Charlton 4 Rochdale 1

CHARLTON were rarely troubled as they brushed aside their League Two opponents Rochdale in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.

Rochdale, who would have been dreaming of an upset, were ambushed by reality in the form of two-goal Bryan Hughes plus one apiece from Jonathan Fortune and Danny Murphy.

Charlton’s performance represented a robust response to previous Cup culture shocks against Blackpool, Walsall and Gillingham. Yet that did not make the afternoon less exciting.

The thousands of Rochdale fans in the Jimmy Seed Stand on Saturday demonstrated what the FA Cup is all about.

They chanted and cheered before, during and after the match. Their team gave their all, but realistically it was never likely to be enough.

Skipper Matt Holland was the Addicks’ inspiration during the important early exchanges when bigger clubs tend to be vulnerable against minnows.

Rochdale challenged the home side to match their prodigious work-rate, and Holland responded by demanding more from his team-mates.

Hughes, who has been in the shadows since his summer arrival from Birmingham, showed how effective a goal threat he can be when he opened the scoring in the 19th minute with his first for the club.

Talal El Karkouri played a marvellous 25-yard pass to the feet of Francis Jeffers whose cross was turned in by Hughes to celebrate his first start since September.

Rochdale were not without their moments and goalkeeper Dean Kiely had to be alert to keep out shot from Leo Bertos and the lively Grant Holt.

Charlton increased their lead just before half time when Jonathan Fortune shot into the roof of the net after Jonatan Johnasson had glanced on Holland’s 44th minute corner.

Rochdale’s most memorable moment came in the 51st minute when El Karkouri struggled to toe-end a long clearance back to Kiely and Holt nipped in to score his 18th goal of the season with a cool finish. On Saturday’s form, Holt can play at a higher level.

Dreams of cup glory lasted until the 56th minute when Jerome Thomas swept in a cross that Hughes met with a powerful header.

Substitute Murphy, who had replaced the injured Jason Euell at half time, scored in the 64th minute direct from a free kick.

The last time the two clubs met in the third round of the Cup was in 1947. Charlton won 3-1 and went on to beat Burnley in the final at Wembley. Given the luck of the draw, who knows what could happen this season.

"I remember Southampton finishing 10th in the league and winning the FA Cup, so I’ll settle for that," said Curbishley.

Charlton: Kiely, Young, El Karkouri, Fortune (Fish 72), Hreidarsson, Holland, Hughes, Johansson (Konchesky 79), Euell (Murphy 46), Thomas, Jeffers. Subs Not Used: Andersen, Rommedahl.

Attendance: 13,995.