
Goals: Sean Davis 89.
Att: 26,344
Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).