PETER VARNEY, Charlton's chief executive, described the security operation behind Friday’s staging of the derby with Crystal Palace as a “complete success.”

A total of 450 police were employed to keep order - and rival fans apart - on a night when the atmosphere inside The Valley fairly crackled among a near capacity crowd of 26,202.

While rivals fans clashed at London Bridge railway station earlier in the evening, there was no trouble inside the ground, though fans of both clubs were ejected.

Palace chairman Simon Jordan, a constant target of abuse from Charlton supporters throughout the game, was shadowed by Charlton security officers on his arrival and when he left.

Seats were ripped out in the Jimmy Seed Stand, which accommodated Palace fans, while toilet blocks in the same area were vandalised.

Mr Varney, who watched the match from the police observation room close to the Jimmy Seed Stand, stressed: “As a club we have no jurisdiction on what happens outside the ground.

“Inside, we were satisfied with the way things went because there were no incidents arising from clashes between supporters. I would describe it as a complete success.

“There was some vandalism in the Jimmy Seed with seats being ripped out and damage done to toilet blocks but it was nothing major and repairs will be carried out well in time for Saturday’s home game against Watford.

“The police did a first class job as did our operations director Mick Everett and safety officer John Little.”

Mr Everett, who assessed the damage on Monday morning, promised: “Repairs will be carried out quickly and everything will be back to normal in time for Saturday’s home game against Watford.”