Bent nets brace for Charlton

Iain Dowie finally recorded his first win as Charlton manager after beating Bolton 2-0 - but it was referee Mike Dean who took centre stage at The Valley as both sides finished with 10 men.

Darren Bent's second-half brace proved enough to settle what was generally a scrappy affair, the England striker scoring a penalty after El-Hadji Diouf had missed from the spot for Bolton.

The tone for the match had been set when Addicks defender Hermann Hreidarsson was shown a straight red card for a needless elbow on Kevin Davies inside the opening half-hour. Davies went from victim to villain in the second half when he was dismissed for catching Amady Faye in the face with his arm.

It had been a lively start by the home side. Midfielder Andy Reid - signed from Tottenham - showed plenty of willingness to get forward and clipped an early 20-yard effort just over.

Bolton then fashioned the first decent opening when Stelios Giannakopoulos crossed from the right and El-Hadji Diouf sent a side-footed effort too high.

Bent soon showed a turn of pace to create a shooting chance for himself on the edge of the Bolton box, a deflection taking the low shot behind for a corner.

After 13 minutes, a long ball upfield released Stelios.

He darted into the area before expertly side-stepping the sliding challenge of Talal El Karkouri and drawing the keeper.

However, Hreidarsson made a last-gasp saving challenge to deny Bolton the opening goal.

Charlton should then have been 1-0 up after 19 minutes.

A smart passing move down the left involving Reid and Djimi Traore picked out Hasselbaink on the edge of the box.

The Dutchman's expert pass slipped in Darren Ambrose, only for Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen to make a fine reaction block.

The loose ball fell to Bent, who should have scored but somehow instead managed to find the leg of defender Abdoulaye Meite, positioned just in front of the goal-line.

Ambrose did eventually lash in the rebound - only to be incorrectly flagged offside by the assistant referee.

The match was held up on 24 minutes after Davies caught El Karkouri with a leading arm, but without intent, as the pair jumped for a high ball.

Given what was to happen soon after, the Bolton striker was somewhat fortunate not to be cautioned, for dangerous play if nothing else.

Charlton were reduced to 10 men after 28 minutes. Hreidarsson challenge for a high ball with Davies. This time there looked to be some intent when his elbow was whipped back into the striker's face.

That really left the referee with little choice but to produce a straight red card.

The Bolton striker was then jeered by The Valley crowd every time he went near the ball - but had the crowd had the benefits of television replays, perhaps the criticism would not have been so harsh.

Dowie decided to make a tactical change when he replaced Ambrose with tough-tackling Bulgarian Radostin Kishishev and went with three central defenders.

At the start of the second half, Charlton had an early chance when Reid's deep free-kick was headed just over by El Karkouri.

As the hour mark approached, a long ball from Ivan Campo sent Diouf off on a race with Traore.

The Bolton striker just got ahead as the pair tussled on the edge of the box before taking a somewhat theatrical tumble.

However, it was enough to convince the referee who - from 2O yards away - pointed to the spot.

Technically Traore - sent off on the opening day at West Ham - should have been given a straight red card as the last defender. This time, though, Dean produced a yellow.

Diouf got up and took the penalty himself. However, justice was served when Scott Carson made a fine save down to his right and was up quickly to boot the loose ball clear.

The Valley faithful finally found their voice, which clearly lifted the home side.

After 65 minutes, Dean pointed to the spot again, but this time at the other end. Bent had been picked out by another expert pass on the 18-yard line from Hasselbaink.

Tal Ben Haim pulled the striker back as he shaped to shoot - and there could only be one decision.

After the Bolton defender had been booked, Bent stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way.

The points were safe with five minutes to go when Hasselbaink's flick-on was stabbed home by the England striker, for his third goal of the fledgling campaign.