Charlton Athletic overcame Stoke City 3-1 on a blustery Saturday afternoon at The Valley in the Sky Bet Championship.

Unsurprisingly, given the sheer geographical nature of this stadium which celebrates its centenary this year, the wind swirled around and, initially, threatened to leave both sides offering little but hot air.

Indeed, it was a tentative start to this one. By no means poor, but it lacked real thrust from both sides in the early stages.

On one flank, Stephen Ward from left-back looked ready to raid forward for Stoke, whilst both Jonny Williams and Jonathan Leko – who made a twinkle-toed debut – offered decent options for the Addicks to expand play.

Chances were few and far between as things often broke down in the respective final thirds, though, and a little bit of magic was needed.

Suitably, then, it was a man that Charlton fought so hard to keep towards the end of the transfer window that provided the opener; Lyle Taylor.

Working some space on the left-hand side of the box, he flashed a right-footed drive across Jack Butland and into the bottom right.

In truth, Charlton had perhaps shaded it up until that point – midway through the first half – but they could not build on their possession and Stoke gradually got back into it.

In the 34^th minute, Scott Hogan slammed the bar after finding some room and, moments later, the equaliser came for the Potters.

Tom Ince, a man that can score from far out on the regular, did so. Picking up the ball he drove towards the left corner of the box and beat Dillon Phillips at the near post.

1-1, and Stoke would edge the closing stages of the half, again hitting the woodwork – this time the upright – through Lee Gregory.

1-1 it was at the break, then, but soon after the restart Gregory – the pantomime villain thanks to his Millwall connections – should have put the visitors in front. He, instead, skied over with the goal at his mercy.

The pattern of play in the second 45 largely mirrored the first, both had good periods of possession in midfield, the likes of Ryan Woods, Joe Allen and Josh Cullen all pulling respective strings, but neither could really find a breakthrough.

That was, however, until Chuks Aneke – only having just come on minutes earlier – restored Charlton’s lead with 15 minutes to go. Persistent work from Jonny Williams down the left eventually saw the ball come to Aneke who, centre of the goal, did what Gregory couldn’t and converted.

From there, Charlton had control of this one as Stoke began to run out of ideas, and with under 10 minutes left, Conor Gallagher sealed things.

Quickest to a great deal during this clash, he was the first to reach a free ball from a corner. With a controlled right-foot finish, he left Jack Butland with no chance, he was out of reach and, similarly, so were the three points for Stoke from here.

Nathan Jones, on another day, will feel as though Stoke could have won this with the few clear cut chances they had but, in the end, Charlton were good value for their victory and Lee Bowyer will be delighted with the start they've made back at this level.