Simon Fudge reports

Charlton Athletic took advantage of poor Chelsea defending to register a convincing 4-2 victory in the Boxing Day clash at The Valley.

Goals by Hermann Hreidarsson, Matt Holland, Jonatan Johansson and Jason Euell capped a miserable day in this London derby clash for The Blues, despite John Terry and Eidur Gudjohnsen replying for the visitors.

A wide open and entertaining match came to life just 42 seconds in, as The Addicks won the first corner of the match.

Paolo Di Canio's in-swinging ball found Hreidarsson towards the near post and his fine header stunned a frozen Carlo Cudicini on the goal line to make it 1-0 to home side.

Moments later, Hreidarsson went close to scoring again after Di Canio played him on before he ran down the left and his shot across goal was deflected away by a sprawling Cudicini for a corner.

Chelsea, for their part, were coming forward themselves and from a right-footed Adrian Mutu free kick, an unmarked John Terry nodded home at the far post to level matters after 10 minutes.

Both sides continued to show plenty of attacking endeavour, with Charlton's Scott Parker in inspired form in particular, but a lack of good finishing was the let down to several moves at both ends.

With ten minutes remaining, Charlton restored their lead as Jonatan Johansson made a fine run down the left before sending a deflected cross from the by-line that reached Holland and his solid header flew past Cudicini for 2-1.

The Blues had a chance to level again before half time but Mutu's header from Jesper Gronkjaer's cross on the right was knocked over Charlton's bar by goalkeeper Dean Kiely.

The second half saw Alan Curbishley's men pick up where they left off as they extended their lead after Di Canio twisted and turned past Terry in Chelsea's box to cut a low cross to an unmarked Johansson to finish into an open net for 3-1.

Chelsea's woeful defending continued as a second goal was scored in the space of five minutes when Jason Euell latched onto a loose ball in the visitors' box to finish with aplomb for surprising 4-1 scoreline.

The visitors then started to pour on some pressure of their own but a lack of finish and some good saves by Kiely kept Claudio Ranieri's side out for the most part.

Chelsea would make it 4-2 when Gudjohnsen drove home a superb shot after Mutu was brilliantly denied by Kiely before the rebound found the Icelandic hit-man who scored.

Despite Chelsea's second goal, the visitors were second best all day and Charlton were full value for the three points on Boxing Day.

Teams

Charlton Athletic Kiely, Kishishev, Fortune, Hreidersson, Holland, Parker, Euell, Stuart (Konchesky 77), Di Canio (Powell 87), Johansson
Subs Not Used Royce, Fish, Campbell-Ryce
Goals Hreidersson 1, Holland 35, Johansson 48, Euell 53

Chelsea Cudicini, Bridge, Desailly, Johnson, Terry, Cole (Gallas 82), Gronkjaer (Gudjohnsen 45), Lampard (Geremi 65), Makelele, Hasselbaink, Mutu
Subs Not Used Sullivan, Melchiot
Goals Terry 10, Gudjohnsen 73

Attendance 26,768

Referee G. Poll