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Deon and Nicky seal win

Charlton continued their perfect start to life in League One as they triumphed 2-0 in their first ever match at Victoria Park.

First-half goals from Deon Burton and Nicky Bailey did the trick in the North East as the Addicks completed back-to-back league wins in the same season for the first time since December 2007.

Burton grabbed the opener in the 24th minute, coolly lobbing home keeper Scott Flinders from inside the box after latching on to a loose back header.

And skipper Bailey doubled the lead three minutes later, heading home at the far post after a peach of a cross from Therry Racon.

Racon was denied a third by a goalline clearance from Andy Monkhouse after the break while keeper Rob Elliot denied the hosts a consolation with a terrific save from Antony Sweeney. The visitors showed skill and composure in abundance in their opening away match of the season, and matched that with some resolute defending to deny the hosts a route back into the game.

The Valley men have found two goal leads a touch difficult to hold onto in recent times, but with the returning Miguel Llera and Christian Dailly a formidable presence in the centre of defence, this was one advantage the would not surrender.

In front of them Therry Racon was in fine form, and the work ethic of the midfield unit was matched by Burton up front.

The striker led the line tirelessly, and got his reward for being in the right place at the right time, as the hosts bout of head-tennis led to an opening match point for Charlton.

Lobbing from inside the box is not an easy skill to master, but Burton showed excellent awareness and vision to lift the ball over Flinders and in.

And on the subject of being in the right place Bailey, Charlton's own Nicky on the spot, was there again to double his tally for the season soon afterwards.

After his baker's dozen last year, the midfielder has two in two in the league this term - and he couldn't miss at the far post after a superb cross from Racon.

So a good day's work for the Addicks in the North East, a location they have traditionally fared well in recent times, and Parkinson's side sat second in the table at the final whistle.

In terms of team news Parkinson named an unchanged line-up from the opening day win against Wycombe Wanderers in Charlton's first ever visit to visit to Victoria Park.

The crocked quintet that missed the midweek Carling Cup defeat at Hereford United were all back in the starting line-up in the club's first visit to the North East since December 2006.

Debut goalscorers Llera and Dailly (head and rib respectively) were back in the centre of defence.

Frazer Richardson shook off a hip complaint to return at right-back with Lloyd Sam (knee) and Jonjo Shevley (heel) back in the midfield.

So it was eight changes from the defeat against the Bulls, with Stuart Fleetwood and Chris Solly both named on the bench.

Elliot, Kelly Youga and Jose Semedo were the three survivors from Edgar Street with the former continuing between the posts.

Youga reverted to his more familiar position of left-back alongside the returning trio Llera, wearing a protective headband, Dailly and Richardson.

Semedo was back in the central midfield three, where he was joined by Shelvey and Racon.

Skipper Bailey started on the left, and Burton ploughed a lone furrow up front.

Darren Randolph, Matt Spring, Scott Wagstaff, Izale McLeod and Andy Gray made up the visiting bench.

For the hosts, who drew 0-0 with Milton Keynes on the opening day of the season before dumping Coventry City out of the Carling Cup in midweek, midfielder Sweeney was the sole starting survivor from Pool's League Cup clash at The Valley back in December 2005.

Adam Boyd, who netted the winner against the Sky Blues, was a man to watch up front.

On a carpet of a Victoria Park pitch, with a tall ship sitting serenely in the background, the hosts kicked off on a bright sunny day.

Ninety seconds in Dennis Behan's late sliding challenge on Llera welcomed him to Hartlepool and earned the home striker a ticking off.

Behan was prominent again in the fifth minute, offering the first shot on target - and produced a flying save from Elliot.

Youga was penalised for a needless foul on Sweeney and Behan stepped up to hammer in a free-kick from 30 yards which was expertly tipped away by a diving Elliot.

Bailey flailed a shot well wide of the right upright after Burton's attempt to wriggle through was stifled by a defender while at the other end home newcomer Jon-Andre Fredriksen's long range effort posed no problems for Elliot as the watch reached a dozen minutes.

After the visitors worked a good opening to Bailey on the left, he checked back in and found Shelvey, who sliced a shot wide on the stretch.

Llera was warned after a late challenge on Boyd, and the Addicks might have paid dearly for allowing Behan to stride forward unopposed midway through the half.

