Lions enjoy derby success at Charlton (From This Is Local London)

Charlton 0-2 Millwall

2:31pm Saturday 16th March 2013 in Latest Sport By Paul Green

MILLWALL maintained their excellent derby record against neighbours Charlton with victory at The Valley.

Substitute Jermaine Easter, who joined the Lions on loan from Crystal Palace this week, put the visitors in front on 58 minutes with his first touch of the ball.

Shane Lowry doubled the tally six minutes later with a superb long range free-kick to seal a perfect week for Millwall following Wednesday’s FA Cup quarter-final triumph at Blackburn.

Yann Kermorgant returned to the Charlton starting line-up following his recent three-game suspension, with Ricardo Fuller dropping to the bench.

Former Addicks loanees Rob Hulse and Dany N’Guessan both started for the Lions, who also handed a debut to Southampton loanee Richard Chaplow.

N’Guessan had the first shot at goal but his early effort from just outside of the area flew harmlessly behind.

Callum Harriott’s stinging fourth minute drive was spilled by Lions keeper David Forde but he reacted quickly to re-gather the loose ball before Danny Haynes could get on the end of it.

Liam Trotter should have done better when Rhoys Wiggins’ poor clearance from Hulse’s cross fell to him inside the area, but he fired well wide of the target.

Bradley Pritchard scuffed a shot over the bar from an eighth minute corner, while a Millwall defender was ideally placed to block Johnnie Jackson’s volley five minutes later.

An early injury forced Karleigh Osborne off in the 17th minute and he was replaced by Spurs loanee Adam Smith.

N’Guessan just failed to connect with Adam Smith’s dangerous 28th minute cross and Harriott was only denied six minutes later by a super stop from Forde, the Millwall keeper tipping behind his 20 yard shot.

Hulse saw a volley fly harmlessly over and there was a yellow card for Adam Smith just before the break for a late challenge on Lawrie Wilson.

Adam Smith had been involved in everything since his introduction and he almost put the Lions ahead in first half stoppage time but his low shot flew just wide.

Alan Dunne tripped Harriott just outside of the box at the start of the second half to earn a caution, but Kermorgant’s free-kick went inches wide.

Harriott really should have done a lot better on 53 minutes when the ball fell to him on the edge of the box but the youngster fired well over the bar.

Wilson sliced a shot over at the back post after connecting with Wiggins’ delivery seconds before N’Guessan made way for Jermaine Easter and the substitute made an instant impact by firing the Lions in front.

Fellow loanee Chaplow did well to provide the cross for Easter to poke the ball past David Button from close range to send the away fans behind the goal into ecstasy.

And they were even happier six minutes later when the advantage was doubled in spectacular style. Adam Smith was fouled by Bradley Pritchard some 35 yards from goal and Lowry stepped up to smash a stunning free-kick past Button.

Chris Powell immediately introduced Ricardo Fuller and Scott Wagstaff for Haynes and Wilson with Fuller having a penalty claim ignored after going to ground under a challenge from Danny Shittu.

Forde did well to keep out Chris Solly’s low angled drive as Charlton tried desperately to get back into the game.

Fuller blasted over five minutes from time but it was Millwall almost added a third when Trotter headed wide from Chris Taylor’s cross.

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Charlton: Button, Solly, Wiggins, Morrison, M Taylor, Wilson (Wagstaff 67), Harriott, Pritchard, Jackson, Haynes (Fuller 67), Kermorgant. Subs not used: Hamer, Evina, Dervite, Stephens, Obika.

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Shittu, Osborne (A Smith 17), Lowry, Chaplow (Abdou 73), Trotter, Smith, Taylor, N’Guessan (Easter 57), Hulse. Subs not used: M Taylor, Woolford, Keogh, Saville. Att: 18,514.