Blackpool v Charlton reaction

Charlton boss Chris Powell was delighted with the way his side responded to a home defeat to Watford in their 2-0 win at Blackpool.

Chris Solly, 21, settled the Charlton nerves 17 minutes from time as he fired in from long range to earn a 2-0 win after Leon Cort had earlier given the Addicks a surprise lead.

"I'm very, very pleased with our response from the loss on Tuesday (at home to Watford)," said Powell. "It was a real accomplished performance from the players.

"We weathered some first-half pressure but we knew it would be a test of character. I'm a big fan of (Blackpool boss) Ian Holloway and I knew we'd have to defend stoutly and we did that.

"In this league if you nudge in front you've got a real chance to win games. We've been hurt in recent games and I've been asking my side to keep a clean sheet because we've got goals in us.

"Tom Ince and Kevin Phillips came on but we were never under relentless pressure, but every player stuck to the task and I'm pleased we got the two goals, a clean sheet and I couldn't be happier.

"I never scored a goal like that in my career. Chris Solly is a right-back by trade playing out of position but he's been superb for me since I started managing the club and he's a real favourite with the players and supporters."

Blackpool enjoyed the first opening on 18 minutes but Matt Phillips saw his effort blocked, before Ricardo Fuller saw his effort hit the home crossbar for Charlton.

Striker Gary Taylor-Fletcher attempted a chip from range, which landed on the roof of Ben Hamer's goal, before Phillips forced the Addicks goalkeeper to save low down to his left.

Fuller also went close again just moments before the break but Matt Gilks was equal to his effort and tipped around the post.

Charlton took the lead four minutes after the restart as Cort rose unchallenged to head home from a Dale Stephens corner.

The game was effectively over 17 minutes from time as defender Solly struck an unstoppable shot from distance to double Charlton's lead, with Athletic holding out to record a second clean sheet of the season and a first win at Bloomfield Road since 1981.

"I'm very bitterly disappointed," said Holloway. "For all the good stuff in the first half and the possession and chances, we didn't create what we should.

"I expected more of the same in the second half and it didn't happen. Our Achilles heel has been balls into the box and it happened again. I'm fuming, absolutely fuming.

"One of the zones we covered was vacated by somebody telling somebody else to mark someone.

"We should have had somebody on that heading it away, as we've done in the last few games.

"We have to be much tougher to score against and more resilient. I'm never pleased having a break, but I won't see half of them until next Thursday, Tom Ince will be off with England (Under-21s) - he wasn't fully fit and shouldn't be going.

"I don't spend time looking at other people, it's much easier to try and come and stop than to try and attack and they did it brilliantly at the back.

"They had great energy and discipline and they've ended up scoring a set-piece against the run of play and an absolute 'worldy' and that was that."