IT'S been an eventful start to the new year for the mercurial midfielder Brett Emerton.

Three days ago, Blackburn Rovers' Australian international emerged from a disconsolate dressing room to accept the blame for Nobby Solano's late winner in the 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa.

Emerton held his hand up and admitted he was guilty of ball-watching at a corner as Solano stole in to grab the goal that condemned Rovers to their first away defeat in two months.

So who better to make amends just 48 hours later by scoring the winner that gave Rovers their first home victory since September 18?

Emerton's response was symptomatic of the grit and determination Mark Hughes has managed to instil in this rejuvenated Blackburn side.

Rovers had looked dead on their feet at Villa Park as the exertions of a hectic Christmas programme finally caught up with them.

It's to the players' immense credit then that they somehow delved deep into their energy reserves to grind out what was only their second home win of a turbulent campaign just a matter of days later.

Rovers have now taken seven points out of 12 over the holiday period - a handsome return that has eased them away from the Premiership's bottom three.

And no-one enjoyed this latest success more than Emerton, who went from zero to hero in the time it took him to plant a firm header beyond the despairing dive of Dean Kiely.

"I put my hand up and took responsibility for the goal against Villa so it was nice to come back and get a victory for the boys today," said the Aussie.

"It's a big relief to finally get that home win under our belts.

"Improving our home form is something we've talked about doing for a while now and today we've taken that first step so hopefully we can kick on from here and make Ewood Park a tough place to come to."

Rovers' second victory in seven days owed more to perspiration than inspiration but Charlton boss Alan Curbishley had few complaints about the outcome afterwards, graciously admitting that his Addicks had been beaten by the better side on the day.

The big difference between the Rovers of now and three months ago is they have a base from which to work.

Hughes has instilled a work ethic that runs right through the side and if the football isn't flowing quite as freely as the coaching staff would hope for then at least there's a defensive platform to fall back on.

That resilience and determination not to be beaten has seen Rovers keep five clean sheets in the last eight games - a remarkable statistic when you consider what went before it.

Charlton had been equally Scrooge-like at the back going into this game, so much so that the Addicks had not leaked a goal away from the Valley in more than five hours of Premiership football, a run dating back to November 20 when Paul Scholes scored the second of Manchester United's goals against them at Old Trafford.

Curbishley's intentions were clear from the outset - he strung five across the middle of the park with the speedy Dennis Rommedahl and Jerome Thomas instructed to bomb forward and support lone-striker Jonatan Johansson whenever possible.

Thomas was involved in the game's first talking point in the 12th minute when he crumpled under a challenge in the penalty area but referee Alan Wiley quite rightly waved away his penalty appeals, deeming the Charlton wide-man had gone down too easily.

From then on, Rovers gained the ascendancy, led by the spirited Paul Dickov, who drove the rest of his team-mates on with his selfless running up front.

The Scotland international had a volley blocked by Talal El Karkouri in the area, then he forced Dean Kiely into his first meaningful save moments later with a shot on the run after Stead's clever flick had sent him clear.

Charlton survived an amazing goal-mouth scramble in the 17th minute.

Dominic Matteo's cushioned header found Dickov in space in the area but his shot on the turn was hacked off the line and Stead's follow up effort was scrambled to safety.

With half-time approaching, Rovers' pressure finally told and the goal was worthy of the wait.

Barry Ferguson, who was a growing influence in midfield, seized onto Andy Todd's incisive pass on the right hand side of the area and the skipper fended off a couple of defenders whilst he waited for support to arrive.

When it did, he rolled the ball out to David Thompson who delivered a pin-point cross to the far post where Emerton was lurking to power a header emphatically past Kiely.

That sparked a flurry of action in the moments leading up to half-time.

Brad Friedel showed lightning reactions to palm away a shot from Johansson and his agility was matched at the opposite end by Kiely, who repelled a thunderbolt from Stead.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first.

Radostin Kishishev fired over from a distance and it needed a perfectly timed tackle from Lucas Neill to deny Thomas.

But Rovers kept pressing forward as they sought the insurance of a second goal.

Stead, who ran his heart out alongside Dickov up front, came close to ending his seven-month goal-drought with a shot that Kiely turned aside at his near post, then a neat exchange between Ferguson and Neill nearly produced a rare goal for the latter.

As the rigours of a demanding festive period began to catch up with both sides in the closing stages, Charlton went close to snatching an equaliser when Bryan Hughes headed over from a corner.

But on this occasion, there was to be no sting in the tail - much to Emerton's and Rovers' relief.

Instead, the new year brings new hope for the future.

CHARLTON (4-5-1): Kiely; Young, Hreidarsson, El Karkouri, Fortune; Murphy, Kishishev, Holland, Rommedahl, Thomas; Johansson. Subs: Euell (for Kishishev, 60), Konchesky (for Thomas, 61), Hughes (for Hreidarsson, 72) Not used: Stuart, Andersen

Referee: Mr A Wiley

Bookings: Rovers; Stead, Matteo Charlton; Young, Hreidarsson

Sendings off: None

Attendance: 19,819

Goals: 1-0 - Emerton, 41 mins