Roberts´ double widens relegation trapdoor for Charlton

AFP - 28 April 2007 18:32

A double from Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts(L), seen here on 15 April 2007 with Bennie McCarthy, inspired his side to a 4-1 humbling of 10-man Charlton Athletic and inflicted a hammer blow on the visitors´ chances of retaining their place in the Premiership.

BLACKBURN, England (AFP) - A double from Blackburn Rovers striker Jason Roberts inspired his side to a 4-1 humbling of 10-man Charlton Athletic and inflicted a hammer blow on the visitors' chances of retaining their place in the Premiership.

Charlton weren't helped by volatile defender Ben Thatcher being sent off for a second yellow card in the 63rd minute after going 1-0 down to Roberts' first.

Despite getting back on level terms Charlton then conceded three more goals - an own goal by Hermann Hreidarsson, Roberts again and then Matt Derbyshire.

Defeat and West Ham's win over Wigan Athletic sent Charlton down to second from bottom, three points off safety.

Charlton's hopes of taking anything from the match looked to have all but evaporated on the hour mark.

Roberts nipped in to shoot past Scott Carson after good work by giant defender Christopher Samba.

Things got worse for the London side when former Wales international defender Thatcher picked up his second booking of the match after a desperate tackle on David Bentley gave referee Mike Dean no option but to send him for an early shower.

However Rovers allowed Charlton back into the match in the 71st minute when a dreadful backheader by former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock went over Brad Friedel, hit the underside of the bar and presented Darren Bent the easiest of headers for his 14th goal of the season and 12th in the Premiership.

Charlton, though, could not save themselves as Hreidarrsson was unfortunate to see the ball hit his calf and beat Carson at his near post making it even likelier that the Icelandic international will experience relegation from the Premiership with a fourth different club.

Any chance of a revival by the visitors was erased when Roberts added his second - from a pass by Morten Gamst Pedersen - and then salt was rubbed in to the wound as Derbyshire, who had only just come on as a substitute, easily evaded the offside trap and his cross shot curled round Carson into the far corner.