Chelsea 2 Charlton Athletic 1

PREMIERSHIP champions Chelsea picked up their third win of the season with a over Charlton at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Any nerves the champions may have had were settled inside five minutes when Didier Drogba reacted well to put them ahead after Bryan Hughes had cleared an initial effort from Frank Lampard's corner straight to him.

But the Addicks shocked the home crowd by equalising nine minutes after the break when former Blue Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink collected Dennis Rommedahl's pass before shooting left-footed past Petr Cech.

However, the lead lasted just six minutes before Chelsea regained the advantage when Ricardo Carvalho headed in a Lampard corner.

Scott Carson kept the score at 2-1 when he saved Lampard's penalty after Talal El Karkouri had been penalised for a foul on substitute Salomon Kalou.

Earlier, Rommedahl had replaced the injured Andy Reid on the half hour and was immediately into the action crossing for Darren Bent who headed wide from close range.

Drogba should have increased Chelsea's lead when he was sent clear by Lampard but he miscued his shot wide with only Scott Carson to beat.

The Addicks thought they had equalised for a second time with 15 minutes to play but Marcus Bent's effort was ruled out for handball.

Charlton: Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Diawara (M Bent 64), Traore (Kishishev 49), Ambrose, Faye, Hughes, Reid (Rommedahl 30), Hasselbaink, D Bent.
Subs Not Used: Myhre, Holland.