GARY Bowyer got it spot-on on when he described this FA Cup third-round victory as a triumph of squad power.

But it was also testament to the sterling job the Rovers boss has done in making the club competitive again.

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With injury and illness rife throughout ranks also hit by suspension and unavailability, Bowyer made seven enforced changes and nine in total to the side that had beaten the same opponents in the Championship two weeks earlier.

But the end result was exactly the same – a comfortable and thoroughly deserved success.

And for that Bowyer deserves immense credit as 20 months ago, when he took over a club in disarray on and off the field, Rovers would never have been able to cope with so many absentees.

Not that his work is going to getting any easier from here on in.

With the club under an FFP embargo as punishment for mistakes made before his arrival in the Ewood Park hotseat, Bowyer will be restricted in what he can do in the market this month.

Unlike the managers of the teams above Rovers in the standings, like Derby County’s Steve McClaren and Brentford’s Mark Warburton, who have already started to strengthen.

But this impressive and attractive display served as a reminder that Bowyer, providing he does not lose any players in the January transfer window, has built a squad that can compete with the teams at the top of the table.

Chris Taylor, whose expertly taken two goals fired Rovers into the fourth round, was excellent on his return to the side.

Matt Kilgallon and Adam Henley certainly did not let their team down either on their recalls while Chris Brown, making his belated full debut after six months of injury hell, led the line admirably and should take massive confidence from completing his first 90 minutes since May.

There were also quality performances from first-team regulars Ben Marshall, Shane Duffy, Lee Williamson, Tom Cairney and Craig Conway.

But the best of the bunch was stand-in skipper David Dunn who glided across the rain-soaked Valley surface like it was his personal playground, playing clever give-and-go passes here and making threatening runs there.

The 35-year-old, on what was only his second start of the season, was a joy to watch and proved why he still can have a big role to play.

But this win was a collective effort.

And the only disappointing thing was that it was not more emphatic.

Despite their indifferent run of results to end the year Rovers are still well placed for a crack at the play-offs.

But their chances of breaking back into the top six will continue to be undermined if they do not develop a ruthless streak.

It cost them against Bolton Wanderers, Brentford and even Middlesbrough, and it could have cost them here too after Johann Gudmundsson cancelled out Taylor’s early opener.

But almost immediately Taylor scored his second and Charlton were a beaten side even before Yoni Buyens was sent off.

Roared on by 1,038 magnificent travelling supporters Rovers broke the deadlock four minutes in.

Marshall’s cross found Brown and, while his attempts to get a shot off were blocked, the ball broke to Conway who stood it up to the back post for Taylor to head in his first goal of the campaign.

After Kilgallon and Conway stung the hands of Neil Etheridge the Addicks went close to equalising through Johnnie Jackson before the game was delayed for 12 minutes because of floodlight failure.

When the action resumed Rovers should have knocked their opponents’ lights out as Brown and then Conway wasted golden opportunities.

It came as a sucker-punch, then, when Gudmundsson restored parity in the 55th minute.

There was no question his 25-yard free kick, curled over the wall, was well struck.

But Simon Eastwood, who endured a nervy afternoon at times, gave the Icelander too much of his goal to aim at.

It mattered little, however, as four minutes later Rovers went back in front.

The tireless Williamson was the architect, playing an incisive pass into the channel for Brown who showed strength to hold off Jackson and awareness to fire over a cross that Taylor gleefully smashed into the net.

It proved to be the winner.

But Charlton, who lost Buyens to a second yellow card in the 72nd minute after a late lunge on Conway, could have had no complaints had they conceded further goals.

Etheridge denied Cairney, substitute Luke Varney and Conway before he was beaten in the 85th minute.

But Cairney’s 20-yard rocket smacked against the bar and bounced to safety.