Charlton Athletic 4-1 Bristol City

Yann Kermorgant's excellent double set Charlton on their way as they recorded a comfortable victory over already relegated Bristol City.

Kermorgant was joined on the scoresheet by captain Johnnie Jackson and Jonathon Obika, while Bobby Reid's great finish proved nothing more than a small consolation for City.

Charlton made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 at Middlesbrough the week before. David Button replaced the injured Ben Hamer between the sticks, which allowed youngster Nick Pope to take his place on the bench. Jackson returned to the side after injury and Obika, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, was selected to partner Kermorgant in place of Ricardo Fuller. The bench was made up of Pope, Matt Taylor, Andy Hughes, Salim Kerkar, Lawrie Wilson, Scott Wagstaff and Danny Haynes.

Bristol City made six changes to the side that lost 3-1 at home to Huddersfield. Joe Bryan and Reid were handed starts are returning from their loan spells at Plymouth and Oldham while Louis Carey, Liam Fontaine, Paul Anderson and Ryan Taylor were brought into the side. Missing out was Richard Foster, Matthew Bates, Liam Kelly, Marvin Elliott, Albert Adomah and Steven Davies.

In a game where both sides were playing for pride, it was the hosts who started brightly as Obika headed wide with just a couple of minutes on the clock. Jackson hit wide just a few minutes later. Soon after, the hosts created another good chance and this time it was Kermorgant's turn to head wide from a good position. That's the closest either of the sides came to breaking the deadlock in a first half that certainly had an 'end of season' feel to it.

With just fifteen minutes on the clock, the Addicks were forced into a change. Left back Rhoys Wiggins limped off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by former Stevenage full back Wilson who slotted in at right back with Chris Solly switching to left back.

Both sides were attempting to break but neither were creating clear chances. Callum Harriott sent an effort wide and the first save of the match for either keeper came just before half-time as Button comfortably saved Anderson's low effort.

HT: 0-0. 

The second half was just two minutes old when Kermorgant made his mark on the game. Gower produced a decent cross from and Kermogant was there on the edge of the area to brilliantly volley home. With the ball coming at him at speed, the striker had a hell of a lot of work to do, and he had the crowd on their feet as he smashed his effort past Tom Heaton in the City goal. Certainly a contender for goal of the season.

Obika sent an effort wide moments later before that man Kermorgant was there again.

Harriott produced some brilliant trickery down the left before laying the ball off for the overlapping Solly, who produced a magnificent cross to the back post which was met by the grateful head of Kermorgant. In a game that looked destined to be a bore draw, the Addicks were in total control just five minutes into the second half.

Neil Kilkenny saw his free kick go wide of the goal just before the hosts missed a glorious chance at the other end. Jackson's near post corner was flicked on by centre back Dorian Devite and neither Michael Morrison or Bradley Pritchard could get on the end of it. All it needed was a touch and the hosts would have been three up.

The visitors pulled one back just before the hour mark, as Reid capitalised on Morrison's mistake by expertly lobbing Button from outside the area. The keeper managed to injure himself and was replaced by Pope.

Carey wasted a good chance to equalise as he shot over the bar and Charlton made him pay for missing a golden opportunity as they restored their two-goal advantage with eleven minutes to go.

Kermorgant came so close to his hattrick as he tried lobbing Heaton from the edge of the area. Unfortunately for him his effort crashed off the bar, but Obika was there to clear up as he headed into the net from eight yards out. Substitute Scott Wagstaff then had an effort cleared off the line before defender Morrison saw his goalbound effort blocked by Bryan.

My pre-match bet of Charlton to win 3-1 looked good until five minutes from time when Jackson swept home from inside the area. Pritchard was through on goal and could have shot himself but he unselfishly squared the ball to his captain who gratefully killed the game off and return to being the Club's top scorer this season.

After a goalless first half, the fans at the Valley were treated to a masterclass in the second half to end what has been a fantastic season for the South London outfit. After looking likely to face a relegation battle, the Addicks performed brilliantly as they rose to a ninth place finish - just three points outside of the play-offs. If manager Powell can sign the right players over the summer, I feel Charlton could be in for a very good season next term.

Bristol City on the other hand finished 14 points adrift of safety. Manager Sean O'Driscoll has a huge job ahead this summer as he looks to rebuild and push for promotion back to the Championship.

FT: 4-1. 

Charlton: Button (Pope 71); Solly, Wiggins (Wilson 15), Dervite, Morrison; Pritchard, Gower, Jackson, Harriott (Wagstaff 79); Obika, Kermorgant.

Subs not used: Taylor, Hughes, Kerkar, Haynes.

Goals: Kermorgant 47, 51, Obika 79, Jackson 85

Bristol City: Heaton;  Anderson, Cunningham, Fontaine, Nyatanga, Louis Carey; Bryan, Reid, Kilkenny (Ajala 86), Baldock (Adomah 52), Taylor (Burns 83)

Subs not used: Lewis Carey, Foster, Kelly, Elliott.

Goals: Reid 64

Attendance: 18, 981 (699 away fans)