Addicks down Derby

Charlton condemned Steve McClaren's Derby to their first defeat of the Championship season with a 3-2 win at the Valley on Tuesday night.Derby had begun the season in steady fashion but they came unstuck in south London and could have no complaints at the final whistle.George Tucudean opened the scoring for Charlton before Jamie Ward curled home a fine leveller to restore what looked like normal service.But once Yoni Buyens netted from the penalty spot Charlton never looked back, with Igor Vetokele's header handing them some breathing space and, despite Ward's second goal of the night late on, the home side clung on.Tucudean, among the Addicks' summer arrivals from Standard Liege, struck in the 11th minute after he was afforded too much space to fire low beyond Lee Grant.This was certainly a different Charlton side to the one that struggled for the majority of last season but Derby weathered the early storm and were soon imposing themselvesCraig Bryson sounded out a warning with a tame shot from the edge of the box while Simon Dawkins drove just wide.It was no real surprise when Ward curled Derby level and it was the least they deserved. Chris Martin's shot was palmed out by Charlton goalkeeper Nick Pope but Bryson and Jeff Hendrick combined for Ward to silence the Valley in the 31st minute.Derby were now in complete control and Charlton were struggling to stem the tide but, against the run of play, the hosts won a penalty in the fourth minute of added time.Tucudean twisted and turned his way into the area where referee Michael Bull adjudged he was tripped by Richard Keogh, with Buyens making no mistake from the spot.Both teams lost a player at the interval with the lively Tucudean failing to return along with Derby's Will Hughes.The change looked to have affected Derby more and they were struggling to find the same fluency after the break.It took until the 65th minute for them to threaten as Keogh came within inches of atoning for is earlier trip when he drove just over from 25 yards out.Charlton would not sit back and it was no surprise when Vetokele headed home Johnnie Jackson's 78th-minute cross.Despite Ward's second goal of the game late on, after Pope had let his weak shot squirm through his hands with five minutes left, Charlton held out.