Bristol Rovers 2 Charlton 1

It could not have started worse for Charlton when they lost Grant Basey after 20 seconds to a horror tackle from Rovers' Dominic Blizzard.

How Blizzard got away with a booking from referee Trevor Kettle was anyone's guess, but it left Basey enroute to hospital with a suspected broken leg.

By the time the half ended the Addicks were 1-0 down but it could easily have been worse.

Rovers goal came from a poorly defended with an unmarked Steve Elliott lashing home the loose ball past Charlton keeper Rob Elliot from a corner.

It was Elliot who prevented first half embarrassment, saving from Andy Williams when one on one, then tipping over a long-ranger before superbly catching a well-flighted free-kick.

When he was beaten Sam Sodje was on the line to clear.

At the other end it was Akpo Sodje with the chances, heading a corner frustratingly wide and then nodding another into the arms of the keeper when he had a whole goal to aim at.

The half finished with the same controversy it began with.

Captain Nicky Bailey charged into the box, but as the ball was running out fell under the challenge of Blizzard who was leaning on him.

Rather than giving a penalty, Kettle waved the yellow card at Bailey for diving.

The second half saw the game effectively put beyond doubt when striker Paul Heffernan beat the Charlton offside trap before firing past Elliot.

More bad news came in the shape of David Mooney going off with a nasty concussion leaving Charlton with 10 men for the last 12 minutes.

Neither made many chances in the second half but Charlton did get a consolation with a long-range strike from Therry Racon.

Charlton: Elliot, Richardson, Basey (Solly 4), S Sodje, Dailly; Sam, Semedo (Reid 61), Racon, Bailey; A Sodje (Mooney 46), Burton

Bristol Rovers: Andersen; Coles, Jones, Anthony, Izzard; Blizzard (Reece 68), Lines (Lescott 77), Campbell, Hughes; Heffernan, Kuffour (Williams 20).

Att: 7,624 (547 Charlton fans)