He eventually found Leon McSweeney in space on the right and the midfielder's dangerous centre flew beyond the cluster of bodies in the box and away to safety.

But the Addicks were in front in the 24th minute through Burton.

It was a real comedy of errors at the back for the hosts, however, started by skipper Sam Collins' hoisted clearance that had more height than distance.

As the ball was headed out, Steve Haslam's attempts to cushion the ball back to Scott Flinders - a former Crystal Palace keeper for those wanting some extra gloss - fell woefully short and allowed Burton to nip in and coolly lob the ball into the back of the net.

The hosts strung together a terrific move shortly after the restart but Andy Monkhouse couldn't make a firm enough connection after Behan's flick, and Elliot saved simply.

And Charlton doubled their lead in the 27th minute through their skipper.

After some good build up play, Racon did terrifically well to clip in a cross from byline on the right and with Flinders out of the picture Bailey arrived at the far post to head in - and send the Addicks fans behind the goal into raptures.

Youga picked up the first booking of the afternoon after catching McSweeney two minutes before the break, and when the free-kick was only half cleared McSweeney rifled a shot narrowly over the bar.

The Addicks were well on top, however, offering most of the game's quality and composure, and they went into the break two goals to the good.

Sweeney's tug on Burton earned him a booking soon after the restart, and Shelvey's tame effort was easily saved by Flinders before the midfielder, in space in the box, lifted a decent 53rd-minute opportunity wide.

Bailey then tip-toed into the box after good work on the left from Youga, but his shot was blocked by a defender, and Racon hoofed an effort over the bar - and out of the ground - soon afterwards.

The visitors went far closer 12 minutes in as Sam outwitted Peter Hartley on the right and crossed to the far post.

The ball was a touch too high for Burton but Bailey headed back from the left side and Racon arrived to connect with a half-volley that was cleared off the line by the back-tracking Monkhouse.

James Brown, he of the dancing toy on Sky television presenter Jeff Stelling's desk during Soccer Saturday, replaced Boyd in the 64th minute.

Jon-Andre Fredriksen and Jose Semedo traded yellow cards as the game entered its final quarter and after the Addicks were penalised on the edge of their box on 69 minutes, Behan went close with another free-kick.

Dailly was far from happy with the decision on the left corner of the box and Fredriksen's back-heel gave Behan a better angle, although Elliot got down low to block his shot, and the loose ball was scrambled clear.

Elliot's fine shot-stopping start to the season continued a minute later as he kept Sweeney at bay.

McSweeney left two red-shirted defenders in his wake on the right and pulled the ball across for his almost-namesake in the middle.

There was nothing wrong with the connection but Elliot stuck up a strong arm to turn the ball away.

Fredriksen shot wide after driving in from the right as the hosts enjoyed a good spell and Sweeney's touch was a little too heavy as he burst through from midfield, Elliot able to save at his feet.

Recently introduced substitute Jonny Rowell shot over after a neat lay off in the 79th minute and McSweeney sneaked in round the back to meet a curling Monkhouse cross, but headed off target.

Chris Solly got his first taste of League One action as a late replacement for Llera, and Gray replaced Shelvey in the first of three added minutes at the end.

After the visitors surrendered possession cheaply Behan found Elliot unbeatable again, and Charlton saw out they remaining moments to pick up a second successive maximum.

Charlton: Elliot; Richardson, Youga, Dailly, Llera (Solly 90); Sam, Semedo, Racon, Shelvey (Gray 90), Bailey; Burton.

Subs (not used): Randolph, Spring, Wagstaff, McLeod, Fleetwood.

Goals: Burton 24, Bailey 27

Booked: Youga 43 (foul on McSweeney), Semedo 68 (foul on Sweeney)

Hartlepool: Flinders; Haslam, Hartley (Rowell 77), Collins, Liddle; McSweeney, Sweeney, Fredriksen (Austin 77), Monkhouse; Behan, Boyd (Brown 64).

Subs (not used): Cook, Foley, Power, Larkin.

Booked: Sweeney 48 (foul on Burton), Fredriksen 66 (foul on Racon)

Referee: C Boyeson

Att: 4408 (505 Charlton)

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