Charlton cruised to their first ever Premiership win over Fulham as Graham Stuart and a Jonathan Johansson double gifted manager Alan Curbishley the perfect birthday present.
The Addicks moved above Fulham and into fourth in the top flight table after capitalising on catching Fulham cold at the start of this London derby at the Valley. Scott Parker, in line for an England debut against Denmark next weekend, was at the heart of Charlton’s strong start – continually peppering the Fulham goal with shots from distance – and their patient approach play eventually got its reward.
Edwin van der Sar parried a powerful effort from Johansson after Claus Jensen had prised open the Fulham defence, but Stuart was in the right place to slot home his first goal in two seasons from eight yards. Parker then saw an audacious effort from 40 yards nearly catch out van der Sar as the home side continued their early offensive.
Fulham were largely operating on the break but Louis Saha was unfortunate not to equalise when he latched onto a through ball from Luis Boa Morte but lost his footing at the crucial moment as he bore down on Dean Kiely. Junichi Inamoto almost lobbed the Charlton keeper from long range – borrowing a page from Parker’s playbook – but the ball nestled on the roof of the net.
A breakneck pace continued well into the second half, with Fulham pressing for an equaliser. Moritz Volz made good progress down the right and measured a lovely cross that Lee Clark caught beautifully on the volley but the midfielder’s effort was well fielded by Kiely. It was the home side who got the vital second goal when out-of-favour Jason Euell brought down a Kevin Lisbie ball and laid it off for Johansson, who fired beyond van der Sar.
Johansson then ruthlessly punished a mistake from Andy Melville, who left his backpass to van der Sar criminally short, and placed his second into the bottom corner to make sure of the points. Coleman then summoned the previously wantaway Sean Davis from the substitutes’ bench and the midfielder made his first appearance of the season to a mixed reception from the visiting fans. He grabbed a consolation in the last minute, following up after Sylvain Legwinski’s shot had rattled both posts and bounced out.
CHARLTON ATHLETIC (4-4-2): 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 (4-3-3): van der Sar, Volz, Bonnissel, Knight, Melville; Inamoto (Davis 70), Legwinski, Clark; Malbranque, Boa Morte (Hayles 62), Saha, Hayles (Pratley 74). Subs (not used): Crossley, Djetou.
BOOKED: Inamoto, Legwinski.
GOAL: Davis (89).
REFEREE: Andy D’Urso (Essex).
ATTENDANCE: 26,344.
