The talking points from Charlton 2 Bristol Rovers 0 – Addicks have learned how to dominate games as play-off assault gathers momentum

Charlton Athletic climbed to within a point of the League One play-offs thanks to a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers at The Valley on Tuesday night.

Here are Louis Mendez’s talking points from the match.

A WALK IN THE PARK

A park that needs reseeding, admittedly. But that was as comfortable a victory as we’ve seen for the Addicks all season.

Two goals up before the break and they never looked like ceding that advantage against a Bristol Rovers side who didn’t have any ideas to run out of in the first place.

Matty Godden kickstarted the scoring inside the opening quarter-hour as he poached the sort of goal he’s been poaching six yards out his whole career.

For a man who hadn’t started a league game since mid-December, the forward took no time getting back up to speed – that is now 10 goals in all competitions for him.

That was swiftly followed by left-sided defender Josh Edwards drilling home right-footed, his first club goal with what, up to this point of his career, had very much been his standing foot.

It could have been four by that point and certainly should have been a larger winning margin by the time the evening was out. But it’s six wins in eight matches, one defeat in 10 games and 12 clean sheets. Just two losses at home.

They are the sort of stats that Nathan Jones will certainly be happy to hear.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE

Fifty-six days. That’s how long there was between Charlton’s home defeat against Crawley Town in December – their last home league game on a Tuesday night – and the midweek win over the Gas.

The gap may span across two calendar years, but you’d be forgiven for thinking you’re operating in a different millennium when assessing the transformation in The Valley’s atmosphere across the two games.

If anyone had claimed they saw this run coming after that toxic night in SE7 they would have been carted off for a hard drink and a lie down.

What makes this series of results all the more impressive is what preceded it. Jones’ side rode the storm and have come out the other side looking much stronger. They’ve learned how to dominate the ball and can control games.

They were always defensively sound but needing to find more of a threat – and seven goals in the last four suggests that’s moving the right way too.

PLAY-OFF RACE

Not a contest that you could see the Addicks signing up for just a few weeks ago but all of a sudden the South Londoners are breathing down the collective necks of the top six. Battlelines are being drawn at either side of the Blackwall Tunnel.

Only Leyton Orient have picked up more points than Charlton in the last eight games – a run which has catapulted Richie Wellens’ side from one end of the table to the other.

It’s often said that you want to be the form team in May when the play-offs kick off but both clubs needed a run like this to be part of the conversation at all after the turn of the year.

Now it will come down to who can keep their run of form going the longest. Charlton have wrenched themselves back on to the points-per-game average required to grab that top-six place. Now it’s about going the distance.

LLOYD JONES SIGNS ON AND KAYNE RAMSAY RETURNS

Charlton fans were dealt a double boost before kick-off on Tuesday.

Lloyd Jones’ contract extension, keeping him in SE7 until the summer of 2027, was announced moments ahead of kick-off.

And Kayne Ramsay’s inclusion in the starting line-up for the first time since returning from a knee injury was well received.

Jones has been a pivotal figure in the Addicks’ defensive solidity this term but all too often important players haven’t been tied down. This commitment from both player and club will serve as a building block for years to come – as well as banishing any uncertainty between now and the end of the season.

Ramsay reminded Addicks fans what they’ve been missing with an assured performance. Calm and cool on the ball as to be expected, but his reading of the game and ability to spot and snuff out any danger at the first opportunity was so impressive.

He is a classy defender who will only shore up an already strong defence.

MAIN PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS