Slick Addicks too good for Royals

Bouazza: Celebrates Charlton's fourth

Goals from Matt Holland and Andy Gray put Charlton in control, but Ibrahima Sonko gave Reading a lifeline just before the break.

Stephen Hunt's retaken penalty drew the Royals level in the second half, but the excellent Luke Varney and Hameur Bouazza put Charlton back on top, before Sonko went from hero to villain by being sent off for a second booking late on.

The visitors started well and could have been in front early on when Liam Rosenior crossed from the right for Kevin Doyle but he failed to connect properly with the shot.

Minutes later Jimmy Kebe embarked on a teasing run down the right and jinked past Grant Basey into the box, only to see his shot saved well by Nicky Weaver at the near post.

Charlton eventually found their rhythm with Nicky Bailey instrumental and he found Bouazza on the left, who ghosted past Sonko into the box before sending a shot with the outside of his left foot agonisingly wide.

The Addicks were getting closer and duly went ahead after 25 minutes.

Yassin Moutaouakil's cross from the right fell to Bouazza, who passed to Varney and his deflected shot was parried by Hahnemann into the path of Holland - who tapped in for his first goal at The Valley in four years.

Reading were gifted a golden chance to get back into the game 10 minutes before the break when Moutaouakil bundled Doyle over in the box - but the Irishman smashed the penalty against the bar.

Five minutes later Sonko seemingly fouled Luke Varney outside the box but referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot and Andy Gray stroked the spot-kick home.

Charlton looked to be heading into the break in control, but Bobby Convey's teasing ball found Sonko - who headed in.

Reading immediately pressed for the equaliser after the break and were awarded a second penalty when the eagle-eyed Mason spotted a push by Jonathan Fortune on Leroy Lita.

This time Hunt stepped up and his tame penalty was saved by Weaver but the assistant referee adjudged the Charlton goalkeeper to be off his line and forced the penalty to be retaken.

Amid a chorus of boos from the home crowd, Hunt kept his nerve at the second attempt to clip the ball past Weaver.

The Charlton players appeared shell-shocked by the equaliser but gradually got into the game again and Varney sent in a deflected shot from outside the area which Hahnemann did well to palm over.

Varney was looking very bright and got the goal he deserved in the 69th minute when he met Lloyd Sam's cross from the right and directed a fine header past Hahnemann.

Three minutes later Charlton exerted their grip on the match once again as Moutaouakil clipped in an excellent ball to the far post where Bouazza had ghosted in unmarked - and he finished superbly on the volley.

Charlton were playing superb attacking football and Gray headed against the bar but was wrongly given offside anyway.

Seven minutes from time Sonko completed an eventful game by earning a second yellow for a foul on Bouazza and getting sent off.

Reading boss Steve Coppell brought on Noel Hunt in a last-ditch attempt to get back into the game.

The substitute made an immediate impact by heading against the bar - but the visitors couldn't find a way back.