Rovers are up to 50 points after an impressive away performance at Charlton Athletic.

John Buckley and Tosin Adarabioyo both scored their second goals of the season as Rovers came through testing conditions at The Valley.

Christian Walton made good saves from Lyle Taylor in both halves as Rovers claimed an 11th clean sheet of the season and moved up to eighth in the table, within three points of the top six.

Samuel led the line for Rovers, having been one of two changes, made by Tony Mowbray, with Armstrong moving to the left flank.

At a sold-out Valley, the hosts were always likely to start fast and came out of the blocks with a real intensity, looking to get the ball forward to their strike pairing of Tomer Hemed and Lyle Taylor.

Inside two minutes Taylor shrugged off Adarabioyo to create a shooting angle, with his 25-yard effort requiring good handling from Christian Walton.

The Rovers ‘keeper was also equal to a shot on the turn from Hemed as Rovers were forced to weather some early Addicks pressure.

Samuel had his first sight of goal in the 11th minute, seeing his shot blocked in to the path of Bradley Johnson whose effort from distance was tame and easily saved.

The wind was having a big say on proceedings, and a long ball forward for Samuel to chase had Charlton captain Jason Pearce all at sea. Samuel got the wrong side of Pearce and expected a penalty to be given as he was pulled to the floor, only for the decision to go against the Rovers striker.

It was a contentious call, but one which looked incorrect, with Pearce looking particularly aggrieved with the outcome.

Rovers now had a foothold in the game though and started to take charge. Armstrong demonstrated his confidence by trying his luck from all of 40 yards. ‘Keeper Dillon Phillips was troubled for a time, but after back-peddling, was able to watch the ball over the bar.

The waves of grey pressure continued though, with Armstrong shooting in to the gloves of Phillips before Amari’i Bell slashed wide from 20 yards after a corner was only half cleared.

The opener Rovers had threatened arrived just on the half hour mark. Buckley danced his way in to a shooting position on the edge of the box and his shot got a deflection en route to finding a way beyond Phillips.

They had a second eight minutes later as Stewart Downing’s near post free kick was guided in to the corner by Adarabioyo.

Within seconds though Charlton would have had a way back in to the game had Walton not clawed away a Taylor header from a left wing cross.

The start of the second half was always going to be important, Charlton kicking with the wind and towards their bank of fans behind the goal.

They again started with an intensity, Taylor stinging the palms of Walton with a free kick from 25 yards while Hemed headed a Josh Cullen free kick against his own man, making the save easier for Walton.

A fourth foul of the second half earned Darragh Lenihan a yellow card, a ninth of the season and one away from a two match ban.

All Rovers had managed at the start of the second half was an Armstrong break which saw neatly cut inside Matthews, but fire wide with his shot, as did Downing from a similar position on the right flank.

A third would surely have made the game safe for Rovers, one they went close to in the 63rd minute as Johnson headed straight at Phillips from a left wing corner.

Rovers made their first change with 18 minutes to play as Harry Chapman came off the bench. That was shortly after a flowing move down the left ended with Samuel attacking a Bell cross from the left which flew past the near post.

Chances were opening up on the break, with first a decent opportunity for Chapman to stride forward and then Samuel, the latter firing wide on his left foot after carrying the ball 30 yards forward.

The crowd held its breath though as Taylor stood over a free kick 20 yards out with nine minutes to play, one he caught with plenty of power, but just couldn’t get it to dip in time.

Walton may have not been required for that, but he needed to be at full stretch to turn behind a curling Cullen strike which looked destined for the top corner.

Brereton showed what he could offer as Rovers fashioned a chance seconds later as he cut inside two players only to shoot wide on his left foot.

Rovers were seeing the game out well though, playing the game in the areas they wanted as they started to wind the clock down and see the game out.

 

Charlton: Phillips, Pearce (Smith, 46), Taylor, Matthews, Cullen, Sarr, Davis, Doughty, Lockyer, McGeady (Bonne, 69), Hemed (Green, 60)

Subs: Amos, Purrington, Oshilaja, Oztumer

 

Rovers: Walton, Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Bell, Johnson, Travis, Buckley (Bennett, 83), Downing, Samuel (Brereton, 81), Armstrong (Chapman, 72)

Subs: Leutwiler, Graham, Davenport, Carter