Sunday Times

Pre-season favourites to bounce back into the Premier League and having been as high as second back in November, Charlton yesterday bowed out of the promotion race with little more than a whimper.

They barely created a chance against a team who probably now look the more likely to get back into the top tier of English football before they do.

The pill for Charlton fans was even more bitter to swallow because their chance of a playoff place was ended yesterday when they lost sight of fierce rivals Crystal Palace.

"Our record against the top 10 sides is the best in the Championship, but when we should have won, we didn't," Charlton manager Alan Pardew said afterwards.

"There were some flaws in this side that we didn't correct in the last window and we will need to correct in the next window."

The transfer of their captain Andy Reid in January also didn't help, while the gamble of bringing in some loan signings backfired, but Pardew will be given time to get it right.

"I know the responsibility I have of trying to get this club back to the Premiership. We have one more parachute payment to go and it is going to be essential to get it right."

Pardew's budget will probably still look like small change compared with what Luigi De Canio will have to play with, though yesterday QPR's Italian manager was adamant that he wanted to build his success on the back of the club's youth system.

He will surely also want to rely at least initially on a journeyman of the lower leagues, Gavin Mahon, who ran this game yesterday.

Mahon set up the winner on 15 minutes, though Charlton centre-half Paddy McCarthy slipped as Dexter Blackstock got the ball in the box and was able to turn easily to score from 10 yards.

Blackstock might have had a couple more and 17-year-old Angelo Balanta was also profligate, but an insipid Charlton side hardly created a chance that might have punished them.

Sunday Mirror

Dexter Blackstock's early strike proved enough for Rangers as Charlton meekly surrendered their play-off hopes.

Alan Pardew's men waited until the dying minutes to exert any pressure and it was only Rangers' failure to make their advantage count that allowed the visitors to stage a final flurry.

Charlton's efforts were so half-hearted against a superior Rangers side, that theird is gruntled fans chanted: "Pardew, sort it out."

Pardew responded by dragging off Andy Gray and replacing him with Chris Iwelumo just before the hour - then looked on in anguish as the substitute smashed his first touch wildly over the bar.

That was Charlton's first threat on the Rangers goal. It was 86 minutes before they had a shot on target, but even then Greg Halford's tame free-kick failed to stretch Camp.

Deflated boss Pardew looking at the the wreckage of a failed promotion challenge conceded: "We just weren't good enough.

"I knew we weren't going to be good enough earlier in the season and I took a chance with some loan players but it just hasn't worked out."

Rangers, with little to play for having long since banished any fears of relegation, look set for a bright future under mega-rich owners Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore.

They were were never in danger as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven matches, despite their lack of striking options.

Colombian teenager Angelo Balanta started up front and looks an exciting prospect, prompting boss Luigi De Canio to declare: "My dream is to take this club into the Premier League with six or seven players coming through from the reserves."

Balanta's more experienced strike partner Blackstock grabbed the glory when he pounced in the 15th minute. Blackstock robbed Paddy McCarthy then raced away from the Charlton defender.

McCarthy gamely made up ground but Blackstock turned him again and fired past Nicky Weaver.

It almost got worse for McCarthy shortly afterwards when the ball ricocheted off his shin from just outside the area and flew inches over his own bar.

Balanta then set up Gareth Ainsworth with a glorious crossfield pass but the winger failed to hit the target.

Zheng Zhi, Charlton's best player, probed tirelessly in the first half but failed to inspire a side lacking belief and ambition.

Martin Rowlands went closest to extending Rangers' lead when he sent a scorching free-kick narrowly over.

QPR substitute Mikele Leigertwood broke away deep into injury time, but shot tamely wide.

Sunday People

Dexter Blackstock's third goal in three games hammered the final nail into the coffin of Charlton's play-off hopes.

The Addicks needed to win to keep alive faint hopes of finishing sixth but they seemed to have given up the ghost as they were outplayed and outfought by a QPR side with nothing to play for.

And with bitter south London rivals Crystal Palace beating Watford, Alan Pardew's side were left in the same boat as convincing winners Rangers - their season over with two games still to go.

Angelo Balanta had already sent a fierce ten-yard shot into the sidenetting before Rangers took the lead after 15 minutes.

Paddy McCarthy allowed Blackstock to hustle him out of a high ball and although the Irishman recovered to make life difficult for the striker, Blackstock calmly turned him again and fired home a low left-foot shot.

Charlton barely threatened Lee Camp's goal in the first half and when the ball finally did come to Leroy Lita on the edge of the box, the on-loan Reading striker fell over.

A Damien Delaney header dropped just wide on 54 minutes to bring chants of "Pardew, Pardew sort it out" from the travelling supporters.

Charlton finally created a chance on 61 minutes but sub Chris Iwelumo ballooned over from two yards.