Jensen steals the show for Charlton

Burley: Scored with well-taken free-kick but not enough

Charlton 2-1 Derby

Danish international Claus Jensen rescued Charlton from embarrassment at the hands of Derby at The Valley.

Charlton threw away an early lead and Derby missed a penalty before Jensen's superb solo run set up a winner for Scott Parker.

Before the game I asked for a bit more from Claus and he certainly gave it

  Alan Curbishley

Matthias Svensson and Parker scored Charlton's goals but both owed everything to Jensen's invention.

The £4m midfielder's teasing corner allowed Svensson to head home after just eight minutes.

And though Derby scrambled back on terms with a brilliant Craig Burley free-kick, Jensen's 60-yard solo run allowed Parker to bundle home the winner early in the second half.

Jensen's name may not have been on the score sheet but no other Charlton player did more to earn the three points.

Parker: In the right place

Had it not been for the Dane, Charlton might have suffered a home defeat which at one stage looked impossible.

During the first 30 minutes Derby barely managed to mount an attack.

Svensson's early opener should have signalled a flurry of goals from Alan Curbishley's men.

His header needed a deflection to beat Poom and for the rest of the half the Estonian keeper was unbeatable as he pulled off a string of spectacular saves.

Jensen, Richard Rufus and Parker all came close as Charlton forced the visitors firmly on the back foot.

But when Parker was harshly adjudged to have fouled Dean Burton on the edge of the Derby box, the Rams came alive.

Charlton were lucky to have a second chance

Craig Burley's curled a delightful, 25-yard free-kick beyond the outstretched right hand of Dean Kiely and the scores were level.

The Rams could have even taken an improbable 2-1 lead when Mark Fish's poorly executed headed back-pass forced Kiely to foul Malcolm Christie as the keeper lunged to rescue the clearance.

Referee Mike Dean had no choice but to signal a penalty but Kiely guessed right and produced a flying dive to deny Burley from the spot.

Kiely injury

Kiely, injured in the challenge with Christie, was replaced at half time by deputy Tony Caig, the former Blackpool keeper.

Derby made a better match of it in the second half but Jensen proved the difference between the sides.

The £4m summer buy from Bolton strode 60 yards and beat two Derby defenders before releasing a shot that was saved by Poom but slotted calmly home by Parker.

Derby had a chance to draw level in the very next move when referee Dean blew for obstruction well inside the Charlton box but the free-kick was blasted high.

Burley also worked decent openings in the 75th and 85th minutes as Derby mounted a late charge but both shots were wanting.

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Charlton: Kiely, Fish, Rufus, Todd, Powell, Stuart, Parker, Jensen, Kishishev, Svensson, Bartlett. Subs: Robinson, Brown, Salako, Lisbie, Caig.

Derby: Poom, Riggott, Carbonari, Mawene, Delap, O'Neil, Burley, Powell, Higginbotham, Burton, Christie. Subs: Martin, Eranio, Bragstad, Oakes, Bolder.

Referee: M Dean (The Wirral)